I was on Dragons' Den AMA

[jajadingdongg]

I was on last Thursday's episode and happy to answer any questions! I've name changed so I can talk openly about it :-)

But anything you've ever wanted to know about Dragons' Den, ask away and I shall try my best.

[quote jajadingdongg]@Fairyarmpits That's sad to hear- he was came across as really lovely, and especially about my terrible parents, he seemed like a real family man.[/quote]
I can't say too much without outing myself!

Yes, he will totally come across as the concerned family man and he is very good at playing that role.

He's absolutely mercenary though which you would sort of expect in business except he has treated quite a few of his longstanding senior staff dreadfully.

He bangs on about being a great employer but I knew staff who hadn't had a payrise for literally 8 years. His management team were the epitomy of a patriarchy - not a woman in sight!

Re the pitch, are you not allowed to take any notes with you? You obviously live and breathe the business, so could answer everything. Id be so scared to fluff all the numbers.

You were brilliant.

Which of your channels is best to buy from so you maximise profit?

@Fairyarmpits I see! That's disappointing to hear. He was very kind in our interactions and very tall!

@Redcrayons No notes, nothing. Normally when I pitch elsewhere I'll have notes, power point etc. I systematically learnt an entire spreadsheet of numbers over the course of 3 months! It was a lot of work, but I lived in fear of getting the numbers wrong!

@doadeer In terms of profit to us, the website's best, then Amazon, then retail. Luckily people have mainly gone straight to the website after the show to buy More people than I anticipated.

What happens after you leave the room? Do you just leave the building and go home? Or do you meet again with the investing dragons to do paperwork etc?

What has contact with the dragons been like since you filmed?

Is the elevator actually real?

Do you get direction? So do the crew interrupt your pitch due to a dodgy boom mic or do they literally just leave you to it with no interjections/pauses?

Are you standing for the whole time on there?

Do they do hair and make up or do you arrive as you are?

Do you see the other pitching people or do you all arrive at staggered/different times for your pitches?

So many questions!

You launched in March 2020? That will explain why yours was the only hand gel I could find to buy !!!!! Bought it even though my youngest dc was 8 at the time. Smells lovely !

Another one here just wanting to say you gave an outstanding pitch, you’re so impressive. I’m sure your business is going to be a phenomenal success.

Congratulations. I hope it all goes well!

Tell
Me everything
About

Stephen Bartlettt!!

OMG Stephen is a bit in love with you isn't he, that's what I was thinking while I was watching. I find him very sharp both in his thinking and his tongue, with both the dragons and contestants, but he definitely had that look in his eyes.

Do you have to stand there for the 21/2 hours or is it have a seat and discuss some more, that's a hell of a presentation time.

You were awesome by the way and all of your research and practice was worth it.

If you could have only picked one dragon for their expertise and help which would you have chosen? (assuming investment all the same)

What would each dragon bring to you?

Would you have chosen Sara if she had offered to share?

Did you get the dragon/s you wanted?

@ScootScot
What happens after you leave the room? Do you just leave the building and go home? Or do you meet again with the investing dragons to do paperwork etc?

Covid meant we had a quick hello afterwards, which was lovely. But then yes I went home. I got myself a celebratory McDonalds as I was starving!

What has contact with the dragons been like since you filmed? We speak whenever I need help, they've both been really great. They also have teams to help as well.

Is the elevator actually real? Ours wasn't but I think it used to be!

Do you get direction? So do the crew interrupt your pitch due to a dodgy boom mic or do they literally just leave you to it with no interjections/pauses? No direction, you just have to walk in and start talking. No interference from the crew at all. Afterwards I emailed to ask if they could leave a few things out (bits about my Mum being an alcoholic), but no one directs you at all.

Are you standing for the whole time on there? Yes, and I had high heels on and it was 2.5 hours, so my feet hurt.

Do they do hair and make up or do you arrive as you are? I arrived without make up and the WONDERFUL make up lady made me feel amazing. When I'm a rich multimillionaire I will be getting her on full time!

Do you see the other pitching people or do you all arrive at staggered/different times for your pitches? I did see other people, we saw a little of each other's pitches when the producers were checking our pitches. We all arrived more or less the same time.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads Thanks so much for being one of our first customers! I literally wouldn't be here now running this business without people like you believing in us so early on.

@KittenKong Thanks so much!

@LizzieSiddal Thanks, that's very kind!

@savyusername He's SERIOUSLY intelligent, he's like no-one I've ever met. Every word he says is intentional and considered. He gives incredible advice and I eat up every word! He's also more built in real life (gym wise, not fat wise!)

@Faevern

If you could have only picked one dragon for their expertise and help which would you have chosen? That is so tough, I genuinely don't know. Maybe Steven as our digital side is more of a weakness for me than retail.

What would each dragon bring to you? Steven is amazing at brand and digital, Deborah is incredible at more general business advice, retail strategy, contacts and PR.

Would you have chosen Sara if she had offered to share? Yes, I didn't think to do this when I was in there. I'd already been negotiating for 40 minutes by that point! At the time I didn't want to offend Deborah and Steven by pushing back on their offer too much, as it was so generous.

@Hurrylittlefroggy I genuinely didn't think I would get any offers, and before I went into I thought Touker would be maybe the only one that would invest. So to get 2 of the best dragons (in my opinion!) was amazing! Very happy with who I have ended up with.

Fascinating. thanks so much for your openness and have another big congratulations. I genuinely used to think each person pitching was in and out in ten minutes!

No worries at all, I think Dragons' Den gets some bad press, but if you're honest throughout the process, your investment will go through. Well I found the process to be very fair anyway! The production team and wider researchers are very supportive, and actually going through the process has made my company better, regardless of the investment.

I just watched it, goodness me you were impressive! One of the best pitches I've ever seen and fantastic negotiating. Well done

How nervous did you feel the first time you picked up the phone to call Deborah or Steven to ask their advice on something?

Watched the clip and wow! Is the segment of you on the actual episode longer because I didn't see anything about your parents or things like that?

Congratulations OP. How lovely it is to see someone having a bit of success in these tricky times. Well done.

@FAQs

Bit random but loved your jumpsuit where is it from, well done though it must have been quite terrifying. The dribble proof lip balm could also assist elderly people, my uncle had a stroke and used to dribble and lots of balms didn’t help.

I was just going to say the same. Didn't she look fabulous in it!?

@jajadingdongg I'll be buying the alcohol free sanitiser (& lip balm) when I get paid as I have hands which have skin that gets incredibly tight & sore every single time I touch regular sanitiser so this will be perfect! My 8yr old has Eczema on her hands and gets chapped lips but hates chapstick so your brand sounds perfect, even though neither of us are toddlers!

Congratulations & well done you were fabulous! An inspiring, confident & successful woman on tv, just before International Woman's Day! 👏🏻

How do the live cultures work topically? Is it just a gimmick?

Wow. Just watched it. Not sure where the info about your parents came in that you talked about earlier on the thread.

Their loss as you will be a millionaire very soon. That's obvious to see. What a woman. Good luck on your journey.

Just watched this - you were soooooo slick!

I’m going to give some of your hand gel to my mum - she’s a recovering alcoholic who has not had any alcohol for 40 years. She’s terrified of using alcohol gel in case it triggers a reaction in her. I’ve no idea of the science behind her thinking, but she has said she wished she could find some alcohol free sanitiser.

Loved the pitch! Loved you too you came across great

We have very similar backgrounds and I have a feeling we may even have met! Woulda been years ago though and you won't remember me I don't think.

I'm just now browsing products on Amazon and I know they're pitched to kids but I am a vegetarian disabled eczema sufferer with ocd and these products look PERFECT for me!

I've just popped the spray sanitiser (most sprays are very difficult for me to squeeze) and the adventure balm (in winter and sun my cheeks really suffer) in my basket.

Well done wishing you every success