Here's What Went Down With Sorsoap Massage Bar Soap After Shark Tank - Women.com

[Mila Williams]

David Restiano and Dan Staats hoped to catch a shark with their therapeutic soap during Season 15 of "Shark Tank." In an interview with Rutgers, Staats, who specializes in orthopedic musculoskeletal dysfunction, said the idea for the unique product was spawned during a physical therapy session he was having with Restiano — who happened to be his patient. Restiano, who described himself as a "relentless athlete," was getting treatment on his hip from Staats with a flexor tool. However, he longed for a way to provide himself the same kind of relief at home. At the time, he had been giving himself tissue massages with an ordinary bar of soap.

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Restiano called Staats a week later with an idea: A bar of soap with a unique cutout shape that would allow the user to rub it on sore muscles while in the shower, without becoming too soft. He then created the first version using a silicone mold that featured a rounded edge and a handle using a combination of essential oils, menthol, and citric acid. The menthol was included to provide a cooling sensation that would aid therapeutic effect. After trying the product on himself, he conducted a 30-day trial for the soap's therapeutic effectiveness on deli workers. In the end, the results should his product "significantly improved muscle and soft tissue performance."

Soon, Restiano and Staats started selling their product online, building a loyal customer base. However, they knew if they wanted to expand, they would need a bigger investment to aid the production costs. And so, they decided to pitch their idea to "Shark Tank" in the summer of 2023.

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What happened to Sorsoap on Shark Tank?​

ABC Studios


When David Restiano and Dan Staats appeared on "Shark Tank," they asked for $100,000 for 10% equity in the company. The aim was to use the funds to help offset production costs. The pair provided bars of soap for the sharks to try as they explained how to use it. Restiano also shared the results of his 30-day study, which left some of the sharks impressed. The pair then explained that in two years, they had been able to rack up a total of $125,000 in sales. They added that their customer base went beyond individual consumers and included wholesale to physical therapy offices and gyms.

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Despite their compelling pitch, Kevin O'Leary dropped out because he had already invested in a different soap company on "Shark Tank," which would have been a conflict of interest. Barbara Corcoran dropped out because she felt like the soap industry was over saturated. In the end, Mark Cuban decided to take a bite because he felt the product had alleviated his neck pain during the demonstration. He offered $100,000 for 20% equity in the company, leaving Restiano and Staats satisfied.

SorSoap is still in business​

Following its successful appearance on "Shark Tank," SorSoap experienced a boost in overall profits with NJ Spotlight News reporting in May 2024 that their sales doubled within a month after the episode airing. Staats told Rutgers that this sudden uptick kicked them into high gear behind the scenes. "We had three weeks' notice that it was going to be on, so we made sure we had enough of everything in stock and had a big party at a local restaurant," he told the outlet.

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Though the Sorsoap's Instagram only has just over 5K followers at the time of writing, David Restiano regularly updates followers on the company, showing off his high-energy and enthusiasm for the product. Some of the videos show him providing tips on how to get the most of the product, while others give a behind the scenes look at being a business owner.

@sorxsoap
Retail packaging is almost ready to unveil. What store do you see us in first? #retailtherapy #showerroutine #guasha @sephora @The Home Depot @Whole Foods Market

♬ Sentimental guitar music(1179275) – Meat Pie 25

According to a Facebook post, 90% of SorSoap customers are women. In a video, Restiano can be seen reading the first names of some customers, along with the states for a few. He added that he had not staged the fact that most of the names he read off were women, that it's "the norm for most of our sales." They also challenged followers to guess why in order to win free Sorsoap. At the time of writing, SorSoap retails for $12 per bar, while the Sortool Pro tool goes for $34. SorSoap also sells subscriptions and bundles that include the tool, soap and accessories, with its most expensive retailing for $99.

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