Tyneside gardening entrepreneur Dan Robson is coming up roses after braving the Dragons’ Den to strike an £80,000 deal with North East businesswoman Sara Davies.
Dan Robson first launched Grow Sow Simple in 2014 after getting the idea for the seed boxes while studying at Northumbria University. Demand for the boxes bloomed in lockdown, even leading to a big supermarket deal with Asda last May.
Now the firm – based in Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate in North Shields – is set for bigger things after Dan’s pitch perfect appearance on the hit BBC One Show, winning over County Durham entrepreneur Sara Davies.
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On the show, he explained how the seed boxes have themes, such as pizza topper, herb garden and cocktail botanicals, and are aimed at beginner gardeners. Last year the firm had to move to larger operational facilities to accommodate its growing order book. But Mr Robson explained that during Covid, the family firm had to make some swift decisions to keep the company going as it came up against challenges in securing materials as well as growing shipping costs and the ever-changing retail landscape.
Despite losing orders at the time from traditional bricks and mortar outlets, the team took advantage of the exploding ‘grow your own’ lockdown trend by creating innovative direct to consumer mail order products.
In the Dragons’ Den show, retail specialist Sara Davies, founder of multimillion-pound craft firm Crafter’s Companion which she runs alongside her husband Simon in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, saw potential in Grow Sow Simple and invested £80,000 in exchange for a 20% share of the business.
As global demand continues to soar from consumers and retailers alike, with orders coming in from as far as the US, the company said it has found the perfect partner in Sara, who will use her retail, manufacturing and design experience to help take the business to the next level.
She 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.”
Dan, 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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