Most parents know the struggle: your kid seems to outgrow (or outwear) shoes in a blink, and you’re left staring at a pile of little sneakers by the door. Lisa and Duc Nguyen saw that problem firsthand and decided to do something different. That idea became Baubles + Soles, a company selling children’s shoes with a twist—one pair could look like several with the help of snap-on decorative charms called “baubles.”
How Baubles + Soles Got Started
Lisa Nguyen’s journey was already pretty special. She came to the U.S. from Vietnam as a refugee and later became a mom who was frustrated by the waste of buying so many shoes for her daughter. Together with her husband Duc, she set out to create shoes that were functional, fun, and a bit more sustainable than the standard kids’ fare.
The unique part? Baubles + Soles allowed you to snap on different charms, so one base pair of shoes could transform to match any outfit or occasion. It was simple—but very appealing for busy parents. So, with their savings and a lot of hope, they launched the brand and began getting some attention.
Pitching the Dream on Shark Tank
Then came Shark Tank. The Nguyens appeared in Season 11, hoping to win over the notoriously tough investors. They asked for $100,000 in exchange for 15% of their company. From the start, the pitch stood out. Lisa talked honestly about being a refugee and a mother, why she believed in Baubles + Soles, and how she hoped to build something lasting—for her family and for parents everywhere.
The Sharks listened closely, but you could see they were cautious. The shoe industry is known to be cutthroat, competitive, and inventory-heavy. There were questions about manufacturing, how they’d stand out, and whether the market was too tough.
But Lisa wasn’t easily discouraged. She offered a unique twist: a profit payback clause. Basically, if the business didn’t work out, she’d return the investment out of future profits. That spoke to her commitment and turned Daymond John’s head. He stepped in with an offer of $100,000 for 25% of the company. It was more than the 15% the founders wanted to give, but they took the deal anyway. That moment, with Lisa fighting for her dream on national television, was hard for viewers to forget.
The Shoes Themselves: What Made Them Different
So, what was the actual product? The shoes were simple in appearance—slip-ons made for active kids—but the technology was hidden in the sole. Specially designed to attach and detach baubles, the shoes gave parents a way to stretch their dollar and reduce clutter. The base shoes were slip-resistant, machine washable, and recyclable. They were made in the United States, an unusual choice in an industry that often goes for cheaper overseas production.
As for pricing, the math was straightforward. Each pair of shoes retailed for $49.95, with a manufacturing and packaging cost of about $11. Wholesale buyers paid $25 a pair. The baubles themselves sold for $12.95 to $16.95 apiece, giving parents an affordable way to accessorize and refresh old shoes.
The company focused on direct-to-consumer sales and targeted moms online, but also sold through Amazon. It was a decidedly modern, low-overhead approach, with an emphasis on online convenience and eco-friendliness.
After Shark Tank: Growth and Sales
Shark Tank doesn’t guarantee long-term success, but it does bring a lot of eyes to your business overnight. Baubles + Soles definitely saw that “Shark Tank Bump.” Sales went up after the episode aired, and with Daymond John on their team, the company had some buzz.
By November 2022, Baubles + Soles was reporting $300,000 to $500,000 in annual revenues. That’s not unicorn territory, but for a bootstrapped startup selling a niche product, it wasn’t bad at all. If you were shopping for their products, you could buy directly from their official website or find them on Amazon. Customer reviews were generally positive, with parents liking the easy-to-clean design and the flexibility of changing baubles.
The Nguyens stayed involved, updating customers via social media and marketing their products as a more sustainable, practical choice in a crowded kids’ shoe market. There was no huge retail launch, but the business kept chugging along online.
Challenges and Why It Stopped
Starting and growing a physical product business is almost always harder than people expect. Over time, Baubles + Soles faced some real headwinds. Kids’ shoes may seem like a small, simple market, but in reality, it’s crowded with big brands, lots of competition, and rising costs—especially for businesses trying to make everything in the USA.
Managing inventory and production can get complicated, especially when your product line involves lots of interchangeable parts. Even with the Shark Tank exposure and Daymond John’s guidance, Baubles + Soles seemed to struggle with scaling their brand beyond their early surge in interest.
In January 2023, the founders announced on Instagram that it was time to move on. The company officially closed on March 1, 2023. There wasn’t one dramatic reason—just a mix of tough competition, pressure on margins, and the kind of challenges that make running a consumer product startup tough. The message was clear: they gave it their all, but Baubles + Soles had run its course.
What Customers Said and What the Nguyens Learned
If you look through customer reviews and social media posts, you’ll find a lot of appreciation for Lisa and Duc’s honest approach. People liked knowing the story behind the company. They also liked the environmental angle—knowing the shoes could be recycled and cleaned easily. Some customers found the baubles a bit pricey, and it wasn’t always easy to keep up with stock as the company grew.
It’s clear that the comments from families—the people actually using the shoes—meant a lot to the founders. Even in their closing announcement, Lisa and Duc thanked their customers for believing in their idea and helping them keep the lights on longer than they ever expected.
How Baubles + Soles Stands Out in Shark Tank History
It’s easy to view Shark Tank as a launchpad for overnight success, but the truth is, plenty of businesses struggle after the cameras stop rolling. Baubles + Soles is a good example of both the promise and the reality of the show. The right product, story, and pitch can help a company land a deal, but staying profitable (and growing) in the long run is a much taller mountain to climb.
Their story stands out for the realness and relatability of the founders—a mom and dad just trying to solve a real-life issue for their kid and, by extension, for thousands of other parents. For a while, they managed that, building a company that stood on its own feet, even if it didn’t end up as a household name.
So, What’s Next for the Baubles + Soles Team?
As of 2025, Baubles + Soles is no longer selling shoes or baubles. The official site is down, and their Instagram post is still there, thanking customers for the journey and saying goodbye. Occasionally, you can find leftover inventory floating around on resale sites or in online classifieds.
Lisa and Duc haven’t announced any big new ventures. They did say they’re grateful for the experience—even if it wasn’t an easy ride. They learned a lot, got to share their family story, and helped start conversations about sustainability and practicality in kids’ products. For everyday customers, maybe the main takeaway is that the people behind these businesses often care just as much as you do.
By the way, if you like following the ups and downs of real businesses after Shark Tank, you can find more brand updates and founder stories on Read My Business. It gives a useful look at what happens after the TV cameras leave, which is something we don’t always get to see.
Wrapping It Up
Baubles + Soles started as a small idea for a big problem—how can parents spend less, waste less, and have a little fun with their kids’ shoes? Lisa and Duc Nguyen chased that dream with all the energy and resourcefulness you’d expect from a startup family. Shark Tank gave them a push, and for a few years, their shoes found fans among parents who wanted something different.
At the end of the day, not every business sticks around forever, and that’s okay. The Nguyens showed what’s possible when you blend practicality with a little bit of creativity. They took a chance, built a brand, and were honest about when it was time to move on.
If you bought Baubles + Soles shoes, you’ve got a piece of Shark Tank history and, more importantly, the story of two parents who tried something new for their family and others. And that’s the kind of grounded business update that matters as much as any big TV handshake.
