"It sounds simple" When Nearly Newlywed found success beyond Shark Tank 

Jackie Courtney once said of her journey to Shark Tank with Nearly Newlywed:

"Being an entrepreneur and an innovator in the sustainability and wedding spaces came to define me,"

Elaborating:

"It sounds simple, but it isn't and it was a very hard road to navigate internally."

That road led her to Shark Tank in 2012, where she pitched her wedding dress resale marketplace, hoping to secure $35,000 for 10% of the business. The idea? Brides could buy designer gowns at a fraction of the cost and then sell them back when done. It was a fresh take on affordability and sustainability in an industry known for extravagance. But the Sharks weren’t convinced making her walk away without a deal.

For many, that would have been the end. But for Courtney, it was just the beginning.

What happened during Nearly Newlywed’s Shark Tank pitch?

Before Nearly Newlywed, Courtney worked as a publicist, loaning designer pieces to celebrities and influencers. When she got engaged, she wondered why brides couldn’t have the same access to high-end fashion. That question turned into an idea, and the idea turned into a business.

"I was working as a publicist at the time, and we loaned dresses to people all the time," she said to The Glossy Podcast.

Adding:

"So when I got engaged, it was like, 'Well, why can't that be for me?'"

From the start, Nearly Newlywed aimed to change the way brides shop. The company offered pre-owned, sample, and overstock gowns at lower prices, making designer dresses more accessible. Brides could resell their garments directly through Nearly Newlywed, in contrast to conventional resale websites.

It was a brave move to appear on Shark Tank during the company's first year. Should the entrepreneurs' pitch to a group of investors known as the "Sharks" go well, the show can revolutionize the corporate world.

Courtney highlighted the possibility of recurring business as she described her company plan. However, the excitement in the group subsided when she disclosed that she had only sold four outfits in her first month.

Robert Herjavec and Barbara Corcoran chose not to participate, citing issues with the business plan. Despite his interest, Daymond John eventually passed. Kevin O'Leary was the only person ready to make an offer, offering $35,000 in exchange for 40% of the business.

That was four times the equity Courtney had originally offered. She refused. No deal.

Walking away empty-handed didn’t slow things down.

"Going on Shark Tank in the first year of our business was really huge, because suddenly millions of people knew the name of our company and what we were trying to build," Courtney later told Medium.

The exposure gave Nearly Newlywed a boost, and the business kept growing. By 2019, the website was on track to hit 1 million users. The company expanded beyond dresses, becoming a full-fledged marketplace for wedding-related items, including jewelry and accessories.

What happened to Nearly Newlywed post Shark Tank?

In 2020, Nearly Newlywed was acquired by another company, marking the end of Courtney’s involvement. Reflecting on her time with the brand, she told the Web3 with MCG podcast that she was proud to have helped brides with their big day and budgeting for life afterward. Sustainability remained a core focus throughout her journey with the company.

Today, Nearly Newlywed is still in business. The website continues to sell new, pre-owned, and sample gowns from designers like Monique Lhuillier and Vera Wang. Brides can still resell their dresses, earning 70% of the sale price. The company has built a strong online presence, with over 19,600 followers on Instagram and another 19,000 on Facebook.

Courtney's career didn’t slow down after Nearly Newlywed. According to her LinkedIn, she’s now the founder of QUALIA, a technology company focused on investing in and supporting arts and fashion. She’s also an investor in brands like Aplós, House of Wine, and DORÉ.

Her advice for entrepreneurs? Be prepared for the unexpected.

"It sounds simple, but it isn't," she once said about navigating the world of business.

Her journey—from pitching on Shark Tank to running a successful brand, exiting the company, and launching new ventures—proves that sometimes, the best deals are the ones you don’t take.

And if there's one lesson from Nearly Newlywed, it’s this: A "no" on national television doesn't mean the end. It might just be the beginning.

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Shark Tank airs every Friday at 8 PM ET on ABC, with all episodes available for stream on Hulu.