Danh Tran and his business partner, Gary Falkenburg, have seen their clothing business, Buttercloth, thrive following their successful pitch on “Shark Tank” Season 10.
The two recently returned for the latest season of the show, revealing that their clothing line continues to see an upward trend, especially after expanding into new categories and landing high-profile endorsements.
Buttercloth Latest Update On ‘Shark Tank’
On “Shark Tank” Season 16, episode 5, Tran revealed that Buttercloth’s sales skyrocketed to $58 million, just six years after landing a deal with Robert Herjavec, per Shark Tank Blog. The company has since expanded its offerings to include women’s wear and outerwear, further fueling its impressive growth.
Buttercloth also introduced its patented Icy Cotton fabric and launched several collections showcasing its natural cooling power. Aside from new products, the company has collaborated with some famous personalities, including Metta World Peace, Jay Leno, and Steve Harvey.
Tran added that Buttercloth is now available in brick-and-mortar stores nationwide, while its online sales continue to perform strongly.
A Look Back At Buttercloth’s ‘Shark Tank’ Journey
Tran and Falkenburg first introduced Buttercloth to “Shark Tank” in 2019, hoping to land a deal with one of the investors. At the time, they gave each shark a sample shirt tailored to their size.
Tran revealed that Buttercloth shirts sold for $98 to $118, with a $20 to $25 production cost. Prior to appearing on the show, the company had generated $500,000 in sales within seven months.
Tran took significant personal risks to keep Buttercloth afloat—liquidating his retirement fund, selling his house, and quitting his job to invest $240,000 into the company.
When asked how they planned to use the investment, Falkenburg explained that two-thirds would go toward inventory purchases, with the remaining funds allocated to marketing efforts.
Ultimately, Charles Barkley, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, and Mark Cuban did not make an offer, pointing to different concerns about the business model.
O’Leary noted that reducing customer acquisition costs would be a costly challenge, while Cuban advised focusing more on marketing than on ramping up inventory.
Greiner, on the other hand, was already committed to her own clothing company, while Berkley found the clothing industry too stressful.
Herjavec decided to make them a $250,000 offer for 25% equity. Tran hesitated at first and countered with 20% equity, but didn’t get his way. Eventually, he accepted Herjavec’s offer, and the rest, as they say, is history.
“Shark Tank” Season 17 premieres in fall 2025 on ABC.
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Danh Tran’s Buttercloth & Icy Cotton Shirts on ‘Shark Tank’ Update