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Fifth-Generation of Siegel Jewelers Launches History-by-Mail Venture on Shark Tank July 22, 2025 (0 comments)
Grand Rapids, MI--Ari Siegel, a Grand Rapids native and member of the family behind Siegel Jewelers, has gained national attention after appearing on Shark Tank and securing a deal for his startup, History by Mail.
[Image via Ari Siegel/LinkedIn]
According to a report by ABC affiliate 13 ON YOUR SIDE, Siegel combined his interest in American history with his family's tradition of entrepreneurship to launch the business in 2019. History by Mail sends subscribers replicas of historical documents each month, along with background context.
Items featured include Rosa Parks' 1955 fingerprint card and a handwritten pancake recipe she authored on a Detroit bank envelope. Other mailings include cocktail recipes attributed to historical figures.
"I have always been a history buff," Siegel told the outlet. He said the idea came during an internship in the U.S. Senate, where a visit to the Library of Congress revealed thousands of documents unfamiliar to the public.
History by Mail gained a significant boost when Siegel appeared on Shark Tank and secured a partnership with Kind Bar founder Daniel Lubetzky. "They get nearly 40,000 applications a year and air less than 100 businesses," Siegel said.
According to the report, Siegel prepared rigorously for his appearance, practicing several hours a day for months. The effort paid off. Within an hour [of the episode airing], they had surpassed their best sales week in their company's history, he noted.
Siegel's entrepreneurial roots trace back to Siegel Jewelers, the family business founded in 1889. According to the report, the business began with a watchmaker in Kiev, Russia—reportedly for the czar—and expanded to Grand Rapids, where it became the first tenant at Woodland Mall and now operates nearby.
Ari's brother, Jaron Siegel, currently runs the store as the fifth generation in the family. Inside the store, a section now showcases over 135 years of family history, including jewelry boxes from the past century.
Learn more in this report by 13 On Your Side.