D
Deleted member 1779
When I speak to anyone about my company 365 drills the response is either one of two things:
1) Oh you want to get your product into Screwfix because they will sell loads of them.
2) I tell you what. You wanna go on that Dragons Den program. They are always looking for ideas like yours.
Well we keep knocking on Screwfix's door as well as B-n-Q, Topps-tiles, Right-price-tiles, Jewsons, QVC and a muliple of chains, shops, catalogues, retailers and others. Its hard work. I cant tell you how many miles I have been up and down the UK. I have knocked on more doors than I care to mention.
So one day the manufacturer of my packaging rings me up. "Richard I just took a call from BBC. Their producers assistant ***** (name removed) is ringing about to see if there is anyone with good investable ideas. You should go for it"
That was last June 2007 and so I decided to go for it.... I filled in the forms and sent them off to the BBC in London.
Within days researchers called me up for an interview. I went up on the train and then did my pitch in front of the cameras.
Four shots to camera and they told me that the best pitch was about me as a person and how I developed the product. Not me selling the product.
So I spent the days with them and got the interviews "in the can" and went home. They told me 5000 people had applied and not to bother ringing to see if I made it through. and if I had made the finals they would let me know.
well blow me down with a feather because TWO DAYS later they called to say that I had made it to the show....
EEEEKKKK.
Next followed a month of "Due Diligence" The reasearcher (we will call her Hannah) spent a month with me and my wife going through every document, criminal record checks, company records, sales, debts, loans, patents and background checks.
Hannah had to check every single word and fact to make sure that the words said on air were backed in fact.
With due diligence over and all lights going green came the day of filming.
The Beeb put you up at the local hotel to Pinewood Studios. In this case a Travel Lodge. OK no glamour but it had a bar and we wernt moaning.
So day of filming comes along. We are shown to a "green room" which is not exactly green in colour but a place where they put you prior to You get to mix with five others who will all pitch that day.
Everyone is nervous. Pacing up and down. Hannah sticks with me and helps me rehearse my pitch. We go through it a number of times. food is plentiful and the usual stodge of cakes, sweets, coffee.
There are newspapers about. We can watch videos. Chat. Or pace. Most choose to pace about... Phones are banned. Computers are banned.
As the day rattles on more and more go through. I am the last one of the day. At 4pm I am called to go in and do my thing.
I get in, give my 3min "quick pitch" or intro and then open to questions. First hour is a disaster as they lay into me big time and rip me to bits.
Relief comes when a cameraman shouts out that he has run out of film. They stop breifly and I am allowed some water. I have been standing under a 500w light for an hour and am getting dehydrated.
In hour number two the lights are back on. The questions continue but the break seems to have changed my fortunes.
Peter Jones is up. He tries it. He likes it. He applogises for the first hour of shouting and then agrees its not a bad idea.
Deborah Meadon is close behind and offers support and help. At the end of the second hour the common thread is that they like the idea and think it will do well. But (and here comes the crunch) they tick me off for asking for too much money at £100,000k
I'm gutted but think oh-well at least the publicity of broadcast will be some kind of help.
July comes and goes and then we move into winter. The series is set over nine weeks and Hannah tells me she will ring to tell me my week. I wait. I wait. I wait.
Deborah is on the phone and arranging meetings with suppliers.
In week 8 with one more week to go Hannah calls.
So Sorry. They had so many pitches this year that you didnt make broadcast. We only really show the ones that get investment and the idiots.
So I go mental (as you would) and she tells me. To be honest drill bits are just not intersting enough for TV. If you got investment its a go. But sorry thats just how it is.
As soon as the BBC pull the plug - guess what happened to the suppliers that Deborah put me in contact with..... Yes they ran for the hills.
No broadcast = No interest.
Tough break. So the lesson is - dust myself down. Dry my tears and move on with life.
I dont blame anyone. The BBC are making good tv. The dragons can choose to invest their own money.
But It did P*** me off that they didnt show it. And it was mighty embarassing to have to explain to family and my mates..
Richard explains the concept of the diamond drill kits to Peter Jones.
OK: I will give it a go said Peter.
And that... was that !
Richard
1) Oh you want to get your product into Screwfix because they will sell loads of them.
2) I tell you what. You wanna go on that Dragons Den program. They are always looking for ideas like yours.
Well we keep knocking on Screwfix's door as well as B-n-Q, Topps-tiles, Right-price-tiles, Jewsons, QVC and a muliple of chains, shops, catalogues, retailers and others. Its hard work. I cant tell you how many miles I have been up and down the UK. I have knocked on more doors than I care to mention.
So one day the manufacturer of my packaging rings me up. "Richard I just took a call from BBC. Their producers assistant ***** (name removed) is ringing about to see if there is anyone with good investable ideas. You should go for it"
That was last June 2007 and so I decided to go for it.... I filled in the forms and sent them off to the BBC in London.
Within days researchers called me up for an interview. I went up on the train and then did my pitch in front of the cameras.
Four shots to camera and they told me that the best pitch was about me as a person and how I developed the product. Not me selling the product.
So I spent the days with them and got the interviews "in the can" and went home. They told me 5000 people had applied and not to bother ringing to see if I made it through. and if I had made the finals they would let me know.
well blow me down with a feather because TWO DAYS later they called to say that I had made it to the show....
EEEEKKKK.
Next followed a month of "Due Diligence" The reasearcher (we will call her Hannah) spent a month with me and my wife going through every document, criminal record checks, company records, sales, debts, loans, patents and background checks.
Hannah had to check every single word and fact to make sure that the words said on air were backed in fact.
With due diligence over and all lights going green came the day of filming.
The Beeb put you up at the local hotel to Pinewood Studios. In this case a Travel Lodge. OK no glamour but it had a bar and we wernt moaning.
So day of filming comes along. We are shown to a "green room" which is not exactly green in colour but a place where they put you prior to You get to mix with five others who will all pitch that day.
Everyone is nervous. Pacing up and down. Hannah sticks with me and helps me rehearse my pitch. We go through it a number of times. food is plentiful and the usual stodge of cakes, sweets, coffee.
There are newspapers about. We can watch videos. Chat. Or pace. Most choose to pace about... Phones are banned. Computers are banned.
As the day rattles on more and more go through. I am the last one of the day. At 4pm I am called to go in and do my thing.
I get in, give my 3min "quick pitch" or intro and then open to questions. First hour is a disaster as they lay into me big time and rip me to bits.
Relief comes when a cameraman shouts out that he has run out of film. They stop breifly and I am allowed some water. I have been standing under a 500w light for an hour and am getting dehydrated.
In hour number two the lights are back on. The questions continue but the break seems to have changed my fortunes.
Peter Jones is up. He tries it. He likes it. He applogises for the first hour of shouting and then agrees its not a bad idea.
Deborah Meadon is close behind and offers support and help. At the end of the second hour the common thread is that they like the idea and think it will do well. But (and here comes the crunch) they tick me off for asking for too much money at £100,000k
I'm gutted but think oh-well at least the publicity of broadcast will be some kind of help.
July comes and goes and then we move into winter. The series is set over nine weeks and Hannah tells me she will ring to tell me my week. I wait. I wait. I wait.
Deborah is on the phone and arranging meetings with suppliers.
In week 8 with one more week to go Hannah calls.
So Sorry. They had so many pitches this year that you didnt make broadcast. We only really show the ones that get investment and the idiots.
So I go mental (as you would) and she tells me. To be honest drill bits are just not intersting enough for TV. If you got investment its a go. But sorry thats just how it is.
As soon as the BBC pull the plug - guess what happened to the suppliers that Deborah put me in contact with..... Yes they ran for the hills.
No broadcast = No interest.
Tough break. So the lesson is - dust myself down. Dry my tears and move on with life.
I dont blame anyone. The BBC are making good tv. The dragons can choose to invest their own money.
But It did P*** me off that they didnt show it. And it was mighty embarassing to have to explain to family and my mates..
Richard explains the concept of the diamond drill kits to Peter Jones.
OK: I will give it a go said Peter.
And that... was that !
Richard
