ABQ business set to make an appearance on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ this week

An Albuquerque-based outdoor kids gear company will be in the national spotlight this week when it appears on ABC’s “Shark Tank.”

That business is Morrison Outdoors, a company that makes sleeping bags for children. The episode, set to air at 7 p.m. on Friday, will feature founder Tavis Malcolm making his pitch to a group of famous investors, also known as “sharks,” with the hope of striking a deal for an investment.

Malcolm and his family learned last month that his episode, recorded last fall, would be airing on television.

“Everybody’s just so excited,” Malcolm said.

Morrison Outdoors’ signature product is sleeping bags for children ranging from 6 months to 6 years old. The design of the sleeping bags is similar to a sleep sack, with sleeves for the arms.

Malcolm launched the business while he and his wife, Amber, lived in Denver. It is now based in Albuquerque — Amber Malcolm’s hometown and the couple’s home since 2022.

The business concept was ignited as many often are: with an everyday problem inspiring a solution.

Malcolm and his wife wanted to go camping with their first son, Morrison, when he was a baby in 2018, but could not find a sleeping bag that was safe for a baby and warm enough for camping. The situation prompted Malcolm to design his own.

“We took it camping and I decided, you know what, people might really be into this,” Malcolm said.

He quit his marketing job to pursue developing the product full time and ultimately launched the business in 2019 with a Kickstarter funding campaign that aimed to raise $10,000 in preorders.

“We ended up getting over $16,000 from that first campaign, and so we’ve kind of been off and running ever since,” Malcolm said.

Today, Morrison Outdoors sleeping bags are sold in more than 40 stores across the United States and Canada, including sporting goods stores REI and Scheels. Morrison Outdoors sleeping bags that are for infants and toddlers and can withstand 20- and 40-degree temperatures are on REI’s website ranging from $84.95 to $179.95.

The sleeping bag has a secure collar, ensuring an infant doesn’t slip inside and suffocate, as well as a zipper that zips from the bottom up, preventing escape and allowing diaper changes without having to remove the child from the sleeping bag.

The easy-to-pack product makes it easier for outdoor-loving parents to take their kids camping, backpacking and adventuring.

All of this and more Malcolm pitched to investors, including Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful,” and a rotating lineup of three more sharks after Malcolm went through what he described as a long and thorough application process last summer.

“It’s funny, people have always been saying that, ‘Oh, you should put this on “Shark Tank,”’ and I never really quite felt ready until last summer. Almost on a whim, I decided to apply,” Malcolm said.

Once he learned that he would have the opportunity to present to the sharks, Malcolm began preparing by watching the show, studying the kinds of questions asked, crafting answers to those questions, memorizing his two-minute pitch, drilling the business’ numbers into his brain and doing mini practice panels with friends and family.

All the preparation led to that one moment: walking down the infamous “Shark Tank” hall, with doors opening to stares from one Mr. Wonderful and four other sharks.

“I was very nervous. ... It’s tough when you’re up there because it’s more rapid-fire than you kind of see on the show,” Malcolm said. “Before you can finish, they’re skipping to a whole other topic, asking you questions at the same time.”

But once he got settled in and the nerves faded, Malcolm said the experience turned into a more intimate conversation.

“At first, it’s nerve-wracking, but then eventually, you’re just talking shop,” the founder said.

While Malcolm could not yet share the results of the pitch and whether a deal was made, the founder did say the experience was “once in a lifetime.”

“It was really validating. As an entrepreneur, you’re constantly second-guessing yourself. ... I think being invited to do something like ‘Shark Tank’ shows that you’re doing something right,” Malcolm said. “They’re all such business geniuses, so being able to pitch to them and talk about my business was just really cool.”

Malcolm hopes the TV appearance elicits a boost in sales, and brings more attention to the brand as a leader in kids’ camping gear.

The continued future of Morrison Outdoors in Albuquerque includes a plan to move warehousing from California to the Duke City, which Malcolm said would save the company thousands of dollars and add jobs to the local economy.

Malcolm is establishing roots in New Mexico in more ways than one. He also recently became vice chair of endeavOR New Mexico, a nonprofit and business alliance supporting the state’s outdoor recreation businesses.

“We really like going up in the Jemez and up in the Taos Gorge and down to the Gila,” said Malcolm, a father of three. “We’re having a lot of fun in New Mexico.”