I'm on Dragons Den next Monday.....gulp!

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cjd

cjd

Business Member
    • Nov 23, 2005
    15,989
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  • #110
    Did you really need the money or was it just the publicity?

    Brilliant piece of work getting a patent for the double cage and getting a garden centre contract was even better. Why wasn't it renewed?

    I'm in the market for squirrel proof bird feeders - I have one that works well for nuts but it's not one of yours - did you licence the IP or have they got round it?

    To my mind there are two technical problems to solve:

    1. Keeping the bloody rodents out. I've seen squirrels happily sat inside one of those cages (probably not yours :). I think that's easy with nuts - you just need a smaller mesh outer cage that's very close to the inner - the birds peck through both but the squirrels can't get their nose in.

    2. The problem for seed is harder because you've got two problems to solve. Keeping the bu33ers out and stopping the seed being deliberately scattered by finches. They peck the seeds out, discarding about 80% of them, don't they? You can put a bowl shape under the cage or integrated with it, to catch the sprayed feed but then the squirrels get it.

    So, if this was my business I'd do exactly the opposite of what you're doing.

    I'd solve those problems, especially the second, and get another patent. I'd then film the things in use, showing that they really do solve it and get it on your web site.

    I'd then go back to the garden centres with a unique product that solves a proper problem and gets you distribution.

    Anyone can design fancy egg shapes and so on, but you've got the expertise to design a product tha actually works.

    Also, I'm in - but not at your price :)
     
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    D

    davezzr

  • #111
    Dragons den has always been a great way to spring board a new idea and ive seen products appear on the shelves after dragons den even though no funds were offered. If we all had that kind of exposure we would be well on our way.
    On a sour note, a business that has been going for 20years and losing money year on year regarless of turnover and coming to the end of a patent (opening the gates to copycat feeders) doesnt look appealing for investement. The point made that you needed to come up with new designs (and fast) tells me you dont have the money for the new jigs/setup/templates etc and new patents. To ask for £100,000 for what appears on the face of it an ailing business was a long shot.
    Im a bit surprised that you held your hand up and started this thread knowing the outcome and telling everyone how bad your business (that your dad started ) is doing. Its true companies have peaks and troughts over time and 20years is a hell of a time to show continud losses. Ok you made a profit of £90K one year and one swallow dont make a summer.
    Im guessing that your close to the end of your teather and praying that you can get as much exposure over the next few days and get some orders in. Todays news is tommorows chip paper
     
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    V

    voyage

    Free Member
    Oct 12, 2010
    205
    14
    North Yorkshire
  • #112
    Speaking in general,
    It may get you mass exposure etc and you could get orders from that, Either way it must take some guts to go on TV Exposing your business and being open to such fire from the dragons. I think the dragons will find a gap in any business no matter how confident you are. So I have great respect for you for exposing yourself in such away and also going on the show in the first place.
     
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    cjd

    cjd

    Business Member
    • Nov 23, 2005
    15,989
    3,428
    www.voipfone.co.uk
  • #114
    davezzr said:
    On a sour note, a business that has been going for 20years and losing money year on year regarless of turnover
    Click to expand...

    You can totally ignore what you heard on TV re profitability - this is a family firm. The question that was never asked was 'what did you pay yourselves?'
     
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    julester

    julester

    Free Member
    Jun 18, 2011
    34
    52
    Rickmansworth
  • #115
    ......everyone for their support - really is much appreciated. The edit was interesting. Not sure if it can be called fair because 90% of what was discussed didn't get included. The finance edit was incredible......very rarely were The Nuttery finances discussed alone.....as the company is part of a group that is profitable.

    I would be happy to post another video answering as many questions as I can. Feel free to PM me or post on forum.

    Once again, I appreciate the support / advice.

    Julian
     
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    C

    crphillips

  • #116
    I want to know who the hell Justin is? I think someone wrote down the wrong name on Ewans script:)

    A 20 year old business with £1.2 million turnover and 90k profit with biggish losses on previous years trading and expiring patents doesn't seem very attractive.

    Do they edit it to make you look bad?

    Good luck though as you may do well from the publicity.
     
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    P

    pbsdirect

    Free Member
    Aug 12, 2010
    75
    11
    Scotland
  • #117
    A 20 year old business with £1.2 million turnover and 90k profit with biggish losses on previous years trading and expiring patents doesn't seem very attractive.

    Do they edit it to make you look bad?

    Thats the thing those Dragons will stab in the back- no rubbuish but you will see balentines Nut grabber in b&q next year, if not it was a bad idea, if so you need to take them to court and phone the sun,
     
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    M

    matt seymour

    Free Member
    Jan 5, 2011
    1,073
    369
    Portsmouth
  • #118
    Thanks for sharing your experience with us Julian.

    To be fair, the Dragons were never likely to invest for the very obvious reasons they and others on here have given, but I hope the publicity gives your business a boost.

    I liked the look of the new products being developed and it's a pity they were only briefly mentioned. The feeder that looked like an acorn was a really attractive product and one that I would be more than happy to have in my garden... price allowing of course.

    Despite the lack of investment, you certainly didn't embarrass yourself and came to the den with a decent product, which is more than can be said for the pillock with the glass shelf for balcony railings!
     
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