#27: Bombas—The Shark Tank Pitch That Got Everything Right (And What Businesses Can Learn From It)

Business Made Simple Podcast

StoryBrand.ai

Marketing, Story, Bmsu, Businessmadesimple, Brand, Business, Bms, Storybrand, Entrepreneurship, 474622, Storytelling

4.8 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 7 July 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When you’re pitching a product, every word matters. That’s why some Shark Tank entrepreneurs walk away with millions while others walk out empty-handed. The Bombas sock pitch not only got a deal, it sparked a billion-dollar brand. But what made it work? From “cardboard feel” to “seven substantial improvements,” the Bombas team used sticky soundbites, clear contrasts, and emotional resonance to win over the Sharks and their customers. So what messaging lessons can your business learn from one of Shark Tank’s biggest success stories?

In today’s episode, Don and Kyle break down the Bombas pitch line by line, showing how the founders used story loops, vivid language, and clarity to outshine the competition. You’ll learn how to craft soundbites and emotional contrast to pitch your brand in a way that people remember. Listen in to discover why this pitch worked and how you can apply the same tactics to your next campaign.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the Why That Work podcast presented by storybrand.a.I.
0:07.7	If you've ever wondered why certain brands, trends, or cultural phenomena find success while others don't, you're in the right place.
0:13.9	Every week we unpack why something worked, then give you actionable insights that you can use in your own life.
0:19.5	Now let's dive in with your hosts, Donald Miller and Kyle Reed.
0:24.7	You've probably seen the show Shark Tank and thought, why did that idea take off?
0:28.7	Or would my pitch hold up?
0:30.8	Well, today we're going to unpack a couple of Shark Tank's most successful product pitches and launches of all time.
0:37.4	I'm ready to look at them and say what worked. That's right. It worked. Yeah. most successful product pitches and launches of all time.
0:39.8	I'm ready to look at them and say what worked.
0:40.3	That's right.
0:40.6	Why it worked.
0:45.0	So the first one I pulled that we pulled together was Bombas.
0:48.0	I think it would be fun as we watch this because this is a longer pitch, but it'd be fun.
0:51.7	I want to like find, why don't we pause some moments and you kind of give a breakdown?
0:52.3	I think I'd be fun.
0:53.0	All right.
0:55.2	So here we go. This is Bombo's Shark Tank Pit.
1:00.6	Bombas are athletic leisure socks engineered to look better, feel better, and with a mission to help those in need.
1:02.3	The mass market athletic sock hasn't changed in decades.
1:05.6	Same basic colors, same styles, same cardboard feel until now.
1:10.4	All right. Mass market athletic socks hasn't changed in decades. Brilliant.
1:16.5	Yeah, what put that in like story branch? What did they do there? If I said to you,
	...

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