BBC’s Dragon’s Den saw one hopeful entrepreneur looking to pitch more than just her business.
The plucky business owner made her appearance on the show alongside her husband as they pitched their Barking Bags product to the dragons on Thursday (January 27).
Debbie Greaves and Rob Angel are former teachers who decided to invest their retirement fund in their business and hoped to impress the Dragons alongside their pet Cockapoo Maisie.
The couple were hoping for a £35,000 investment in exchange for a 10 per cent stake in their business as they showed off their product to Peter Jones, Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Steven Bartlett.
Debbie set about displaying the merits of their “Barking Bag” utility bag, designed for dog owners to carry essentials such as poo bags, treats, toys, ball launchers and even a separate section for carrying dog waste in until you find a suitable bin.
Meanwhile, Rob talked numbers on the business as they tried to win over their potential investors.
One Dragon in particular, Steven, wasn’t too sure that he was feeling the idea as he questioned how their product was any different to another, more fashionable bag.
He questioned: “Can I just say, I’m a dog owner, I have a shoulder bag that I use, I put everything in there. I bring the toys, snacks, I bring the doggie bags, I bring all of the things that you put inside your bag, and I’m not using your product, so clearly there is competition. Which is a bag.”
He continued: “I’m guessing your elevated pitch to the world is that this is more bespoke, the problem I then have if that is your answer, and sorry if I’m answering for you, is when I go on my dog walk, I have a style preference, and because you present this in a certain style, you exclude me just on that basis.”
When Debbie then claimed that the age demographic for their products is between 20 – 40 Steven stepped in again to give his take.
He said: “I’m going to be honest Debbie, I don’t think a 20-year-old Instagram centric millennial is going to be wearing these bags. Yours is like a 10/10 utility and a 4/10 fashion.
“I’m a single 28-year-old guy trying to find a girlfriend, that’s not going to help me.”
Quick thinking Debbie then made an attempt at matchmaking steven with her daughter as she tried to secure the cash injection for her business.
She quipped: “My daughter is out the back.”
However, it wasn’t enough to win them an investment from Steven as he declined any involvement in the business.
But Sara Davies saved the day by offering a TV shopping segment and £35,000 in exchange for a healthy 25% stake.
