Whatever Happened To Baubles + Soles After Shark Tank?

Lisa and Duc Nguyen overcame devastating odds to pitch their shoe company Baubles + Soles on "Shark Tank" Season 11. Lisa, a philanthropic lawyer, spoke about her status as a Vietnamese refugee who made a perilous journey by sea that she claims 25% of people don't survive. She was able to build a life in Australia before moving to America on business.

As a mother, Lisa was frustrated by how quickly her children were outgrowing the clothing she bought them — especially their footwear. She then began the process of inventing a smooth, flexible, kid-friendly shoe (almost resembling a Croc) that has a knob on the toe to attach a variety of decorative ornaments, meaning one shoe could be suitable for many different occasions. Thus, Baubles + Soles was born.

The Nguyens entered the Shark Tank seeking $100,000 in exchange for a 15% stake in Baubles + Soles. Though all five investors were visibly moved by Lisa's story, it wasn't enough to convince them that her shoe company was the next big thing — at least, not until she sweetened the deal by adding a two-year recoupment clause. Inspired by her dedication, Daymond John struck a deal with the pair for $100,000 and a 25% stake. It wasn't among the most expensive deals on "Shark Tank," but it was a success for Baubles + Soles nonetheless.

It's now been several years since Baubles + Soles was featured on "Shark Tank," so viewers may be wondering how the company is doing today. Are Baubles + Soles still in business? Read on for all the details.

Baubles + Soles was still alive and kicking in the shoe retailer business as recently as 2022. On the (now defunct) website for Baubles + Soles, the company's appearance on "Shark Tank" was honored solely through a logo on their "As Seen On" banner. At the time, the company's selection of products was consistent with what they had presented on the show — approximately 20 style options. Essentially, Baubles + Soles was still around, but it didn't seem to have expanded much beyond its initial appearance on "Shark Tank."

The business' social media presence had a similarly worrying quality. While the company had over 13,000 followers on their Instagram, its posts had low engagement with several garnering under 10 likes. In hindsight, many of these observations were the writing on the wall that Baubles + Soles wouldn't be around forever. Sure enough, 2022 turned out to be the final full year of operation for the "Shark Tank" venture.

After a multi-month period of relative silence, the official closure of Baubles + Soles was announced on the company's Instagram page in January 2023. For the next several months, the business held a closing sale with products being available for up to 75 percent off. "Thank you to everyone that has supported us through the years and during our store closing sale," the company wrote in one of its final Instagram posts, adding, "We appreciate you all!"

Between the massive closing sale and the shutdown of the company's website, Baubles + Soles can now be added to the list of "Shark Tank" businesses that don't exist anymore. However, it seems like Lisa and Duc Nguyen aren't completely ruling out a potential return in the future. The team has described the business' closure as "taking a pause" rather than a definitive farewell. Perhaps if circumstances improve, they can press play on Baubles + Soles once again somewhere down the road.

While Duc Nguyen's social media remains quiet, Lisa Nguyen's Instagram shows that she's been leading a very active life ever since Baubles + Soles closed. She continues to host and produce a show called "Life+Style with Thuy Duong" on Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, which she's been working on since 2007, and she also works as an event emcee. "I am currently a host for Asia Entertainment's variety shows, watched by millions of viewers worldwide," she explains on her LinkedIn profile. One of her proudest moments was hosting an event alongside late Vietnamese-American singer Viet Dzung.

A few years after her appearance on "Shark Tank," Lisa founded Custom Nest LLC, which is "a boutique interior design and renovation company, specializing in vintage-character homes and high-end residential and commercial projects," the company's website explains. "Our signature aesthetic is deeply rooted in a desire to simplify without sacrificing beauty, style or comfort." It seems that Custom Nest is her main business venture as of 2025.

On top of all that, Lisa is a founder and a board member for the Senhoa Foundation, a nonprofit organization which aims to stop modern slavery. She also acts as the Executive Director of the River of Hope concerts, which raises money for Vietnamese citizens living in the Philippines who are stateless. Even though Baubles + Soles never took off, it looks like Nguyen has plenty on her plate to keep her occupied, and it's great to know that she's dedicating some of her time to charitable causes.