Tones of Melanin was, in my opinion, the best pitch of all the pitches in Shark Tank Episode 22. The company set out to solve a problem that was already existent in HBCUs: an absence of unique and appealing college merchandise. College stuff is already incredibly costly, usually ranging between $60 and $100+, and with that price tag, you’d expect it to at least look good, but most of the time it doesn’t. Ashley, the company’s owner, creates college gear that is sure to appeal to the population it is mainly targeting: college students. The clothing falls into the category of cool looking streetwear, which is a fashion category that many people are already enjoying. Ashley also highlights how some of the pieces are reversible, which adds versatility to the clothing while also making the apparel cost-effective given that most of the outfits are already of high quality. Because of this, people would be greatly enticed to buy things from Tones of Melanin.
Ashley should hire student ambassadors to promote and sell Tones of Melanin merchandise at different schools to improve the brand’s advertising. This would help her brand become well-known in the market she is selling in, and growing popularity among HBCUs would most likely help her get licensed by colleges faster. Obtaining more school licenses would improve her brand’s sales by allowing her to sell in more school-specific retailers.