Muff Waders are the first bib overalls that can hold cans or bottles of your favorite drink, so you can work and play. It’s a fun clothing idea that was pitched on Shark Tank by founders Garret Lamp and Taylor Nees. Sadly, they didn’t get a deal but the company was later acquired. As of 2024, Muff Waders is worth an estimated $500,000.
Taylor Nees & Garret Lamp
Taylor “Earl” Nees and Garret “Buddy” Lamp are childhood friends and grew up in Holstein, Iowa. They grew up in a small town and had similar dreams. Buddy studied advertising at Iowa State University, but not much is known about Earl’s education.
Garret worked various odd jobs while studying at college. First, he was an equipment manager at his school’s football club and later worked as a video producer at Drone DirectorE.
He also became a video production intern at Merrill Manufacturing Company and Iowa State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. After graduating, he was hired as a video producer at Corteva Agriscience and a content curator at Hy-Vee.
Founding Muff Waders
Taylor came up with the idea for the business after going to the bar during the football game. He wished he kept his overalls on after work to hold all the beer. The following morning, Taylor made a sketch to make his wish come true.
Eventually, he invented an overall with several compartments to hold cans and bottles. Its most notable features were a six-pack cooler on the chest, a bottle opener, and a mug to hold your drink.
Garret worked on the business part-time as he just had a kid and needed a steady salary. In 2018, the two best friends started Muff Waders with $75,000. They launched a Kickstarter campaign that failed but they did $54,000 in sales by the time they were on Shark Tank.
Shark Tank Pitch
In 2021, Garret Lamp and Taylor Nees were having trouble with manufacturing because the factory they partnered with in China shut down. The founders needed to raise capital and they appeared on season 12 of Shark Tank, seeking $25,000 for 25%.
The two guys were oozing confidence and charisma during the presentation, which had the Sharks laughing. Furthermore, they introduced the first prototype of their second product, the Muff Spenders during their pitch.
Although the Sharks loved their personalities, none of them were interested in investing in the business. This was surprising as the company had a low valuation, multiple patents, and healthy margins. Potentially the Sharks didn’t want to put their face behind the brand.
After Shark Tank
Earl and Buddy didn’t get a deal, but appearing on the show helped them raise over $10,000 for their second Kickstarter campaign. When the episode aired, the town of Holstein gathered together to watch the show.
The startup was acquired by Stevia Nutra Corp for an undisclosed amount in 2021. Although Stevia Nutra trades on a stock exchange they haven’t released financials since late 2020. Muff Waders had done around $250,000 in sales by the time they were bought.
Muff Waders and Muff Spenders are available to buy on Etsy, Amazon, and MuffWaders.com. The original Muff Wader now sells for $90 on their website and $96 on Amazon.
The products don’t have a lot of reviews online but they have several 5-star ratings. The company is still in business and is worth an estimated $500,000. Garret currently works as a Content Curator at Hy-Vee, Inc and Taylor is an Electrician at Holstein Electric Ltd.
