Inside the Dragons' Den

T'n'A in the Den

Last year, one the show's most memorable pitches was from Bikini Weenie. Who got an earful about using sex to sell product.

This year the Den's features a few more risque deals, including the one below in the this screenshot.

So a question to all you Armchair Dragons:

BBC Dragons going back to the Den

Next week our friends at Dragons' Den in the UK go back into the Den with their 2nd annual "Where are the They Now Episode", while behind the scenes they prepare to begin auditions for Season Five.  So if you find yourself in London, feel free to apply: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/apply.shtml

Where are they now? Marc Forrat, Chocolatier from London!

After appearing on DD, Marc Forrat continued with his ambition to start a chain of gourmet chocolate stores all over Canada. The first entrepreneur to answer his call and share his dream is from the North West Territories.

Her name is Leanne Tait, from Yellowknife, NWT, she owns a successful marketing company and has decided to become part of Marc Forrat's dream by purchasing from him, the first distributorship in June 2007. Marc will teach Leanne how to make his delicious Truffles and chocolates in her own store as the opening is schedule for fall 2007 just in time for the holiday season (and just in time for Season Two).

Six more potential distributors are on the works as we speak, Forrat has also signed a starter deal with a chain of Gourmet coffee shops as a trial test market and has caught the attention of the largest European manufacturer of Gourmet high-end Chocolate in Europe.

Forrat recognizes the Dragons' Den as the instigator of his sudden "Marathon for Success". On a personal note, Forrat thanks the Small Business Center of London. He believes that they were the reason for him going on the show and reminds everyone out there: "Canada is an amazing country, where a guy like me, from a modest family, new to Canada, can start a company, meet some great minds on the way like his Mentor Robert kuenzlen, appear on a reality show, and turn it all into an amazing adventure of success, sharing and fun! Thank you all! and don't forget to eat chocolate!!!"

If you'd like to know more you can check out www.finetruffles.com

Baby Dragon Born

This week we got news that Dragons' Den has another new fan and Laurence Lewin has a new granddaughter.

Congrats to LL, and of course the baby's mom and dad.  I'm told that all are healthy and happy, but the baby seems to be taking her lead from her granddad's fellow dragon, Kevin O'Leary, and is already working the blackberry. Scary....

Where are they now? - Cenabal

The first pitcher to get Dragon money was Jennifer Macdonald from the London area.  She received capital for her salad dressing business in episode one of season one.  So now a year later, how's it going?

According to MacDonald: "The Dragons are an asset to Cenabal. We conference monthly to discuss growth and new opportunities and they are available, virtually anytime, to advise me on the larger business decisions."

This in turn has lead to success for the salad dressing company: Cenabal yearly sales have tripled. We have grown from one distributor and 33 retail outlets in June of 06 to four distributors and 100 retail outlets in June of 07. Cenabal launched a new product line in June and I am working on two additional lines for release late this year or early next year. says Jennifer

Cenebal has also been extremelly successful in getting distrubution deals across Canada.  So if you want to buy some great salad dressing or if you simply want to learn more, check out www.Cenabal.com

On the other side of the Pond

Left to right: Duncan Bannatyne, Alistair Turner, Anthony Coates-Smith and Richard Farleigh in fron of one of the igloo fleet

Most know that Dragons' Den hit it big first on the BBC (although it premiered in Japan).  The show continues to rock the English airwaves with its 4th season rapping up a few months ago with record ratings.

Now news from the other side of the pond proclaims the show's first millionaires have been created:

In January, Alistair Turner of St Albans and his partner Anthony Coates-Smith managed to keep their cool and convince dragons Duncan Bannatyne and Richard Farleigh to invest in their controlled transportation business, Igloo.  Now their company has been valued at between £3-4 million - making them the first millionaires created by the programme.

Alistair said of Igloo: "Eighteen months ago we were running six vans, now we have 40 vehicles and the business has doubled in size.

Alistair explained that the £160,000 invested by the Dragons as well as their influence has made a huge difference to the company's growth. He said: "Things are going really well. The PR we have been given has cut our costs and Duncan's links to a leasing firm has made it easier to hire out the vehicles."

Sources inside the CBC report that episode 10 of season two (premiering Oct 1st) will include updates on winners from season one and two of the Canadian program.  Could one of them be our first show created Canadian Millionaires? And if so who will it be?