Dragons' Den Series 10

Well impressed by those "headphone guys" amazing what they have achieved so far.

Can't wait till Tonights episode is available to download.

 

I've only watched the first pitch, did you notice the breathing difficulties, Those Poor luvs.

Homedine /com/co.uk been mine for about 7 years now (Almost Forgot they were mine - had to check) - but I still expect a more commercial mind to want them (I know its Dining but I'll shorten anything for the net)

Good, Good food at home - is still there to be had as a business model (No not the local takeaway)

 

http://www.eatwithalocal.socialgo.com

 

Cheers Chris will look at link tomorrow. Though I have to admit my domains were never bought around home-cooking. More
A the chef came in tooled and kitted to deliver or
B A very good quality pre-prepared. (better than the best of the high-street brands)

Both concepts are out there working but still marginal.

Back to the prog for tonight though...

Sandy's Castles are going to get lots of Individual commissions (probably world-wide) which is all he was after in the first place. (Businesss class travel and accommodation thrown in)

Shampooheads - Once they mentioned 'Boots' that was endgame anyway. Nice to hear they mentioned all their 'domain' acquisitions in the same breath as acquired worldwide trade marks.

The other ideas, I've forgotten already - Not as good as last weeks prog

 

The asian couple probably had a viable business concept irrespective of a grumpy Banatyne - creches in health clubs work - why not in office hubs? But they utterly screwed it up!

 

I don't get how they screwed it up???

They presented two full trading years worth of correct figures. From start till right then. Up to date and correct.

Then in her usual style which always ends up with her saying I'm out she asked when the reporting date was?

They answered August and she then asked a completely non sensical question as to what they showed?

The figures had been given and the level of progress was plain to see so any business person even meaden could have done a deal on the basis of what was presented. If she was not believing them that was her problem and would have flagged up pre actual deal anyway.

As for the others who mentioned office space. It showed that the dragons den is just another crappy tv show now.

There is tons of free office space. Even they said that. Meaden identified that the crèche was the usp so why then say they should just sell office space. Did not make sense at all. Duh lots of people with office space they can't let so solution crèche/space. Surely that's what entrepreneurs see isn't it?

An then they invest in a shampoo business that won't make it in a million years. Boots order for 40,000 bottles and they will sell 2 per store a week they said. So 1000 a week @ 45p gross per bottle. 450 a week and they gave 75k for 15% helloooo. I'm no business woman but the math or reasoning doesn't add up.

Plus as a mother of 4 there product is a nonsense. Kids that age get in the bath to play with as many toys and splash as much as possible. They are not bothered about some daft characters on the bottle. Madness IMO

 

Ps. Re the crèche. I think the fact that the couple had won a mentoring competition with James cahn the former dragon earlier in the year put them off and meaden was the one handed the knife to finish them off.

They may not have wanted to invest from he start but no need to show bad business/investor skills in doing so.

 

Disclaimer - I've not seen last nights show.

But, I find it encouraging that the dragons do seem to make quite a few weak decisions despite the fact it will be edited heavily in their favour.

I'd love to see someone go in there with an internet based business where they've secured a top notch domain that cost them six figures, just to see how the dragons would react.

 

IMO the dragons panel has been a bit unbalanced since James Caan left. He was the one that saw real potential in startups and not ones already established and turning a profit - at which point I wouldn't give a shit for the dragons! That Hilary whatshername just gives me the creeps!

Quite a few times one or more of them mentioned the sole reason for having a business was the profit & money it makes... and then nodded when Banatyne said the money wasn't the real motivator it was the enjoyment of running a business!

Not one mentioned that the primary reason for a business id to provide a service/facility/product that is required or missing from its niche sector, or could be competitive within it.

They've lost the plot a few times this series.... recession fever I call it!

 

I have to agree with you Caz, obviously we only see a heavily edited version of the full conversations that took place so can only draw conclusions on what we see.

Yes they could focus on just renting offce space, but they might not be able to rent it all year round, so the creche is the pull that draws the customers to use their space and probably allows them to charge a higher rate as well. They made losses the first couple of years, a lot of that was from expense at fitting the place out etc but they had demonstrated it was on course to start making a profit now. Maybe it won't go onto make enough for it to be worth an investors time, but this didn't appear to be the reason the dragons declared themselve's out.

The shampoo bottles will probably do well enough Caz, i'd be surprised if it will be just boots stocking them now. Although as an idea, it's nothing great in the originality stakes but not all products have to be to make money.

 

Warming-up for tonights prog gents - hope it's far better than last weeks rubbish - You never know there might be that odd domain gem somehow springing out of somebodies marketing concept.

just as a rider to the comments last week - wonder how many people notice that 'Boots' only work out of the .com. Probably tried to get the .co.uk but wont bend-over for the holder. I shop at boots .com once a month but seem to go .co.uk by mistake everytime. Shame it's a rubbish holding page - given the traffic

 

I stand corrected - Boots do now have the domain -certainly didn't last week

 

According to the whois boots.co.uk is owned by Boots PLC and redirects to the .com (last update 2011).

UPD: Damn beat me to it!

 

Tifosi - I have just checked. But, I can assure you i've held my Boots online account for a couple of years. It's definately been a dead-end (parked) URL for sometime.

might look to see whats happended there - as you say it's now a redirect

 

Would argue that a redirect is not the best solution. There's better ways of doing it where the domains both go to the same place. But that''s digressing from the thread.

Hoping for a better program than last week. It's turning into an entrepreneurs X-factor where the panel is keener to slate the bad ideas then look for good ones. That's just crap easy tv that the DD producers really need to steer away from It's spoiling the core of the show and just turning it into 'entertainment'.

S

 

BBC 3 has "Be Your Own Boss" which has been much more interesting than Dragon's Den (so far, anyway) - should be on iPlayer I expect.

 

Yes I like Richard Reed, been an enjoyable viewing so far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcthree/2012/03/be-your-own-boss.shtml

 

Don't you just love the visible ego bruising when the remaining dragons don't get a deal! That last one was a classic.

 

http://www.yuuworld.com

 

Indeed a far better programme tonight than last week. Amazing how many of those that present an idea lose recognition that it often their personality that makes or breaks the investment. As in those two lovely ladies with the Kiddies bag

The best bits

The guy with a warehouse full of stock (never trust anyone that talks about decisions as if they're made by a 'Third' person ) Bad enough having a split personality - let alone three.

The Look on Peter Jones face after he turned down the Sauce deal only then to find out the two Ladies already had a potential muti-million pound deal signed off for the catering sector. And in fact had only been pitching their Retail side to the Dragons . He looked like a man that had just been stung a thousand times on his arse.