Today’s special guest is Miles Huffman. Maurice and Miles own and operate a military surplus and outdoor gear company called Swiss Link out of Chico, California which is where the StormBags are manufactured. Many of you may already know him from his appearance on Shark Tank. We have already covered the Stormbag Shark Tank Update separately, so you can check that out. Miles played a key role in rebuilding the business after the 2018 Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise, CA, along with their homes and businesses.
Recently, I contacted Miles for a short email interview. He was responsive and answered all of my questions. He kindly shared his journey, from showcasing the StormBag at a Natural Disaster Trade Show to his appearance on Shark Tank. His story is one of resilience and innovation, and I’m excited to share his insights with you.
Introduction and Background
Sara: Please tell me about yourself, your background, education, experience, and position in the company.
Miles: Maurice Huffman: father of Miles, inventor of the StormBags, owner of Swiss-Link, Inc (which manufactures the StormBag). Grew up in Heidelberg, Germany. Immigrated to the US in the late 1980s. Miles Huffman: strongman competitor, graphic designer by trade, co-owner of Swisslink.com. Grew up in Paradise, CA (United States). After the Camp Fire in 2018 which destroyed the entire town of Paradise (including the business and miles’ and maurice’s homes as well as most of the employees homes) I decided to help my father, Maurice, rebuild the business.
Pre-Shark Tank Preparation
Sara: Can you describe the journey and preparation that led up to your pitch on Shark Tank?
Miles: In 2022, Maurice and I decided to take the StormBag to a Natural Disaster Trade Show in Los Angeles. It was a huge success and brought a lot of attention to the product. I decided to film a TikTok video which went viral. Realizing that this product would be good for homeowners and every-day consumers, not just the government (we have been making them for the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Hawaii), we decided to bring the StormBag to Shark Tank after that.
Valuation and Strategy
Sara: How did you decide on the valuation you presented to the sharks, and what was the strategy behind your initial ask?
Miles: The valuation was based on projected sales after the surge in popularity after the trade show and TikTok success.
Post-Shark Tank Impact
Sara: What happened to your company after appearing on Shark Tank in terms of investments and business growth?
Miles: Sales immediately went through the roof. We have had to expand our manufacturing and we are now exporting the StormBag all over the world.
Current Valuation
Sara: What is your company’s net worth today?
Miles: Latest valuation is at $18M.
Additional Investments
Sara: Have you secured any investments from other investors since your appearance on Shark Tank?
Miles: No, as a matter of fact we ultimately decided not to move forward with the investment offered by Mark and Lori and have been tackling the business on our own.
Business Strategy Evolution
Sara: How has your business strategy or operations changed after your appearance on Shark Tank?
Miles: We’ve shifted focus a bit to sell the StormBag direct to consumer as opposed to simply fulfilling government orders.
Challenges
Sara: What were the biggest challenges you’ve faced since your appearance on Shark Tank, and how have you addressed them?
Miles: Our biggest challenge was to keep up with the surge in demand, but we were able to quickly scale to meet it.
Long-term Objectives and Influence
Sara: What are the long-term goals for your company, and how has Shark Tank influenced these goals?
Miles: We are working on getting the StormBag into retail stores across the country to supplement our direct-to-consumer business as well as the international export we have been focusing on recently.
Advice for Future Contestants
Sara: What advice would you give future entrepreneurs considering applying for Shark Tank?
Miles: Do it! There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. If anything, you’ll learn more about yourself and your business in the preparation for the show.
Hello everyone, I’m Sara Javed. I’m an IT professional expert with project management and design skills. Besides writing, I love playing video games, designing digital art, and reading books. I love Shark Tank due to its innovative business idea and unpredicted reactions of Sharks. This keeps me glued to the screens to watch the next catchy moment. Read more About me.
