Skiing can be a lot of fun, but it can also be frustrating, especially when it comes to using ski poles. Regular ski poles can be heavy, hard to carry around, and often made from cheap materials that don’t look great or work well. This was a problem for Kelly McGee and Cristina Ashbaugh, two friends who love skiing. They noticed these issues and decided to create a better option: Yardsale, a brand that sells innovative ski poles that stick together with magnets.
These special ski poles are not only easier to handle because they stay together, but they also look stylish and come in different colors. This means skiers can enjoy both practicality and a little flair on the slopes. To grow their business, Kelly and Cristina went on the TV show Shark Tank to present Yardsale and asked for $200,000 in exchange for a 10% share of the company.
During their presentation, they explained how their ski poles solve common problems and shared their future plans for the brand. After some negotiation, they reached a deal with guest investor Kendra Scott, who agreed to give them $250,000 for the same 10% share, plus a small fee for each pole sold until she recoups her investment.
Yardsale Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025
Kelly and Cristina were looking for an investment of $200k in exchange for 10% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, they valued their company at $2 million. Kelly and Cristina successfully secured a deal with Kendra Scott for an investment of $250k for 10% equity in the company. The investment adjusted the company’s net worth to around $2.5 million. After the show was aired, the company experienced a good boost in exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Yardsale in 2025 is around $2.1 million.
Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
Kendra Scott | 1# $200,000 for 20% equity + a royalty of $3 per unit sold until $200,000 is paid. 2# $200,000 for 10% equity plus a royalty of $5 per unit sold until $300,000 is paid. | 1# $200,000 for 8% equity plus a royalty of $5 per unit sold until $300,000 is paid. 2# $200,000 for 8% equity plus a royalty of $5 per unit sold until $250,000 is paid. 3# $250,000 for 10% equity + a royalty of $5 per unit sold until $300,000 is paid. | Yes |
Lori Greiner | Out | N/A | N/A |
Kevin O’Leary | 1# $200,000 for 20% equity + distribution rights 2# $200,000 for $15 equity + a royalty of $3 per unit sold until $400,000 is paid. | $200,000 for 8% equity plus a royalty of $5 per unit sold until $300,000 is paid. | No |
Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
Mark Cuban | Out | N/A | N/A |
Kelly McGee and Cristina Ashbaugh Backstory + Their Initial Pitch
Kelly McGee and Cristina Ashbaugh are enthusiastic skiers who wanted to improve the ski experience after being frustrated with traditional ski poles. They found that typical ski poles were inconvenient to carry, unappealing in design, and offered little in terms of customization. This dissatisfaction led them to develop a new product called Yardsale.
Creating Yardsale was a challenging process. They had to carefully select materials and design poles that were not only functional but also stylish. To make their poles unique and easier to carry, they incorporated magnets in the handles and baskets, which allowed the poles to stick together for convenience.
When they showcased their product on the TV show Shark Tank, they confidently explained how the poles worked and their business strategy. Each pole costs $30 to make but sells for $139, which gives them a high profit margin of 75%. In just their first month, they sold $100,000 worth of poles and aimed to hit $300,000 in sales by the end of 2024.
In their pitch, they sought $200,000 in investment to boost their inventory, enhance marketing efforts, and grow their presence in retail stores. Notably, well-known retailers like REI and Backcountry were already interested in carrying their innovative ski poles.
Queries + Shark’s Responses, and Final Deal
Lori Greiner: She didn’t feel excited about the product because she isn’t passionate about skiing and didn’t like its name, so she chose not to invest.
Daymond John: He admitted that he doesn’t enjoy skiing either. Because he didn’t think the investment was a good fit for him, he decided to back out.
Mark Cuban: Similar to the others, he also has no interest in skiing and decided not to invest as well.
Kevin O’Leary: Although he liked the product, he was more focused on how it could be sold (distribution). He proposed giving $200,000 for 20% ownership of the company. The creators countered with a different offer that included a smaller percentage of ownership but a royalty on sales, which he declined, sticking to his original offer.
Kendra Scott: She saw potential in the product, particularly because of its unique customizable features and lifestyle brand appeal. She initially offered $200,000 for 20% ownership and a royalty per unit sold. After negotiating, they reached a final deal of $250,000 for 10% ownership and a higher royalty until the investment was repaid.
Overall, the responses show varying levels of interest among the investors, primarily influenced by their personal preferences regarding skiing and their views on the product’s market potential. Kendra ultimately made a deal that involved both equity and royalty, showing her belief in the product’s success.
Product Availability
Yardsale makes really cool ski poles that are not only stylish but also full of neat features! They offer five different sizes, which means you can find one that’s just right for you, even a special adjustable size for kids.
One of the coolest things about these ski poles is that they have magnets in the handles and the baskets (the round part at the bottom). These magnets make it super easy to carry them around. Plus, you can choose from five different colors to make your ski poles unique and match your style!
You can buy these poles directly from Yardsale’s website. They’re also looking to sell them in big stores, which is great because it means more people will be able to find them. Some well-known outdoor stores like REI and Backcountry are interested in selling their poles.
The price of each ski pole is $139, and Yardsale makes a pretty good profit from each sale, which is called a 75% gross margin. That just means they earn a lot of money compared to how much it costs them to make each pole!
What Happened To The Yardsale After Shark Tank?
After Yardsale appeared on the TV show Shark Tank, where they pitched their business to investors, they became very popular and got a lot of attention in the news. Big magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Forbes wrote articles about them, which helped more people learn about their products. Their special product called the P1 Poles even won a prize for good design!
Because of their success, Yardsale started making new products, including the P2 poles and smaller Mini P1 poles. They also began selling clothing, like a stylish crewneck sweater for men and a wool hat with their logo on it. Plus, more people started following them on social media, which means they were getting more popular online, too.
By today, Yardsale is doing really well. They used the exposure from Shark Tank to create a strong brand, and they are on track to make $2.1 million in sales next year. That’s a lot of money, showing how successful they’ve become!
Conclusion
Kelly McGee and Cristina Ashbaugh had an amazing adventure with their business called Yardsale. They saw that skiers needed better ski poles, ones that were not only useful but looked cool too. So, they came up with an idea to make special poles that matched what skiers wanted.
One big moment in their story was when they went on the TV show Shark Tank. This show is where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of successful business people (the “sharks”) in hopes of getting support. Kelly and Cristina impressed the sharks, and they ended up making a deal with a well-known designer named Kendra Scott! This helped launch their business into the spotlight.
Since that moment, Yardsale has become really popular. They have added more products to what they sell, gotten a lot of attention from the media, and have developed a strong group of fans who love their ski poles. Their journey teaches us that when you’re passionate about something and work hard to solve a problem, you can achieve great things.
If you ski and want ski poles that are both stylish and functional, Yardsale is definitely worth checking out. You can visit their website and connect with other skiers who value quality and style in their gear!

Hey, I’m Amna Habib, an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Shark Tank has always been one of my favorite TV shows because it offers a unique glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship. The way entrepreneurs present innovative solutions to everyday problems aligns with my academic interests and fuels my curiosity about business strategies. Each pitch showcases creativity and strategic decision-making, which I find both insightful and inspiring. Watching the show has deepened my passion for business and motivated me to explore the world of entrepreneurship even further. Beyond business and writing, I love food, shopping, and spending time with my friends and family.