There are many challenges that a pregnant woman faces other than the pregnancy itself. Passersby are constantly questioning the mother on her due date. The clothes don’t fit well and look unflattering, and shopping for the clothes that do fit is a struggle. Besides that, having a negative self-image because of the unflattering cuts, mainly when the raging hormones cause emotional stress, is a challenge.
Kim Pries silently observed the problems pregnant women were facing, and it was also evident that brands weren’t addressing this issue enough. The market niche was profitable but untapped. Hence, as an advertising major working at a reputable firm for their sales department, Kim tried to give it a go and create her brand. That’s where Samson Martin originated.
Kim went on to produce and design tank tops and T-shirts for expecting women with quality and stretchable fabric that gave a flattering look to the growing body. However, the text on the chest area set the brand apart, which read “Due In.” The phrase was trademarked by Kim so that no other brands could copy it.
With the phrase “Due In” in the beginning, customers can further get their baby’s expected birth months, seasons, or even due dates printed on the fabric. This way, people’s curiosity regarding the baby’s birthday was already answered without addressing the mother in person. This unique idea made Samson Martin a big brand in the maternity clothing market and made a total of $1.4 million.
Kim was selling her products from her garage and had been able to do well on her own. Samson Martin had also received endorsement from some A-list celebrities of Hollywood, including Angelina Jolie. However, as the recession made the boats of many businesses rock, Samson Martin was also affected.
Kim appeared on Shark Tank Season 2, hoping to get a sum of $50K in exchange for 15% equity of her business. She wanted a partner with connections in the fashion industry as her initial vision for the company was to see her products in high-end retail boutiques. However, since the recession, she wanted to approach more affordable brands like Target and JCPenney. Kim also wanted to use the investment to address pending orders and get going with the bulk products to cater to the masses, reducing the cost per unit.
Daymond didn’t see the business’s worth as numerous other brands were now catering to the market. He didn’t believe that Kim could keep her company afloat for long. Daymond didn’t want to invest and was out.
Barbara was also out as she wasn’t mainly sold on the idea of having a due date written on a piece of clothing. However, she appreciated someone working for an overlooked niche in the relatively new maternity clothing market.
Kevin Harrington doubted the brand had any competitive advantage over other brands and decided he was out too. He also had issues with the production level as the brand identity was confusing. Numerous T-shirts needed to be manufactured in several colors, which paved the way for unwanted costs.
Robert appreciated Kim having a vision for the brand. However, he was disappointed when Kim told them she had no connections with the local retailers she was looking forward to dealing with. Robert saw a gap between the vision and the action that Kim should have taken long ago, considering she had a famous brand some time ago; he was out.
Kevin O’Leary was the only shark remaining and gave Kim a rather rude ending. He was already skeptical about catering to a niche market of pregnant women that he believed won’t get him the profit he usually craved. He’s also disappointed that Kim wants to retain the past image of Samson Martin instead of looking forward; he was out too.
Kim walked away from Shark Tank empty-handed and emotionally drained. She tried to keep the business afloat for some time while also trying to single-handedly deal with the online crowd on the brand’s social media. However, her vision and drive weren’t enough to keep the business going.
Samson Martin declared bankruptcy in 2013 after seeing a significant drop in sales.
Our Review of Samson Martin
Samson Martin may have been a famous brand during its dawn. The business had made $1.4 million in sales, which wasn’t a joke. The recession, however, ate up the brand.
Kim Pries, the founder, and owner of Samson Martin, tried to keep the business afloat till 2013. Nonetheless, she had to give in to the world’s economic situation. The now-bankrupt company had done well once thanks to its products and incredible marketing strategies.
People were interested in buying the pricey products because they loved how they solved so many issues. The flattering cuts of T-shirts and tank tops pleased pregnant women while making them feel comfortable with the quality fabric. The text with the due date written on the clothing was also a unique and quirky idea that customers adored and were willing to pay for before the economic crisis took over.
Pros of Samson Martin
Despite being out of business as of 2022, here are some things that customers of Samson Martin appreciated about the business and its products:
- The T-shirts and tank tops sold by the company were super comfortable on the body and didn’t cause any tugging in the growing parts
- The premium quality fabric used for the clothing was rich in texture and breathable making the clothes super easy to wear in summer and springtime
- The option of buying a custom hoodie was also available for the customers to have a quirky style even in the winter and fall months
- The quirky text that addressed one of the most asked and often the most annoying questions was unique and entertaining
- The clothes were available in flattering cuts that hugged the body in all the right places and made women feel a bit more high-end, thanks to their overall look
- There was a variety of clothing available in the store with various colors to choose from
- The customization options gave to-be mothers a way to celebrate their journey’s uniqueness and remember their time joyously
Cons of Samson Martin
While the business went down due to the economic crisis at the time, here’s something that customers didn’t particularly appreciate about Samson Martin:
- The clothing pieces weren’t the cheapest option on the market. Despite their perks, many customers found the T-shirts, tops, and hoodies unreasonably pricey.
Who Is Samson Martin For?
To-be mothers constantly bugged by a passerby with the single most repetitive question would have adored the unique idea behind the products of Samson Martin. The brand had worked its best to provide pregnant women with some options in styles and cuts of their clothing to make them look flattering on their growing bodies. Samson Martin catered to all the women who were on different levels of pregnancy.
Are There Any Alternatives?
With Samson Martin out of business, many brands have served the niche market of pregnant women. One such brand worth mentioning here is Motherhood Maternity. The brand manufactures and sells comfortable and stylish clothing for to-be and new mothers who want to amp up their style without compromising on much-needed comfort.
With an experience of decades, Motherhood Maternity also serves women postpartum by bringing super light and affordable outfits that would allow them to relax while looking their best. The comfy fabric is a center of attraction for many customers, making the brand quite famous in the market of pregnant women.
Our Final Thoughts
Kim Pries had an eye for identifying market needs and was also talented in advertising. However, she lacked the skills to keep the business going or perhaps didn’t have enough drive. Samson Martin, a niche brand, has been out of business since 2013.
The brand’s products may have been comfortable, but the price tags would have repelled many customers. Samson Martin may not have been worth your money, with numerous brands working well in a similar niche.
