In this blog post, we explore the intriguing and sometimes surprising world of Dragons’ Den. Specifically, we delve into a business idea that only one dragon failed to believe in, leading to some unexpected outcomes. Whether you’re a fan of the show or simply interested in entrepreneurship, join us in this review for a unique look at the highs and lows of startup culture.
Introduction
Dragons’ Den is a popular television show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors, the “Dragons.” These investors are successful businesspeople who are willing to invest their own money into the entrepreneurs’ ideas. In this article, we will be reviewing one of the business ideas pitched on the show – Alpine Cleaning Services. While most of the Dragons were interested in investing, one Dragon, Peter Jones, did not believe in the business’s feasibility.
Pitching the Idea
Gary Taylor, the founder of Alpine Cleaning Services, came to the show asking for a £200,000 investment. His business idea was to install truck wash bays in motorway service stations throughout the UK. According to Gary, there are approximately 450,000 lorries registered in the UK, and most of these lorries need regular washing. Two major players in the service station industry, Road Chef and Welcome Break, had already offered contracts for 26 sites to install these wash bays.
Gary estimated that the generated profit would be about £23,000-£25,000 per month per site, with a usage capacity of up to 70% at any given time. However, Peter Jones did not agree with Gary’s projections and believed that the throughput of lorries was not high enough to make a profit.
Dragons’ Reactions
Richard Farley, another Dragon on the panel, disagreed with Peter and said that they needed to get two lorries on average per hour to break even. He also mentioned that the truck washes were targeting busy routes, which should increase the throughput of lorries.
Deborah Meaden, another Dragon, liked the business and was willing to invest £200,000 for a 40% equity stake. Another Dragon, Duncan Bannatyne, was also interested and offered £100,000 for a 20% stake. Richard Farley, who was interested in investing alongside Duncan, also wanted to join the deal with a portion of the investment. Theopher Fetus offered to come in for a portion of the investment with Duncan and Richard, and they would each get less equity up to 40%.
Conclusion
In the end, all four Dragons were interested in investing in Alpine Cleaning Services. Gary’s business idea was innovative, and the fact that he had already secured contracts with major players in the industry worked in his favor. While Peter Jones’s doubts were understandable, the other Dragons saw the potential in the business and were willing to invest.
FAQs
- What is Alpine Cleaning Services?
- Alpine Cleaning Services is a business idea pitched on the TV show Dragons’ Den, where truck wash bays would be installed in motorway service stations throughout the UK.
- How much investment did Gary Taylor ask for?
- Gary Taylor asked for a £200,000 investment.
- What were Gary’s profit projections?
- Gary estimated that the generated profit would be about £23,000-£25,000 per month per site, with a usage capacity of up to 70% at any given time.
- Why did Peter Jones not believe in the business’s feasibility?
- Peter Jones believed that the throughput of lorries was not high enough to make a profit.
- Did the Dragons invest in Alpine Cleaning Services?
- Yes, all four Dragons were interested in investing in Alpine Cleaning Services.
