The document summarizes the experiences of several entrepreneurs from the North West of England who appeared on the TV show Dragons' Den seeking investments for their businesses. While the show generated significant publicity and sales leads, less than half of the deals made on the show ultimately resulted in investments. The entrepreneurs interviewed found value in the exposure even if investment deals did not go through, as it helped boost their credibility and business. One entrepreneur was able to grow his parking business significantly after appearing on the show despite not securing a Dragon's investment.
Presentation on the First ever Reality Musical Travelogue in the history of w...ajdreams2
The document summarizes "The Gypsy", a new reality musical travelogue TV show. It will follow a musician named Justin Fernandez as he travels across locations playing music. The show aims to break conventions and showcase undiscovered places, people, entertainment and food. It will also use music to connect viewers to life's realities. The show is produced by YES Indiavision TV and directed by Ajai Gopinath. Promos and a sample episode are provided. The document promotes sponsoring the show to help brands connect with audiences in a new way through music and travel.
A presentation by Hamilton Grammar S1 pupils based on the popular show Dragons' Den.
This was to highlight Business and Enterprise in the lower school.
The document discusses values and conflicts in innovation processes. It provides examples of where values tensions can arise in products and services. It also examines how organizational values change as companies grow, which can prevent strategic innovation. Innovation processes are explored, noting where official processes differ from actual practices due to values conflicts. The document aims to identify values as root causes of issues to enable more conscious design of products, services and innovation processes.
This document provides an introduction to inventions from the UK and discusses the television show Dragons' Den. It outlines several famous UK inventions such as the television, telephone, and World Wide Web. It then prompts the reader to watch a pitch video for a Harry Potter magic wand remote on Dragons' Den and answer questions about the product and whether it seems like a good investment. The reader is assigned homework to write tips for a successful pitch.
Leadership Comparison Between Richard Branson And Bill Gatesvallari_05
Richard Branson is a British business magnate and founder of Virgin Group. He was born in 1950 and is currently worth $2.5 billion. Despite struggling with dyslexia in school, he has founded numerous successful companies in various industries including Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Trains, Virgin Mobile, and Virgin Galactic. He has received several honors for his business accomplishments and philanthropic work. Branson is known as a charismatic, transformational leader who takes risks and builds a young, fun culture at his companies. While he and Bill Gates both achieved great success as entrepreneurs, they differ in their leadership styles, with Branson taking a more democratic approach and Gates being more autocratic.
How to organize an innovation competition to identify high value business opportunities?
Organizations are now looking to run their own version of the pitch contest.
Shark Tank competition suggested focus areas:
- Business Model Innovation
- Systems and Process Improvement
- Increase in Customer Satisfaction & Retention
- Employee Engagement
- Technology Advancements
- Services & Support Improvement
- Supply Chain Optimization
Extend a unique opportunity to your workforce to share their creativity, insight, competitive spirit and business decision making skills.
---
* idea * idea management * ideation * innovation * innovation management * collaboration * culture * employee engagement * voice of customer * transformation * agile work innovation * ludwig * ludwig melik * melik
This document summarizes a glowing Xbox controller that never needs charging. It describes the product as having differently colored buttons that glow in the dark. The target market is Xbox players. It includes pictures of the product and advertisements to promote it to gamers.
Presentation on the First ever Reality Musical Travelogue in the history of w...ajdreams2
The document summarizes "The Gypsy", a new reality musical travelogue TV show. It will follow a musician named Justin Fernandez as he travels across locations playing music. The show aims to break conventions and showcase undiscovered places, people, entertainment and food. It will also use music to connect viewers to life's realities. The show is produced by YES Indiavision TV and directed by Ajai Gopinath. Promos and a sample episode are provided. The document promotes sponsoring the show to help brands connect with audiences in a new way through music and travel.
A presentation by Hamilton Grammar S1 pupils based on the popular show Dragons' Den.
This was to highlight Business and Enterprise in the lower school.
The document discusses values and conflicts in innovation processes. It provides examples of where values tensions can arise in products and services. It also examines how organizational values change as companies grow, which can prevent strategic innovation. Innovation processes are explored, noting where official processes differ from actual practices due to values conflicts. The document aims to identify values as root causes of issues to enable more conscious design of products, services and innovation processes.
This document provides an introduction to inventions from the UK and discusses the television show Dragons' Den. It outlines several famous UK inventions such as the television, telephone, and World Wide Web. It then prompts the reader to watch a pitch video for a Harry Potter magic wand remote on Dragons' Den and answer questions about the product and whether it seems like a good investment. The reader is assigned homework to write tips for a successful pitch.
Leadership Comparison Between Richard Branson And Bill Gatesvallari_05
Richard Branson is a British business magnate and founder of Virgin Group. He was born in 1950 and is currently worth $2.5 billion. Despite struggling with dyslexia in school, he has founded numerous successful companies in various industries including Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Trains, Virgin Mobile, and Virgin Galactic. He has received several honors for his business accomplishments and philanthropic work. Branson is known as a charismatic, transformational leader who takes risks and builds a young, fun culture at his companies. While he and Bill Gates both achieved great success as entrepreneurs, they differ in their leadership styles, with Branson taking a more democratic approach and Gates being more autocratic.
How to organize an innovation competition to identify high value business opportunities?
Organizations are now looking to run their own version of the pitch contest.
Shark Tank competition suggested focus areas:
- Business Model Innovation
- Systems and Process Improvement
- Increase in Customer Satisfaction & Retention
- Employee Engagement
- Technology Advancements
- Services & Support Improvement
- Supply Chain Optimization
Extend a unique opportunity to your workforce to share their creativity, insight, competitive spirit and business decision making skills.
---
* idea * idea management * ideation * innovation * innovation management * collaboration * culture * employee engagement * voice of customer * transformation * agile work innovation * ludwig * ludwig melik * melik
This document summarizes a glowing Xbox controller that never needs charging. It describes the product as having differently colored buttons that glow in the dark. The target market is Xbox players. It includes pictures of the product and advertisements to promote it to gamers.
The document summarizes the 2014 Business Showcase South West event. It provides photos and testimonials from attendees that describe the event as professionally organized and an excellent opportunity to network and make business connections. Key details include speeches from notable keynote speakers and participation from over 150 exhibitors and sponsors.
The article profiles Raymond Bloomfield, an entrepreneur who made and lost fortunes in the UK property market. He introduced German investors to the UK in the 1990s and was one of the first to recognize potential in Russia. After losses in the 2008 financial crisis, Bloomfield has now returned to the UK property market. He has launched a joint venture called Inspired GSP focused on affordable residential projects. The venture already has over £300 million in potential development value and Bloomfield aims to grow it to £1 billion within a year. He believes his integrity and ethical approach will lead to success despite losing some deals in the past.
The first edition of Buckworth Solicitors' entrepreneurship magazine, Startup Roar. The magazine includes profiles on some amazing London startups as well as information on SEIS and other topics of relevance.
The document summarizes the impact and success of the Gigatown social media campaign in New Zealand. It notes that one in ten New Zealanders participated in Gigatown. Nearly 6 million conversations were held on social media about Gigatown. The campaign generated over $32 million in social media value and increased fiber uptake across New Zealand beyond the original goal. Local communities actively supported regional campaigns, which generated over $1.1 million in cash value.
The document is a January 2008 issue of Strategy magazine. It includes articles on trends in Canadian marketing, profiles of major Canadian brands and their marketing strategies, and commentary from industry experts. The issue highlights ING Direct's branding efforts with their mascot Frederik and how the bank has increased visibility over 10 years. It also previews upcoming articles and supplements in the magazine.
The Green Deal online portal was launched in Dubai to encourage residents to adopt green products. It allows users to view and purchase pre-verified energy and water consumption products and services. The initiative aims to make Dubai and the UAE more sustainable by shaping the next era of green economy. It will provide a marketplace and financing options to facilitate adoption of green technologies amongst UAE residents. Asteco, a leading real estate company, will participate in franchise expos to build on interest in its franchising model which has seen fast growth in the Middle East and Asia.
The Chief Minister opened the KPMG eGaming Summit by reassuring attendees about the Isle of Man's position post-Brexit. He discussed meeting with UK ministers to advocate for the Isle of Man's needs regarding trade and access to skilled labor from the EU. A panel session then explored the Isle of Man proposition for eGaming post-Brexit. The Gambling Supervision Commission representative stated that while some smaller operators left due to UK point of consumption tax changes, license numbers have stabilized and some growth has resumed as larger operators remain committed to the Isle of Man's regulatory environment.
The document provides information about the Scottish Letting Day 2019 conference and exhibition, including details about sessions, speakers, and sponsors. It includes an agenda with sessions available to attend on topics like working with Universal Credit, energy performance certificates, and completing tax returns. One session provides tips from a self-made property investor, including strategies for success like getting rich slowly, understanding numbers, and leveraging debt. Another session discusses understanding Universal Credit, with information on resources available for landlords.
Telegraph Business Club page - 14.08.07Jonny Gould
Jonny Gould founded Sportsmedia Broadcasting in 1992 to broker sports sponsorship deals on local radio stations. The business has grown successfully but Gould recognizes the need to diversify into new media and content areas to adapt to changing technologies and audience habits. He has launched a football website and podcasts, and started providing daily finance news reports sponsored by IG Index. However, Gould acknowledges he needs to strengthen management to ensure quality service to existing clients and support new ventures. Experts advise focusing on customer service, using PR to showcase Gould's strategic vision, and expanding the management team to sustain growth across diverse revenue streams.
Heidi Avery salon will soon be opening on Peach Street as part of the regeneration of the area. The owner Heidi said they don't have a specific opening date yet but will be holding launch events "very soon".
Fame, a ballet and dancewear shop in Wokingham, is preparing to close after over 30 years in business due to increased online shopping and high operating costs. While the owner is sad to close, customers have shown overwhelming support during the closing down sale. Though an exact date hasn't been set, the shop aims to close in November.
KJ Smith Solicitors, which specializes in family law, has once again been ranked as a Leading Firm
Steve and Gary own Link Tools, a tool supply business located at Link Business Centre. They have a large showroom stocked with a wide range of products. They aim to provide excellent customer service and valuable advice to building and trades customers. Link Tools supplies tools, fasteners, and other equipment to local tradespeople. Steve and Gary are holding an open trade show event to showcase their products and services.
One Surprisingly Effective Way To HttpsEssaysrescue.ComToya Shamberger
The Gerald Gault case involved a 15-year-old boy who was committed to a training school for making lewd phone calls without due process. The Supreme Court ruled that juveniles must be afforded proper notice of the issues, right to counsel, right to confrontation of witnesses, and right against self-incrimination in juvenile proceedings. This established procedural safeguards for juveniles that were previously not required in the Arizona juvenile justice system.
Imagine Magazine 2017 - North East, North Yorkshire & CumbriaNigel Wright Group
Formica Group's new CEO and President, Peter Rush, outlines plans to invest £30 million over three years to modernize manufacturing at its North Shields factory, improve commercial capabilities, and bring previously disjointed parts of the organization together. The investment aims to make Formica Group Europe competitive again by focusing on high quality, low cost manufacturing and a strong commercial team. Rush also discusses relocating the European headquarters to the North Shields site to better connect manufacturing and support functions.
This document summarizes recent commercial real estate deals in the Midlands region of the UK. It discusses the sale of office buildings in Lichfield and Leicester for £10.8 million and £4.385 million respectively, achieving initial yields of 7% and 6.21%. It also mentions the sale of an industrial park in West Bromwich for over £14.85 million at a 5.2% initial yield and a speculative industrial development in Mansfield Woodhouse that sold for £3.4 million at a 6.75% initial yield with 19 of 21 units let.
The document summarizes recent events from the IPF Midlands newsletter, including presentations on the private rented sector market in the Midlands region, MSCI real estate results for 2017, a seminar on past and future property market cycles, and a panel discussion on commercial property lending in the West Midlands region. Upcoming events are also listed on the Midlands calendar. A new board member, Rebecca Millard of GVA, is introduced. Recent developments in the Midlands, such as Snow Hill and Arena Central, are noted, as well as major infrastructure projects like HS2.
Slides that accompanied the Q3 2020 Quarterly Investment Briefing for West of England on 17th September. The event included an interview with Irene Graham (CEO, Scaleup Institute) and Jenny Tooth (CEO, UKBAA) and a lightning talk from Charles Fallon (Co-founder and Partner, SI Partners).
Slides 22-26 include information about those 28 companies that are actively raising investment in Q3 2020. Check out the disclaimer - these aren't recommendations, just information.
How much do you know about Irish tech startups? Which startups have the most buzz? Which tech giants have their offices here? And who are the Irish tech figures to know?
Frontline Ventures (www.frontline.vc) created this guide to promote Irish entrepreneurship while offering a 101 guide for anyone visiting the country or starting out in their career.
It covers the most successful Irish startups and companies on the rise, Irish tech accelerators and meetups, Irish tech press, resident VCs, and the story of how our homegrown industry began.
If you have a suggestion to add to the list, tweet @Frontline and get in touch!
The document summarizes the 2014 Business Showcase South West event. It provides photos and testimonials from attendees that describe the event as professionally organized and an excellent opportunity to network and make business connections. Key details include speeches from notable keynote speakers and participation from over 150 exhibitors and sponsors.
The article profiles Raymond Bloomfield, an entrepreneur who made and lost fortunes in the UK property market. He introduced German investors to the UK in the 1990s and was one of the first to recognize potential in Russia. After losses in the 2008 financial crisis, Bloomfield has now returned to the UK property market. He has launched a joint venture called Inspired GSP focused on affordable residential projects. The venture already has over £300 million in potential development value and Bloomfield aims to grow it to £1 billion within a year. He believes his integrity and ethical approach will lead to success despite losing some deals in the past.
The first edition of Buckworth Solicitors' entrepreneurship magazine, Startup Roar. The magazine includes profiles on some amazing London startups as well as information on SEIS and other topics of relevance.
The document summarizes the impact and success of the Gigatown social media campaign in New Zealand. It notes that one in ten New Zealanders participated in Gigatown. Nearly 6 million conversations were held on social media about Gigatown. The campaign generated over $32 million in social media value and increased fiber uptake across New Zealand beyond the original goal. Local communities actively supported regional campaigns, which generated over $1.1 million in cash value.
The document is a January 2008 issue of Strategy magazine. It includes articles on trends in Canadian marketing, profiles of major Canadian brands and their marketing strategies, and commentary from industry experts. The issue highlights ING Direct's branding efforts with their mascot Frederik and how the bank has increased visibility over 10 years. It also previews upcoming articles and supplements in the magazine.
The Green Deal online portal was launched in Dubai to encourage residents to adopt green products. It allows users to view and purchase pre-verified energy and water consumption products and services. The initiative aims to make Dubai and the UAE more sustainable by shaping the next era of green economy. It will provide a marketplace and financing options to facilitate adoption of green technologies amongst UAE residents. Asteco, a leading real estate company, will participate in franchise expos to build on interest in its franchising model which has seen fast growth in the Middle East and Asia.
The Chief Minister opened the KPMG eGaming Summit by reassuring attendees about the Isle of Man's position post-Brexit. He discussed meeting with UK ministers to advocate for the Isle of Man's needs regarding trade and access to skilled labor from the EU. A panel session then explored the Isle of Man proposition for eGaming post-Brexit. The Gambling Supervision Commission representative stated that while some smaller operators left due to UK point of consumption tax changes, license numbers have stabilized and some growth has resumed as larger operators remain committed to the Isle of Man's regulatory environment.
The document provides information about the Scottish Letting Day 2019 conference and exhibition, including details about sessions, speakers, and sponsors. It includes an agenda with sessions available to attend on topics like working with Universal Credit, energy performance certificates, and completing tax returns. One session provides tips from a self-made property investor, including strategies for success like getting rich slowly, understanding numbers, and leveraging debt. Another session discusses understanding Universal Credit, with information on resources available for landlords.
Telegraph Business Club page - 14.08.07Jonny Gould
Jonny Gould founded Sportsmedia Broadcasting in 1992 to broker sports sponsorship deals on local radio stations. The business has grown successfully but Gould recognizes the need to diversify into new media and content areas to adapt to changing technologies and audience habits. He has launched a football website and podcasts, and started providing daily finance news reports sponsored by IG Index. However, Gould acknowledges he needs to strengthen management to ensure quality service to existing clients and support new ventures. Experts advise focusing on customer service, using PR to showcase Gould's strategic vision, and expanding the management team to sustain growth across diverse revenue streams.
Heidi Avery salon will soon be opening on Peach Street as part of the regeneration of the area. The owner Heidi said they don't have a specific opening date yet but will be holding launch events "very soon".
Fame, a ballet and dancewear shop in Wokingham, is preparing to close after over 30 years in business due to increased online shopping and high operating costs. While the owner is sad to close, customers have shown overwhelming support during the closing down sale. Though an exact date hasn't been set, the shop aims to close in November.
KJ Smith Solicitors, which specializes in family law, has once again been ranked as a Leading Firm
Steve and Gary own Link Tools, a tool supply business located at Link Business Centre. They have a large showroom stocked with a wide range of products. They aim to provide excellent customer service and valuable advice to building and trades customers. Link Tools supplies tools, fasteners, and other equipment to local tradespeople. Steve and Gary are holding an open trade show event to showcase their products and services.
One Surprisingly Effective Way To HttpsEssaysrescue.ComToya Shamberger
The Gerald Gault case involved a 15-year-old boy who was committed to a training school for making lewd phone calls without due process. The Supreme Court ruled that juveniles must be afforded proper notice of the issues, right to counsel, right to confrontation of witnesses, and right against self-incrimination in juvenile proceedings. This established procedural safeguards for juveniles that were previously not required in the Arizona juvenile justice system.
Imagine Magazine 2017 - North East, North Yorkshire & CumbriaNigel Wright Group
Formica Group's new CEO and President, Peter Rush, outlines plans to invest £30 million over three years to modernize manufacturing at its North Shields factory, improve commercial capabilities, and bring previously disjointed parts of the organization together. The investment aims to make Formica Group Europe competitive again by focusing on high quality, low cost manufacturing and a strong commercial team. Rush also discusses relocating the European headquarters to the North Shields site to better connect manufacturing and support functions.
This document summarizes recent commercial real estate deals in the Midlands region of the UK. It discusses the sale of office buildings in Lichfield and Leicester for £10.8 million and £4.385 million respectively, achieving initial yields of 7% and 6.21%. It also mentions the sale of an industrial park in West Bromwich for over £14.85 million at a 5.2% initial yield and a speculative industrial development in Mansfield Woodhouse that sold for £3.4 million at a 6.75% initial yield with 19 of 21 units let.
The document summarizes recent events from the IPF Midlands newsletter, including presentations on the private rented sector market in the Midlands region, MSCI real estate results for 2017, a seminar on past and future property market cycles, and a panel discussion on commercial property lending in the West Midlands region. Upcoming events are also listed on the Midlands calendar. A new board member, Rebecca Millard of GVA, is introduced. Recent developments in the Midlands, such as Snow Hill and Arena Central, are noted, as well as major infrastructure projects like HS2.
Slides that accompanied the Q3 2020 Quarterly Investment Briefing for West of England on 17th September. The event included an interview with Irene Graham (CEO, Scaleup Institute) and Jenny Tooth (CEO, UKBAA) and a lightning talk from Charles Fallon (Co-founder and Partner, SI Partners).
Slides 22-26 include information about those 28 companies that are actively raising investment in Q3 2020. Check out the disclaimer - these aren't recommendations, just information.
How much do you know about Irish tech startups? Which startups have the most buzz? Which tech giants have their offices here? And who are the Irish tech figures to know?
Frontline Ventures (www.frontline.vc) created this guide to promote Irish entrepreneurship while offering a 101 guide for anyone visiting the country or starting out in their career.
It covers the most successful Irish startups and companies on the rise, Irish tech accelerators and meetups, Irish tech press, resident VCs, and the story of how our homegrown industry began.
If you have a suggestion to add to the list, tweet @Frontline and get in touch!
1. www.northwestbusinessinsider.com4 insider MAY 2015
Providing Outcider with the tools to prepare for long-term success.
We did it for him. Let’s do it for you.
Read David’s story at www.businessgrowthhub.com
0161 359 3050
Double 3Column Strip Horiz.indd 1
Providing Outcider with the tools to prepare for long-term success.
We did it for him. Let’s do it for you.
Read David’s story at www.businessgrowthhub.com
0161 359 3050
Double 3Column Strip Horiz.indd 1
ARETHEDRAGONS
GOODFORBUSINESS?
ENTREPRENEURS HAVE BEEN TRYING THEIR LUCK IN FRONT OF THE TV DRAGONS FOR A DECADE. JENNY BROOKFIELD
LOOKS AT HOW NORTH WEST BUSINESSES FARED, AND ASKS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAMERAS STOPPED ROLLING
S
urrounded by wads of crisp bank notes,
the impression on Dragons’ Den is that
money is no object. For ten years view-
ers have watched multi-millionaires invest
their own cash in businesses for a share of
the equity.
With filming on the 13th series taking
place at Salford’s MediaCityUK, Insider
decided to ask how much have the Dragons
actually invested? The answer is surprisingly
little and research has found that only half the
money pledged on the TV actually goes to
the companies pitching for it.
According to our investigation, £14.8m has
been pledged during the 12 series completed
so far – which equates to £1.2m per series –
a drop in the ocean considering Peter Jones’
wealth alone is estimated at £475m. Clearly
he is shrewd about which businesses he
should or should not invest in.
More surprising is the discovery that not
all the deals seen on TV go ahead, although
there’s no suggestion of fault on either side.
The rules listed on the BBC’s website state
that the deal agreed on the day is an unwrit-
ten agreement, which neither party is legally
obliged to complete, following standard due
diligence checks and additional meetings.
According to telecoms company Tiger
Mobiles, less than half of all pledges became
investments. The Leeds-based business,
which unsuccessfully applied to be on the
show in 2008, carried out research into all
investments made in the first 11 series. It
found that 76 out of the 143 investments
agreed (53 per cent) never went through. In
monetary terms, of the £13m pledged during
the first 11 series, just £5.8m was invested.
The BBC failed to provide a comment, but
THE BIG QUESTION
p4-7 Big Question.indd 4 22/04/2015 09:27
2. www.northwestbusinessinsider.com insider MAY 2015 5
THE BIG QUESTION
EUROPEAN UNION
Investing in Your Future
European Regional
Development Fund 2007-13
LET’S
DO THIS.
#LetsDoThisBGH
1939INSMAG04/15
15/04/2015 20:13
EUROPEAN UNION
Investing in Your Future
European Regional
Development Fund 2007-13
LET’S
DO THIS.
#LetsDoThisBGH
1939INSMAG04/15
15/04/2015 20:13
INSIDER CAUGHT UP WITH SOME NORTH WEST ENTREPRENEURS
WHO GOT GRILLED ON DRAGONS’ DEN AND ASKED: WAS IT WORTH IT?
experienced former Dragon Theo Paphitis
spoke to Insider during a visit to Manchester
Grammar School. “Don’t forget it’s a TV show,”
he said. “It engages, stimulates and inspires
people. You’ve got the magic of TV, and PR.
It’s done as an entertainment show but it’s
also educational and makes business simple.
People complicate business.”
Paphitis invested in 29 companies during
his nine years in the den. “I’ve had the good,
the bad and the ugly,” he said. “I’ve lost my
money on some pretty quickly. I came in for
the second series, invested in some stuff and
very quickly got some real good lessons.”
Viewers watched the entrepreneur pledge
£250,000 into trading hub Zapper in ex-
change for a 30 per cent stake. “He declined
to take my money in the end,” recalled
Paphitis. “I thought it was a brilliant idea but it
needed a lot of money. It was a tough nego-
tiation. When he got home he wasn’t happy.
That didn’t go through.”
He had more success with Bog in a Bag,
which consisted of a stool that transformed
into a toilet with the help of a hole and a
degradable bag. It wasn’t to everyone’s taste
but Paphitis was won over by Kate Castle’s
excellent pitch and bought 30 per cent
for a £50,000 investment. “I’m still in that
investment and I love it,” said Paphitis. “That
epitomises the difference in my investment
criteria. I started investing in the people
rather than the product.”
One of his best investments was in Magic
Whiteboard, alongside Deborah Meaden. The
founders accepted £100,000 for 40 per cent
equity in their business. “They have done
brilliantly,” said Paphitis. “Last summer [man-
aging director] Neil Westwood came to see
us and said we’ve been great but he bought
us both out. It made up for all the rubbish
investments I made. It was a big multiple.” n
PRIMALPARKING
“A lot of people say they don’t pay the money
and sometimes don’t follow through, but
you have to remember they don’t even know
who’s going down the stairs,” says Harrison
Woods, who appeared on the programme in
April 2012. “They have to make a snap de-
cision on your character and how believable
you are in a short space of time, and then a
lot more goes on afterwards.”
Woods, at the time the youngest person to
enter the Den at the age of 22, cannot speak
highly enough of the TV show. The Bury-
born entrepreneur left with £60,000 from
Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones for 40 per
cent of Primal Parking, a business
that allowed people to rent out
their unused parking spaces.
Thousands of users flooded
the website after the broad-
cast, although talks with advisers led to him
selling the business without the investment
going ahead. But Woods, who had agreed to
double the 20 per cent equity he offered, be-
lieves he left with something more valuable.
“Theo and Peter knew that by shaking
my hand on national TV would give me so
much credibility,” says Woods, who was in
his second year at university. “Looking back
I don’t believe I was really ready to go into it
and I think they knew that I needed to focus
on university, but they knew how beneficial
their backing could be to me.”
Woods is now co-owner and managing
director of YourParkingSpace and has
grown the business from generating
£1,500 per month to £150,000
per month in a year. Now based
in Canary Wharf, London, lead-
ing a team of 16 and following
an acquisition in Bristol, he
says: “I’d attribute all that to
Peter and Theo’s encouragement.
People who come out with a negative
experience are quite naïve. They have to
make a snap decision on a show, whereas
there would usually be six months of due
diligence.”
MOUNTAINTRIKE
Tim Morgan made his pitch in 2013, asking
for £100,000 in exchange for five per cent of
his business Mountain Trike, which designs
and manufactures all-terrain wheelchairs.
The Nantwich-based downhill mountain
bike racer came up with the idea while at
Bath University, after witnessing the injuries
“THEOAND
PETERKNEWTHAT
SHAKINGMYHAND
WOULDGIVEME
CREDIBILITY.”
p4-7 Big Question.indd 5 22/04/2015 09:27
3. www.northwestbusinessinsider.com6 insider MAY 2015
THE BIG QUESTION
incurred by those taking part in the sport,
and was described as “incredibly inspiring”
by Dragon Kelly Hoppen.
He was offered the full amount in
exchange for 15 per cent of the business
from Deborah Meaden, but said he could
not budge on the five per cent due to the
involvement of others in the business. His
£2m valuation was branded “bordering on
the delusional”.
Morgan says: “I was in there for more than
two hours so it was pretty draining, but they
were all very positive about the product. A
lot of the people you see will be looking for
investment to get off the ground. We’d been
on the market for three years and I’d already
diluted my share to get to that point, so I
didn’t have a huge share to give away.”
Though he didn’t walk away with the cash,
the impact of being on the show was clear.
“On the night of the show we had more than
3,000 hits on the website, we normally got
that in a month,” he says. “It would have been
fantastic to get a Dragon on board but I had
to stick to my guns.”
Morgan is working on adapting the
trike for people with limited finger grip, for
example those with spinal injuries. “We have
something pretty unique in this industry, we
sell 100 a year which, for a small team of five
of us, is pretty impressive,” he adds. “We’re
just cracking into the US as well, and we’re
seeing a good increase in sales.”
GARDENGOPHER
On the Wirral, Rachel Price managed to sell
her entire stock of 600 products within six
weeks of her three-and-a-half hours in the
den in 2007, pitching her Garden Gopher
trolley after being approached by researchers
Price, who is now marketing manager for
Wirral vehicle loader and conveyer manufac-
turer Sovex, says: “It gave me the exposure
I needed, it was just a shame how it ended.”
REDFOOTSHOES
Tim Smith, based in Rossendale, had the dis-
tinction of asking for what would have been
the largest investment in the show’s history
in 2011. Pitching for £300,000 in exchange
for 10 per cent of Redfoot Shoes, Smith was
praised for his “first-class pitch” and “brilliant-
ly made” products, which included foldable
ladies’ shoes and boots. But the Dragons
refused to make him an offer, because the
business was part of a group, saying this
made the ownership too complicated.
Taken to Pinewood Studios, where the
show was then filmed, at 5am on a Thursday,
it was 6.30pm the following day when Smith
finally got his two-and-a-half hour grilling.
“Peter Jones did make me an offer, which
they didn’t show on TV, but it was for 50 per
cent of the business,” says Smith.
“It was nerve-wracking but it’s a TV
programme and they want people to watch
it. As long as you know your numbers and
products and have researched it well, these
people are the ones to help you. I think the
Dragons missed a big opportunity, though.
We’ve had fantastic growth since the show
and profits are strong.”
Redfoot Shoes, which sells through House
of Fraser and Irish retailer Avoca, has a turn-
over of £4.1m and includes the subsidiary
Goodwin Smith. It launched in 2013 to offer
classic men’s footwear with a modern twist.
The shoes featured on the show sold well
“for the novelty factor”, but copied versions
have driven the price down, he adds.
“We turned over £140,000 in 2007 and our
projected figure for this year is £5.8m,” Smith
says. The business has also been approved
on crowdfunding site CrowdCube and will be
asking for £400,000 for stock and marketing.
following funding from the Merseyside
Special Investment Fund.
With orders from B&Q, sales through
garden centres and talks with Sainsbury’s
and Woolworths, several of the Dragons were
unsure why their £150,000 for 15 per cent of
the business was needed. While they were
impressed with her product and success so
far, her revelation that the business had debts
of £220,000 and her valuation of the compa-
ny only led to an offer for the full amount for
50 per cent of the business.
Price, who left with nothing, says: “You get
no editing rights, but I was happy with how it
came across and I don’t regret not taking the
offer. I think once you’ve been on it you don’t
worry about presenting to anybody anymore,
because nothing can be as bad as going in
front of the Dragons.”
As it happened, investment from a Dragon
would have been fruitless as Price experi-
enced problems with her Chinese manufactur-
er and the Garden Gopher business ended.
“ITWOULD
HAVEBEEN
FANTASTIC,BUT
IHADTOSTICK
TOMYGUNS.”
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