Harrogate's Dragon's Den contestant talks about 'incredible response' from viewers
The co-owner of a well-known Harrogate-based outdoor lifestyle brand has talked about how “terrifying” it was to appear on Dragon’s Den recently but how amazing the response from viewers has been.
James Martin opened up after he was seen by millions of viewers making his pitch in series 23 of the hit BBC TV investment programme on Thursday.
Co-founder and managing director of family business Glawning, James entered the Dragon’s Den seeking investment of £60,000 for a 10% share in the firm, pitching the brand’s innovative approach to transforming camping into a more comfortable and stylish experience with their glamorous driveaway awning invention.
“It was terrifying standing in front of such experienced entrepreneurs and it did sting to be rejected but the response from viewers has been incredible,” said James.
“The edit was pretty brutal in parts and it’s a shame that the Dragons didn’t fully grasp the concept.
"But the exposure and the community support we’ve sparked have been absolutely worth it.”
Although none of the high-powered and notoriously fussy Dragons ultimately chose to invest in Glawning, and some elements of the TV edit were harsh, said James, the national broadcast proved a powerful catalyst for brand engagement.
And the Harrogate businessman, who set up the award-winning business in 2013 with his wife Sarah with the aim of launching high-quality glamping awnings for camper vans, did come away with a bit of an unexpected bonus - an invitation of a direct line of communication with Dragons’ Den investor Peter Jones.
Looking back on his appearance on the national stage, James emphasised, though there was an intangible value to the experience, the opportunity to tell the Glawning story to passionate campers and adventurers across the UK was invaluable.
“I got a brilliant little plug for our annual Glampfest held near Knaresborough,” said James.
"I even managed to get “Join the Glawning Revolution” out on national TV.
"For a brand built from the ground up, having the chance to showcase not just our products but the growing community behind them felt like a huge win in itself.”
More information at: https://www.glawning.com/