Tag Archives: Dragon’s Den

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Sustainability innovator helps founder bag Dragons’ Den investment

A gardening startup that uses the latest in compostable packaging innovation has become the latest winner in this season’s Dragons’ Den.

The key component of Grow Sow Simple’s judge-wooing seed kits, which won an £80,000 investment from Dragon, Sara Davies, are clever biodegradable pods. They’re made of bespoke moulded fibre, a wonder material, by Cullen Eco Packaging. The pod is just one example of the sustainable, compostable material shaped into an increasing array of designs to replace plastic packaging.

Entrepreneur Dan Robson, the man behind Grow So Simple, won backing on the BBC show which aired on 19th January 2023. His firm’s sought-after seed kits make growing your own veg more accessible. The flagship product, a biodegradable pod with multiple seeds inside (e.g. allotment garden mix of cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage), sells in over 150 stores in the UK and has lucrative orders coming in from as far as California.

Cullen Eco Packaging’s zero waste innovations are rapidly replacing plastic packs for everything from gardening products like Grow So Simple’s kits to moulded fibre bottles, a paper bottle replacement for dry goods such as vitamins, spices, home cleaning products and more.

David MacDonald, Cullen ECO-Friendly Packaging’s Owner, said: “Congratulations to Dan and his team on winning the Dragons’ Den investment. Dan is as passionate about innovation and sustainability as we are. Our moulded fibre packaging is a game changer not just for Grow So Simple but also anyone using plastic containers. We can design, engineer and manufacture replacements for most plastic packaging, and currently do so not just with Dan’s great business, but with over 1 billion products per year to companies in 34 countries.”

Dan Robson, added: ““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.”

Dragons’ Den panellist and investor, Sara 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 develop and grow his fantastic brand.

E-Commerce, News, North of England

Trio of planet-friendly Dragon’s Den brands sign to Leeds Shopify Agency

Leeds-based web design and development agency, That Works, has recently signed up three former Dragon’s Den brands. 

The Shopify Plus agency is working with UpCircle, PÄRLA and HomeThings to grow their e-commerce offering and improve the digital customer experience through custom Shopify design and development. 

UpCircle previously appeared in the den in 2018, seeking investment for their eco-friendly beauty and cosmetics company. The circular brand transforms ingredients that would otherwise be discarded into natural, organic beauty products. 

Since attracting three offers in the den, UpCircle has grown significantly. The brand’s products are now sold in several UK and global high street stores and online retailers including Beauty Bay, FeelUnique, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Holland & Barrett.

PÄRLA featured on Dragon’s Den to pitch their revolutionary toothpaste tabs company. Toothpaste tubes can take 500-700 years to biodegrade and an estimated 1.5 billion go to landfills or end up in the ocean each year. PÄRLA’s mission is to eliminate single-use toothpaste tube waste with its sustainable solution and packaging that can be infinitely recycled.

Post-Dragon’s Den – the eco-friendly toothpaste tab brand has seen huge success, with its products now stocked in Sainsbury’s and Boots.

PÄRLA managing director, Adam Parker commented: “I was impressed by That Works’ extensive portfolio of work, no-nonsense approach and deep expertise in everything related to Shopify.”

HomeThings, a sustainable cleaning supplies company received a joint investment from Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones in 2021 to aid the brand’s growth. Their key product offering includes an effervescent cleaning tablet which dissolves in water to combat unnecessary plastic waste from cleaning product packaging.

William Brightman, co-founder of UpCircle said: “Having seen the capabilities of That Works for other brands, we wanted to reach out and see if they could help us improve our website offering. The process has been seamless from start to finish and they have created some fantastic functionality that we are excited to deploy on-site.”

Jordan explained: “It’s amazing to be working on the Shopify stores for three purpose-driven companies who all had really positive experiences on Dragon’s Den. And it’s even better that they each have a unique overarching mission to reduce waste and have a positive impact on the planet and align with our own company values at That Works.

“We’re on a mission to grow exponentially throughout 2022 and work with more exciting companies both me and our team love to work with. Having recently started to receive interest from international companies, signing e-commerce brands up as far as the Middle East, it gives me great confidence we will deliver on our mission.” adds Jordan.

Founded in 2018 by young entrepreneur, Jordan Hill, aged 23, That Works has quickly gained traction in the UK for its expertise in User Experience (UX) design and development on the Shopify Plus platform. The growing agency already works with a number of e-commerce giants including other recently acquired brands such as Sofa Club and Razzl Dazzl Hair.