A North Tyneside businessman is toasting an £80,000 investment after sealing a deal on Dragons’ Den with crafting entrepreneur Sara Davies.
Viewers who tuned into the hit BBC One show watched as Dan Robson braved the den to pitch exciting ideas for his company, Grow Sow Simple. Mr Robson launched the company in 2014 to ‘get people growing’ with boxes of seeds that can be planted direct into the soil or plant pots. The pod protects the seeds as they begin to germinate, before breaking down naturally in the soil, leaving no waste.
The company – based in Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate in North Tyneside – had already scored a level of success before Mr Robson went before the panel of millionaire investors, having landed a contract with supermarket chain Asda last May to see its product sold in almost 150 stores throughout the UK.
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The seed boxes have themes, such as pizza topper, herb garden and cocktail botanicals, and are aimed at beginner gardeners. The firm was founded in 2014 by managing director Dan Robson and the company has recently moved to larger operational facilities to accommodate its growing order book. The products are made from 100% recycled industrial waste, stripped of any bleaches, acids or other chemicals.
During Covid, however, the family firm had to make tough decisions to keep the company afloat as it battled difficulties in securing materials, growing shipping costs and a shift in the retail landscape. Despite losing significant orders at the time from traditional bricks and mortar outlets, the team jumped on the exploding ‘grow your own’ lockdown trend by creating innovative direct to consumer mail order products.
In the Dragons’ Den, retail specialist Sara Davies, who runs multimillion-pound craft brand Crafter’s Companion alongside her husband Simon in Newton Aycliffe, saw potential in Mr Robson’s company and jumped at the chance to invest £80,000 in exchange for a 20% share of the business.
Now, as global demand continues to soar from consumers and retailers alike, with lucrative orders coming in from as far as California, the company said it has found the perfect partner in Ms Davies, who will harness her retail, manufacturing and design experience to help take the business to the next level.
After the show, Ms Davies said: “I liked Dan the moment I met him and I really resonated with his commitment to giving all people, from all walks of life, the chance to grow their own vegetables. This level of passion, along with a strong concept, is critical for business success so I’m looking forward to seeing him developing and growing his fantastic brand.”
Mr Robson, who runs the company with his graphic designer brother Joe, added: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Dragons’ Den, and after many years of shouting at the TV, my wife convinced me to apply to appear on the programme. Entering the Den is very different to watching it at home; it was by far one of the challenging experiences of my life, but I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Investment from Sara is the absolute dream having witnessed what she has achieved for North East business.
“The idea for my company was born out of my passions for sustainability and making gardening accessible. I am delighted that Sara, whose phenomenal brand was also created off the back of her own obsession for crafting, saw potential in our company at this critical phase in our journey.”
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