Glove Wrap on 'Shark Tank': 8-year-old's invention to solve the age-old problem of breaking-in gloves
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Fans of 'Shark Tank' in Orange County may recognize some familiar faces on the show when a family pitches a product that passed through the hands of a Little Leaguer and into the locker rooms of the Angels and Dodgers.
Jon Batarse from Tustin is slated to appear in front of a panel of possible investors — aka 'sharks'— with his 8-year-old son Gavin and 11-year-old daughter Morgan to pitch them 'Glove Wrap', a tool used to mold and break in baseball/softball gloves and hockey goalies.
The device, which was developed in early 2022, is a solution to the age-old challenge of altering stiffly made leather gloves and mitts into flexible, performance-ready items.
Whereas Gavin is more of a pitchman and the brand's face, his father assists with many of the logistical and marketing strategies that only an adult could, while Morgan acts as an operations manager.
What is Glove Wrap?
Glove Wrap, like most necessary innovations, arose out of need. Back in January 2022. Gavin, then aged 6, purchased a new baseball glove that needed to be broken in.
The Batarses usually did this by inserting a baseball into the leather glove and wrapping hundreds of rubber bands firmly around its exterior. The rest was taken care of by time and physics. But there was a dilemma on that fateful day.
Gavin pondered about it for a while and ultimately went to his father with an idea: what if, instead of 50 to 100 rubber bands, they could use one huge one?
That simple proposal triggered a series of purchases and tests of various materials, scaled and cut into various configurations until the ideal mix of thickness and flexibility was found.
The ultimate product was a sheet of latex-free rubber that, when wrapped tightly around a glove, tucked in at the ends, and left overnight, offered exactly the right amount of broken-in feel for instant gameplay.
The Batarses considered the next steps and established how the innovation would be packaged, manufactured, and priced after coming up with the self-explanatory moniker Glove Wrap. Its yellow and black color scheme, chosen for visibility, has the extra benefit of striking out from any one team's colors.
In the realm of sports, the quality and condition of an athlete's equipment may have a considerable impact on their performance. The glove is an important piece of equipment in hockey, softball, and baseball.
Despite its importance, breaking in a new glove has always been difficult, necessitating intricate and time-consuming procedures. Glove Wrap, a product designed by a Southern California family with a profound love for softball and baseball, sprang from this universal difficulty.
Glove Wrap, which was created to streamline the normally time-consuming process of breaking in new gloves, is attracting the interest of athletes of all ages and ability levels.
Utility and simplicity are at the heart of Glove Wrap. The product consists of a latex-free, thermoplastic elastomer band that has been meticulously engineered in terms of thickness, breadth, and length to apply the appropriate amount of pressure to mold the glove.
Glove Wrap's application technique is simple, making it suitable for individuals of all ages. To begin the reshaping process, a ball is placed in the glove's pocket.
The Glove Wrap is then snugly wrapped around the glove, facilitating the breaking-in process. For optimal results, leave the wrapped glove overnight before unwrapping it in the morning.
Traditional techniques of breaking in gloves can be time-consuming and inconvenient. They may include several processes as well as the use of oils or other compounds that might harm the glove material, reducing its lifespan.
Glove Wrap alleviates these concerns, allowing athletes to concentrate on their game rather than on glove care.
With a finished product in hand, the family approached their various networks in their school and Little League communities, where individuals eagerly became early users of the new technology.
But it was merely the beginning. Glove Wrap shot to national prominence when the Batarses began giving out samples to big-league players and posting videos of their adventures on Instagram and other social media accounts.
Among those included were Angels players Mike Trout, Brett Phillips, and Eduardo Escobar, as well as members of the Los Angeles Dodgers' bench, including Chris Taylor.
Most just accepted the merchandise and congratulated Gavin on his ingenious creation. Outfielder Phillips, on the other hand, went a step further, applying Glove Wrap on his own brand-new Wilson 'I love baseball!' glove in his own video.
Who is the founder of Glove Wrap?
Eight-year-old baseball player Gavin Batarse, faced a hurdle that had frustrated players for decades: breaking in a new glove. The stiffness and rigidity of a new glove may be detrimental to performance, as Gavin was well aware.
Gavin worked with his father Jon, who is also his baseball instructor, and his sister Morgan to discover an effective technique to soften his new glove for best performance.
Gavin had an idea after repeated tries to soften the glove using standard methods ranging from oiling it to manually manipulating the leather. As a result, Glove Wrap was created, an innovative instrument meant to break in and shape gloves with astonishing simplicity.
It was a watershed event for both Gavin and Jon, who viewed it as a chance to instill business skills in his children. The Batarse family was soon on the set of the iconic TV show 'Shark Tank' to pitch their concept.
It wasn't simply a business presentation, but an event the family will remember as a lesson in perseverance, inventiveness, and tenacity.
Challenging the kids to think outside the box is nothing new for Jon, who, in addition to serving as executive pastor at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, runs his own marketing firm.
He believes in entrepreneurship and its ability to foster ingenuity, diligence, and confidence in those who practice it.
What is the cost and where to buy Glove Wrap?
Glove Wrap is a massive sheet of rubber that completely wraps around your glove, creating the ideal pocket. Other ways of making a proper glove pocket are dirty and time-consuming, and they may actually reduce the life of your glove.
Simply place a ball in the glove, wrap it tightly, and leave it overnight. You may repeat the process as many times as you like until your glove feels comfortable. It's an excellent method to safeguard your investment in a new glove for $19.99.
Interested individuals can purchase Glove Wrap from the company's official website as well as Amazon.
On Amazon, people have left positive reviews like, "Came across this product on a Reel on Instagram and took a chance and bought one. Absolutely love it! Had a competitor's wrap and this one is far better!"
On the company's official website, one customer also wrote, "My 13U son has a 1st base mitt that we’ve been trying to break in for 7 months. We didn’t want to steam it. We wanted to maintain the structure for scoops. I saw your page and product and ordered a Glove Wrap immediately."
The customer continued, "Not only was it a product we needed, but I will support a kid going outside and playing, and a kid who uses imagination to positively impact our sport and our world any day! I can say that after two days in the Glove Wrap, the 1st base mitt is just about perfect now."
"Please keep up the great work. You have an incredible family, a wonderful product, and a story that is inspiring. Good luck this season, you’ve already hit it out of the park!" the reviewer concluded.
Another customer added, "My son plays little league baseball. He had the hardest time using his glove until we broke it in with Glove Wrap™."
One customer wrote, "I bought my dream glove for softball and this worked perfectly for breaking it in. Thank you!!"
One buyer also noted, "Can't believe I used to drive over my baseball glove to break it in. Haha! I've tried all the 'old' methods in the past, but this is brilliant."
Where is Glove Wrap now?
Sales have been encouraging after only two years, and the Batarses are already exploring new items, such as Glove Rub, which keeps glove leather pliant and supple.
Last summer, the family decided to apply for a spot on the reality show 'Shark Tank,' in which innovators and start-up businesses pitch their wares to industry titans.
Despite the lengthy procedure, Glove Wrap will eventually air in front of a nationwide audience on October 13. The Batarses are planning a screening party with friends and family members because they are unable to divulge specifics about the filming or the results.
Regardless of TV stardom, celebrity endorsements, or five-star ratings, the Tustin family's experience testing, developing, producing, and selling Glove Wrap as a family has been both a learning and a bonding experience.
Glove Wrap has garnered a devoted following in its short time on the market, with roughly 100,000 fans across platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Their films have received over 30 million views, reflecting the widespread support of the sports community, from tee ball players to pros.
According to Jon, the invention has received an enormously good reaction, fulfilling Gavin's ambition of delivering this essential equipment to some of his favorite professional players.
While the products are exclusively available through their own website, the Batarses intend to broaden their reach. They want Glove Wrap to be available to all players, sold in a variety of locations, and not only on their website.
They seek to encourage a new generation of young entrepreneurs to convert their innovative ideas into practical solutions by doing so.
Who will steal the deal?
Gavin and associates are most likely looking for the assistance of the Sharks in breaking into large box sports goods stores.
Jon, Morgan, and Gavin will pitch the company and its development potential to a panel of five Sharks. They'll have to persuade Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner, Barbara Corcoran, and Guest Shark Michael Rubin that the firm is worth investing in.
A decent business plan, good financials, and sales statistics will impress the panelists, but they must also demonstrate their ability to operate the firm to the Sharks' standards.
Sharks Mark and Michael may show some interest and invest in the deal.
'Shark Tank' Season 15, Episode 3 airs on ABC on Friday, October 13, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Glove Wrap, Wellingtons, Bot-It, and Dating by Blaine.
Missed episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Not just that, viewers can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.