If you’ve ever wrestled with your reading glasses at the hair salon or tried to peep at your phone while getting a color treatment, you’ll get why Bunny Eyez struck a chord with so many people. Bunny Eyez is a small eyewear company built around a deceptively simple idea: reading glasses you can flip, tilt, and adjust on the fly. Instead of taking them off or pushing them around, you flex the patented “black diamond” hinges and make them work however you need.
The company was started by two sisters, Jenny Hutt and Stacy Fritz, along with longtime friend Andrea Gluck. The Bunny Eyez name is sentimental—it’s a tribute to Jenny and Stacy’s late mother, Bunny, which adds a personal twist to the brand’s story. The sisters came up with the concept after Jenny’s frustrating experience at a hair salon, sparking the “there’s got to be a better way” moment most entrepreneurs know all too well.
The Shark Tank Experience
When Bunny Eyez landed a spot on Shark Tank in Season 15, they went in looking for both cash and guidance. Their ask? Two hundred thousand dollars for 10% of the company. The pitch kicked off with the ordinary struggle Jenny faced at the salon, but once they showed how the glasses could flip and tilt for different situations—reading, TV, or even hands-free during a blowout—it was easy to see why the design stood out.
The patented hinge was the real showstopper. The sisters made sure the sharks tried the glasses on for themselves, giving a hands-on demo of how the hinges worked. That made it more about usefulness than just style, and you could see the panel’s interest perk up.
As negotiations started, the usual Shark Tank tension came into play. The sharks asked about sales numbers, margins, and what made Bunny Eyez better than regular readers or clip-ons. After some back and forth, Daymond John came in with a deal: $200,000 for 20% of the company, and a $2 royalty on every unit sold. There was a twist, though. The royalty would disappear and his equity would drop to 15% after he got his money back. The sisters weighed their options, but Daymond’s retail experience made him the partner they wanted. They shook hands on air.
Pre-Shark Tank Journey
A lot happened before Bunny Eyez ever set foot on the Shark Tank set. The company started selling in 2018 and moved quickly. In their first year, they cleared $600,000 in sales, ramping up to $1.9 million the next year. You might think they were set for smooth sailing, but things didn’t get easier.
Like many small businesses, Bunny Eyez hit a wall in 2020 when the pandemic scrambled supply chains. Suddenly, things that seemed simple—like keeping products in stock—became daily headaches. They watched revenue dip from $1.3 million in 2020 to $700,000 in 2021 and $400,000 in 2022, which was a tough pill to swallow after early momentum.
At the same time, things were rough at home. The sisters were taking care of their father as he battled cancer. Balancing family with work is hard for anyone, but the stakes felt higher with an entire business depending on them. When their father passed away—on the same day they re-launched their website on Black Friday 2022—it was an emotional hit right as they were trying to get back on track. That mix of personal loss and business setbacks would have stopped a lot of people. For Bunny Eyez, it meant adjusting expectations and hanging on for the next phase.
Business Growth After Shark Tank
The exposure that comes from pitching on Shark Tank is hard to put a price on. Bunny Eyez was suddenly on national TV, and millions of viewers were hearing their story. The immediate reaction showed up in online traffic, social media mentions, and—no surprise—sales. After the episode aired, they launched a big Cyber Monday sale with 30% off. People jumped on the offer, and products started selling out.
The company also leaned into the momentum by staying vocal online. Jenny, being a media personality already, used her radio show and podcast platform to highlight Bunny Eyez products. The team sent out press releases, talked about their Shark Tank experience, and kept the conversation going. That “stay top of mind” approach can help keep a Shark Tank boost alive after the buzz dies down.
Even Daymond John, their new partner, talked about the deal on his own channels. His involvement brought credibility, especially with his retail background and connections. Bunny Eyez’s early communication post-show emphasized that Daymond was an active adviser, helping shape new strategies rather than just lending his name.
Product Line Expansion
With more eyes on their brand (no pun intended), Bunny Eyez quickly upped their product game. They started with just their flip/tilt reading glasses, but now the site offers way more styles and solutions. There are now options for both men and women, plus sunglasses, readers with different strengths, prescription-ready frames, and blue light blocking glasses for folks staring at devices all day.
Beyond just looks, they began offering limited-edition styles and tinkering with features based on customer feedback. Want bigger frames? Need a new color? They considered those requests as part of their ongoing updates. The focus is on practical design—the same simple hinge idea, just packaged for varied preferences and needs.
This expansion wasn’t about chasing fads. Instead, it grew from real customer questions and suggestions. That kind of loop is what helps small consumer brands feel personal, even when they start to scale.
Online Sales and Availability
Making Bunny Eyez available Amazon was a smart move, especially after TV brought thousands of curious shoppers. The Amazon storefront saw several items sell out post-airing, proof that shoppers prefer to grab products wherever they already browse. That’s an instant sales channel boost most brands hope for when they go on national television.
Their own website sales haven’t slowed, either. By running promotions—especially around major shopping weekends—they kept web traffic high. Reviews have been positive, with buyers pointing out the convenience of the design for everything from crafting to bedtime reading. Some even posted demos on social media, spreading the word through pure word-of-mouth.
If you want to check out other small businesses with unusual Shark Tank journeys, you might like what’s covered at Read My Business.
Founders’ Continued Role and Observations
Even as Bunny Eyez grows, the founders haven’t faded into the background. Jenny Hutt, in particular, still splits her energy between her media work and running the business. She regularly talks about Bunny Eyez on her radio show and podcasts, connecting with fans who followed her before and after Shark Tank.
For Jenny, the new business is more than just a job. She’s called Bunny Eyez “the most exciting business venture in my life so far.” The way she describes it, the business remains personal—a tribute to her mother, a bonding project with her sister, and now, something reaching people all over the country.
In interviews, Jenny and Stacy are candid about the mix of luck and grit involved in the Bunny Eyez story. They don’t claim to have all the answers, but they do stress how much learning comes from actually talking to customers and adjusting fast. There’s no magic trick, just a lot of little steps stacked on top of each other.
It’s also worth noting that neither founder plans to “hand things off.” For them, showing up, checking orders, testing new styles, and handling social media remain part of the daily routine. That’s probably why Bunny Eyez still feels approachable, even as they add new products and partners.
Where Bunny Eyez Stands Now
Today, Bunny Eyez is somewhere between scrappy startup and established niche brand. The Shark Tank deal brought money and expertise, but more importantly, it kicked up visibility at a time when the company needed a lift. The founders are still at the helm, small enough to pivot, but big enough to try out new collaborations and sales channels.
The challenge now is to turn the TV spotlight into steady, repeated sales. That means figuring out what customers want next and building on the product’s real-world usefulness, not just its story. If Bunny Eyez can keep their unique edge while listening to feedback, they’ve got a shot at long-term success, not just a Shark Tank spike.
It’s a good reminder that sometimes, the solution to an everyday hassle—like clumsy reading glasses—just needs a little tweak. And, maybe, one big push in front of millions of viewers.
