Stories of entrepreneurial success are always interesting, and even more so when they feature adversity, sticking to your values, and building something meaningful. Slumberkins: Childhood friends and moms Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen took a small idea and turned it into a flourishing business. These two women defied the odds and built their brand into a $3 million empire without traditional investor support, even turning down offers from the Sharks of Shark Tank.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Slumberkins |
| Founders | Kelly Oriard, Callie Christensen |
| Date of Founding | 2016 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Children’s Educational Toys |
| Years Active | 2016-Present |
| Education | Kelly Oriard: Family Therapy, Callie Christensen: Education |
| Notable Achievements | Shark Tank Appearance, Various Plush Creature Products |
| Estimated Net Worth (2025) | $30 million |
| Primary Sources of Wealth | Toy Sales, Partnerships, Media Ventures |
In this article, we’ll go in-depth on their journey, highlight the story behind Slumberkins’ success and the lessons they’ve learned throughout the process. So by the end of this article, you will not just learn about Slumberkins’ net worth and trajectory, but also find inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs to get started.
The Birth of Slumberkins
Background of the Founders
These are not the post-business school graduates dreaming of founding a company. Instead, they were two working moms whose backgrounds aligned perfectly with their mission.
- Kelly Oriard: A therapist and family specialist who was made for the emotional needs of children and families.
- Callie Christensen: A special education teacher who worked with children who needed emotional support.
- Their professional knowledge made them uniquely capable of addressing the emotional development of children — a space that was extremely underserved.
The Motivation for Starting Slumberkins
The journey started while both women were on maternity leave. Like many parents, they saw a gap in the market for resources that could help children develop emotional resilience. They acknowledged that the available tools were inadequate for teaching children about emotions, mindfulness and self-confidence.
They thought it would be great if, during these trying times, they could make products that blended the therapeutic power of storytelling with emotional learning—[and] this is how the idea was born. And this is how the ground was set for Slumberkins.
Early Beginnings
Slumberkins started as a modest, small enterprise. Kelly and Callie began sewing plush toys in their living rooms — sometimes while juggling late-night shifts, diaper changes and working sessions. They started to sell their creations on Etsy and at local craft fairs. Parents quickly resonate with their handmade products and, bit by bit, the word spread about the unique value of Slumberkins.
- Big Idea: All the most successful businesses begin as small businesses. For building something meaningful, none can beat the combination of passion, creativity, & solving a real problem.
What is the significance of Wylie having performed on Shark Tank?
The Shark Tank Experience
In 2017, Kelly and Callie pitched Slumberkins on ABC’s Shark Tank, seeking funding. Though they didn’t leave with an investment, the experience proved to be a pivotal moment for their business. The Sharks liked their idea, but thought the brand was too early in its journey to invest.
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What I learned from Shark Tank
Despite the rejection, the show provided Slumberkins with invaluable exposure. The two quickly learned that they didn’t necessarily need outside funding to be successful. Instead of raising VC, they bootstrapped, drawing from a growing base of loyal parents and customers.
They taught them the value of resilience, of getting the job done. Where lots of entrepreneurs see rejection as a failure, Kelly and Callie viewed it as a chance to hone their vision and disprove the Sharks’ opinion.
A 3 Million Business Without Shark Tank Investment
Bootstrapping and Scaling
Kelly and Callie knew, post–Shark Tank, that they had to scale up their operation. They took the leap to go from handmade items to scalable manufacturing processes so that they would have enough supply to meet the growing demand for Slumberkins. They also excelled at leveraging this once-crucial step toward bigger, more sustainable business.
The Role of Community Support
Slumberkins found a game-changer: social media. Kelly and Callie used Instagram and Facebook to reach out to parents and caregivers. Through sharing their mission and stories they created a loyal group of supporters that helped the community embrace their products.
By authentically connecting with their audience, rather than pushing product sales, their strategy planted the seed of what they wanted their campaign to be, a mission behind children’s emotional health and wellness. You were asked questions about their transparency and authenticity that helped them differentiate themselves from everyone else.
Strategic Partnerships
A major milestone for Slumberkins was a partnership with The Jim Henson Company. From there, they partner with TV content creators to extend the brand and magnify their mission. The partnership showed the promise of Slumberkins’ potential to reach families across multiple channels, from plush toys to storytelling on screen.
Slumberkins Net Worth — $ 1.2 million Slumberkins balances experience and growth.
Financial Milestones
Over the years, Slumberkins has reached some impressive financial milestones. They secured $2.8 million in seed funding in 2019 that enabled them to scale operations and invest in new products. In the years since, their revenue has doubled year over year, a reflection of their steady rise in popularity.
Current Net Worth
Slumberkins has a net worth of 3 millionThese are all estimations because you are dated up until October 2023. That figure spotlights not just their economic success, but also the trust and loyalty they’ve cultivated with families.
Revenue Streams
Slumberkins has a variety of revenue streams:
- Plush Toys: Signature products to help children learn emotional skills.
- Books: Storybooks that are meant to be paired with the plush toys, teaching emotional resilience.
- Your Role: Opening a pathway of transformative media for us.
- Courses: Implementing emotional learning curriculums in schools.
Revenue StreamDescriptionPlush ToysSoft, cuddly toys that teach emotional skills. BooksEmotional learning and mindfulness for kids. Collaborations (The Jim Henson Company)Your Connection to Kids on Screen. Emotional Learning ToolsEducational tools and curriculums for schools and home.
The Philosophy Behind Slumberkins
Mission Statement
Aimed at helping families and children engage with their emotional health and resilience, Slumberkins is at its heart a heart-centered endeavor. Their products aim to help parents have those important conversations with their kids, helping them learn about feelings, self-worth and mindfulness.
Core Values
As such, the company relies on three main values:
- Getting hands-on with emotional health: They seek to promote mental and emotional well being through all of their products.
- Community Connection: Creating a community among families.
- Educational Support: Discover culturally responsive, effective and accessible tools for emotional learning.
Impact on Families
Parents post glowing testimonials about how Slumberkins has helped their kids. From supporting children in processing heavy emotions to creating bedtime routines where parents share impactful conversations, Slumberkins has become a trusted partner for families around the globe.
Overcoming Challenges
Early Struggles
The path wasn’t entirely smooth. Kelly and Callie have wrestled with challenges such as balancing their double duty as both moms and entrepreneurs, limited resources, and scaling up their business in a way that is consistent with their mission.
Key Decisions
We gave up our stable careers to work on Slumberkins full-time, and that was one of the hardest decisions we made. Such a leap of faith takes tremendous guts but it paid off big time in the end. They also devoted time and resources to oding and protecting their IP, making sure their unique products didn’t open themselves to others.
Tips For Your Start Up
Lessons from Kelly and Callie’s Journey
- Be real: When you are true to your values, you attract like-minded individuals who believe in what you’re building.
- Community is everything: Listen to your audience and Take time to create relationships rather than relying on an external injection.
Advice for Entrepreneurs
- Failure is your friend: Every no is a lesson.
- Focus on solving real problems: Create a product or service that truly helps people.
- Keep the passion: Passion ignites perseverance which is key to long-term success.
Future Vision for Slumberkins
Expanding Horizons
Slumberkins has several big plans for the future. Their goal is to become the world’s leading children’s emotional health and wellness company. They hope to reach even more families by broadening their product lines and creating additional educational tools.
Upcoming Projects
Here are some of their cool projects they have going on:
- New shows intended to advance their case.
- Widening product lines to cover educator tools
- By new curricula that strengthen the ties between the home and the school.
Conclusion
Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen went from sewing stuffed animals in their living rooms to a $3 million brand. Slumberkins is a brilliant example of how passion, perseverance and community can take a tiny idea girl on a journey of creating a business that changes lives.
What’s your next big idea? Whether you’re a parent, an entrepreneur, or just a person with a dream, let Kelly and Callie’s journey serve as a reminder that achieving success is possible no matter where you start.
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