Amber Lee Forrester founded Kane & Couture out of her home in 2008 because she struggled to find stylish, high quality and affordable dog clothes and accessories for her pet. As a passionate pet owner with a keen eye for style, she noticed a major gap in the booming pet industry. Most functional pet products lacked a high fashion. While luxury pet wear was far too expensive for the average consumer.
To solve this problem, she created a brand that blended contemporary fashion trends with everyday utility. Offering a wide array of designed dog collars, harnesses, leashes and apparel. Desperate for capital to fulfill large upcoming purchase orders and scale production, Amber pitched her business in Season 5 of Shark Tank. She walked into the Tank seeking an investment of $150,000 in exchange for a 33% equity stake in her company.
Her pitch sparked a debate, especially with Kevin O’Leary. But she eventually shook hands on a joint deal with Daymond John and Lori Greiner for $150,000 in exchange for 40% equity, dependent on hit sales targets. After the episode aired, Kane & Couture experienced a wave of exposure. Driving over 60,000 new visitors to its website and bringing in hundreds of orders. The business scaled its retail footprint.
Expanding its fashionable dog accessory line into more than 100 retail outlets nationwide. Major department stores, including Ross, expressed interest in placing bulk purchase orders. While the television segment ended in a handshake, the joint deal with Daymond John and Lori Greiner never closed off camera during the due diligence phase. Because the investment was tied to specific sales performance targets and opening order minimums.
The formal partnership dissolved once the cameras stopped rolling. Amber continued to run the company for several years, using the residual marketing power of the Shark Tank brand. She reorganized the entire business framework in 2017 to optimize operations. After dedicating eight years of hard work to growing the brand, Amber made the decision to step away from the business to pursue new professional pathways, officially shutting down Kane & Couture in January 2019.
Because Kane & Couture is no longer an active, operating business, its current net worth is $0. Amber transitioned into life coaching, parental education and wellness. Utilizing the valuable scaling and marketing skills she developed while building her original fashion pet brand.
Amber Lee Forrester went on Shark Tank asking for $150,000 for 33% of her company. This meant she thought her business was worth $454,545. She made a deal with Daymond John for $150,000 for 40%, lowering the valuation to $375,000. The episode was aired on September 27, 2013. The luxury pet fashion brand later shut down. The current net worth of Kane & Couture is $0.
Did The Kane & Couture Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, Kane & Couture secured a handshake deal on Shark Tank. Founder Amber Lee Forrester appeared on Season 5, Episode 5, where she walked away with a joint investment from Sharks Lori Greiner and Daymond John. Forrester entered the Tank seeking an initial investment of $150,000 for a 33% equity stake in her dog apparel brand. While some Sharks expressed hesitation regarding the competitive pet fashion market.
Daymond John and Lori Greiner saw potential and decided to team up. They countered her initial proposal with an offer of $150,000 in exchange for 40% equity in the company. The deal would only close if the company reached $300,000 to $400,000 in opening orders. Forrester accepted the counter offer and shook hands with both Sharks. Forrester had completed The Workshop at Macy’s, a retail vendor development program.
The brand possessed very healthy profit margins. Including a markup of over 100% on items like dog collars. The demand for high end, urban chic canine fashion was growing among modern dog owners. Kane & Couture utilized contract manufacturing, allowing production to scale based on seasonal purchase orders. Daymond John brought fashion industry expertise via FUBU, while Lori Greiner provided a direct route to television retail via QVC.
Kane & Couture Shark Tank Deal Table
Shark(s) Name
Offer and Demand
Counteroffer
Accepted?
Kevin O’Leary
Out
N/A
N/A
Mark Cuban
Out
N/A
N/A
Robert Herjavec
Out
N/A
N/A
Daymond + Lori
$75,000 from Lori + $75,000 from Daymond for a 40% stake in the business + Amber bringing in $400,000 in orders for the first year
N/A
Yes ($75,000 from Lori + $75,000 from Daymond for a 40% stake in the business + Amber bringing in $400,000 in orders for the first year)
Founders’ Backstory
Kane & Couture was founded by Amber Lee Forrester, an entrepreneur with a background in marketing and public relations. She launched the brand from her Hoboken, New Jersey, home in 2008. To fill a gap in the pet market by offering high end, urban chic fashion and accessories for dogs. Amber Lee Forrester is a Detroit native and graduate of Fordham Business School. She relocated to New York to pursue a career in fashion, marketing, and PR. Forrester brought her dog to marketing events in New York City.
She wanted her dog’s style to act as an extension of her own personal fashion aesthetic. She started by taking ordinary dog hoodies and customizing them with appliqués and patches. People asked where she purchased these customized items. Inspiring her to launch an entire urban inspired pet apparel line. Forrester appeared on Season 5, Episode 5 of ABC’s Shark Tank. She entered the tank seeking a $150,000 investment in exchange for a 33% stake in the company.
She shared that the company had already generated revenue and was available in over 80 retail outlets. She highlighted that she developed her retail skills through The Workshop at Macy’s, a program designed to help minority and women business owners scale to the demands of major retailers. After a negotiation with the investors including Kevin O’Leary Forrester secured a joint deal with two Sharks.
Lori Greiner (of QVC fame) and Daymond John (creator of FUBU) agreed to invest $150,000 in exchange for a 40% equity stake, contingent on reaching specific sales benchmarks. The exposure generated a spike in online traffic and pushed the brand into over 100 retail outlets nationwide. Forrester restructured the business in 2017 and has since shifted her career focus to life coaching, positive psychology and wellness through her company, Quartz Wellness Collective.
Kane & Couture Shark Tank Pitch
Amber Lee Forrester pitched Kane & Couture, an urban-chic pet lifestyle brand, on Season 5 of Shark Tank, securing a $150,000 deal for 40% equity from Lori Greiner and Daymond John. The pitch highlighted a gap in the market for affordable, high fashion pet accessories. Offering products like studded collars and functional carriers designed to align with owners’ personal styles. The business model focuses on a tiered product strategy ranging from the Signature line to more accessible collections distributed through retail partners like Macy’s.
During Shark Tank Season 5, Kane & Couture founder Amber Lee Forrester secured a deal by addressing concerns regarding high operational overhead, limited cash flow and the need to fund $120,000 in pending orders. Daymond John and Lori Greiner partnered to invest $150,000 for 40% equity. The negotiation focused on bridging the gap between high volume retail purchase orders and necessary working capital with the sharks impressed by the company’s existing retail presence. O’Leary, Herjavec and Cuban dropped out due to concerns over valuation and market crowding. John and Greiner saw strong brand building and QVC potential.
Why Some Sharks Said No
While Amber secured a handshake deal on television, three Sharks passed on the business due to concerns over high marketing costs, market scale and pricing dynamics. Some Sharks were initially hesitant due to the nature of the pet fashion industry. They worried the total addressable market for premium dog clothing was limited compared to standard everyday pet supplies.
The pet apparel space features low barriers to entry. Sharks like Kevin O’Leary expressed concern that large competitors and mass market retailers could replicate designs and undercut Kane & Couture’s price points. Building a brand in consumer apparel requires constant advertising and marketing investments. The founder admitted she needed help with her digital marketing and social media presence.
Sharks prefer entrepreneurs who have a strong direct to consumer marketing engine already in place. In the fashion industry, selling wholesale to major stores cuts into profit margins. Like many on screen Shark Tank agreements, this verbal contract is understood to have fallen apart or shifted off screen during the due diligence process. Kane & Couture operated for roughly a decade before the founder officially shut it down to pursue a new career path in positive psychology.
Where To Buy Kane & Couture Products and Product Features
The company offers a wide range of designer pet products, including collars, harnesses, leashes, coats, and hoodies that cater to pet owners looking for high-end fashion. The brand blends human fashion trends with pet functionality. Products feature distinct detailing like studs, bright neon hues, and metallic hardware that make dogs stand out.
Harnesses and collars are designed not just for looks, but for comfort and safety. They feature padded interiors to prevent distribution of pulling pressure across the dog’s chest rather than the neck. Items utilize durable materials ranging from high quality faux leathers to tough, weather resistant nylons and soft inner linings. The harnesses and apparel are adjustable with heavy duty clasps and closures to ensure a snug fit for varying dog breeds and chest sizes.
Founder Amber Lee Forrester appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank seeking investment for her edgy pet line. During her pitch, she brought several small dogs down the runway to showcase the aesthetic appeal of her harnesses and apparel. She secured a deal with Sharks Lori Greiner and Daymond John, who recognized the brand’s potential to bridge the gap between necessary pet supplies and high fashion lifestyle accessories. The show demonstrated how functional pet wear can act as a fashion statement while maintaining structural integrity for daily walks and outings.
What Happened To Kane & Couture After Shark Tank?
Kane & Couture experienced an immediate surge in brand awareness and web traffic following their Season 5 Shark Tank appearance. However, the initial deal struck with Lori Greiner and Daymond John ultimately fell through during the due diligence process and never officially closed. Despite not finalizing the on air partnership, founder Amber Lee Forrester used the national television exposure to expand the dog apparel and lifestyle brand.
Within weeks of the initial broadcast, the company saw over 60,000 new visitors to its online store and hundreds of new orders. Capitalizing on the publicity, Kane & Couture expanded its product line and secured distribution in over 100 retail outlets across the country. The company was accepted into “The Workshop at Macy’s,” a vendor development program that focuses on minority and female owned businesses to sustain and scale retail growth.
After operating for a decade, Forrester underwent a business reorganization in 2017 to adapt to changing market dynamics. The founder decided to shut down Kane & Couture operations in January 2019. Kane & Couture is permanently inactive as a retail business. The domain and brand are no longer operating, and Forrester transitioned into a different field. Today, Amber Lee Forrester works as a certified Positive Psychology educator, consultant, and speaker. She runs the Quartz Wellness Collective, helping individuals and organizations with personal development and holistic wellbeing.
Conclusion
Kane & Couture, a pioneering pet fashion and lifestyle brand. Transformed from a small, resource-strapped apparel startup into a recognized staple within the booming pet accessories industry. Boosted by its iconic appearance on Shark Tank. The journey from a concept to a known enterprise demonstrates the true power of television exposure. The Kane & Couture journey remains an ideal Shark Tank success story, proving that the right television exposure can permanently alter the growth trajectory of an innovative small business.
Hey there! I’m Fatima Shoaib, a passionate content writer who believes in creative solutions. Reading enthusiast and storyteller, dedicated and eager to apply my skills to a fast-paced environment and make a positive impact in the industry.Currently focusing on current business projects and goals, I aim to stay passionate about driving results in the business sector. This connection that I felt towards business was because of Shark Talent. I am always exploring to binge into new episodes of Shark Tank. Read more About me.
