Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









Getting investment from BBC's Dragons Den

Written by: Sue Stockdale

Article Overview: In August 2008, Buggyboot creators Charlotte Evans and Carolyn Jarvis appeared in BBC's Dragons' Den TV series to seek investment for their business. Charlotte and Carolyn made a spirited presentation, which they describe as being one of the most challenging and nerve-wracking pitches they've ever given. After demonstrating the product and explaining the business, Charlotte and Carolyn secured the full amount of funding they sought and the support of a Dragon - Deborah Meaden. Read more how they got started

Free Download - Getting to your North Pole By Sue Stockdale
Name: Email:

Getting investment from BBC's Dragons Den

In August 2008, Buggyboot creators Charlotte Evans and Carolyn Jarvis appeared in Dragons' Den as they were seeking investment for their business. Charlotte and Carolyn made a spirited presentation, which they describe as being one of the most challenging and nerve-wracking pitches they've ever given. After demonstrating the product and explaining the business, Charlotte and Carolyn secured the full amount of funding they sought and the support of a Dragon - Deborah Meaden.
The Buggyboot itself has won several awards, and Charlotte and Carolyn were both nominated as British Female Inventor & Innovator of the Year for Buggyboot in 2008.

1. What is your business? We design and manufacture of accessories to make shopping and being out and about with children in buggies easier and less stressful. www.buggyboot.com

2. What prompted you to start up in business? We both felt it was a good idea and was missing in the market place. We knew each other and felt it was something we could both contribute to and remain friends.

3. What was the market situation when you started up- did a similar product exist? Not at the time as our idea was all based around having capacity to put your shopping into without the buggy tipping over, but we have since enabled our product to be either a stand on step as well as a bag and there are competitor boards out there.

4. Do you have a vision for your business and if so, what is it? I think our vision is about seeing our product on the streets and being a useful addition to struggling parents. We want to make our business successful and the product to be global.

5. What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome and how did you do it? The two main obstacles are lack of knowledge and money and both are to some degree interchangeable. You have to dare to ask and take all the knowldege you gain and use it in a considered way. You can find out how to get finance if you are armed with the knowledge and you can buy yourself the knowldege if you have the money!

6. How did you find the finance to get started? Some was personal money that we both funded through our own part time jobs that we were doing at the time and other finance came through Finance South East and SEEDA. We found out about it through Kingston University.

7. What are your personal qualities that have that have helped you to succeed in business?Resiliance, tenacity, optimism, belief and to some degree a bit of obliviion...because if you really knew what you were doing you might not ever do it!

8. How do you keep going when things get tough? Luckily we are a partnership and we have a mantra which is 'Be nice to each other'. We keep talking, listening and understanding and seek advice when we dont know.

9. How do you measure success? Success is partly about the journey of getting your product onto the shelves in shops but when we see the Buggyboot out in the high street and being a buggy necessity we will have succeeded. Trouble is you always think you can do better!

10. If you had one piece of advice for a woman starting out in business, what would it be? For us it was important that we are a partnership as we would not have done it alone. To women who go it alone my advice would be don't be put off by negativity. There are always lots of options available, so just take your time, ask around and find the right route for you. If your product or idea is a good one you will keep getting reasons to continue.

Related Articles
  How do you know, if a company will do well in the future?
  The Art of Zero Resistance Allowing Your Business to Flow
  You Are A Dragon Slayer
  These “Dragons” Hold You Back?
  The Art of Book Branding

Home > Women-Entrepreneurs > Sue Stockdale > Getting investment from BBCs Dragons Den
Article Tags: buggies, buggy, carolyn jarvis, charlotte evans, competitor, creators, dragon, dragons, dragons den, finance, innovator, inventor, lack of knowledge, market situation, money, obstacle, obstacles, parents, pitches

About the Author: Sue Stockdale
RSS for Sue's articles - Visit Sue's website

Sue Stockdale helps leaders and entrepreneurs step out of their comfort zone and achieve extraordinary results. She is a serial achiever, using her varied business and personal experience to inspire others. From athlete and adventurer to entrepreneur and executive coach, Sue demonstrates how you can achieve anything if you "believe it is possible".

As a WOMEN'S ENTERPRISE SPECIALIST Sue works globally on a number of initiatives to help women-owned businesses achieve greater business and personal success including London Chapter Chair of Women Presidents Organisation and Director of WEConnect Europe - a leading supplier diversity initiative connecting women business owners to multinational corporates.

As a MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER Sue delivers keynote presentations and workshops. Using powerful images and thought-provoking messages Sue draws analogies between her experiences and challenges faced in business. First British woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole (1996) and expeditions to Geographical North Pole, Antarctica and Greenland, Chile and Kenya. Represented Scotland in athletics and runner-up in Channel 4's Superhuman.

As an EXECUTIVE COACH, Sue brings a powerful combination of business experience and psychological insight to help leaders achieve transformational change. She uses incisive listening with an intuitive approach, and interspersed with relevant business models that enables clients to achieve greater clarity and results.




Click here to visit Sue's website
Dashed Line

More from Sue Stockdale
Woman business success


Related Forum Posts
Dragon's Den Dragon's Den - I'd be interested in hearing people's reaction to the CBC TV show "Dragon's Den." Personally, I feel the show is very corny(probably why its on the CBC), however it illustrates perfectly the importance of having a well defined elevator pitch with a killer pain statement and glorious value proposition. Those entrepreneaur wanabes who get the most interest(and ultimately a crap load of money) are those who impress the Dragons with a great EP. This being said, another trend I can see is that those who truly...TRULY...have a passion for what they do and can properly communicate this to the Dragons are also favoured. Furthermore, those who also show the Dragons that they have done alittle research (like knowing their names and the companies they founded) also have a better chance. These are all valuable lessons that can be learned if you strip back the cheesy veneer of the show. I'd be interested in hearing all of your thoughts and what you have learned from the show.
Dragon's Den Comments Dragon's Den Comments - Great post JWGM! While I'm usually not home to watch it on Wednesday nights I liked the one episode I saw (same one as you Louis!). I think any opportunity for entrepreneurs to get an understanding of what investors are looking for in a business helps. One thing to note is that you want to pitch to people who understand your business. There were a few entrepreneurs who had positive responses but because the Dragons weren't from that industry they didn't want to get involved. The entrepreneur who wanted to make the truffles franchise is an example - all the Dragons liked the idea but only one got involved - the one who had a background in setting up franchises. I'm glad Canadian entrepreneurs are getting more exposure and am looking forward to more shows!
Re: help wanted in u.k. Re: help wanted in u.k. - Thanks for the feedback everyone, I just got the reason for that just now. Here goes- The BBC only owns the Dragons' Den format for the UK. As such the interactive content is only available to people within the UK. I hope this clarifies things Thanks Brendan
Re: help wanted in u.k. Re: help wanted in u.k. - Hi Brendan, Well done for getting onto (or into) the Dragons' Den. I'd love to see the clip, but it is unavailable in my area (Japan)... Any chance of getting the clip onto youtube? Best wishes, David H
Re: Would you buy a house for a dollar? Re: Would you buy a house for a dollar? - Investors with their long term planing always be looking forward for such cheap investment projects. This is not a bad idea I think. One can take initiative on it and can earn handsome amount by doing small investment.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

Are You Too Good for Your Job?

Remind Me...

Time management for DIY PR

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.