Dragons' Den series 22: Emma Grede returns tonight and hears a pitch with an unusual connection to C4's Googlebox
Fashion mogul Emma Grede, CEO of Good American and founding partner of SKIMS, returns
Dragons’ Den series 22 continues with episode 12 and the return of guest Emma Grede who consider the pitches tonight.
The fashion mogul is CEO of Good American and founding partner of SKIMS. She’s back as a guest Dragon, joining regulars Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies, Steven Bartlett and Touker Suleyman.
The pitches taking place on Dragons’ Den tonight include a headwear brand that trades brollies for bonnets. There’s also food-and-drink hampers for every occasion, a mobile grave-tending service, and salon-quality hair dye.
Here’s everything you need to know about the pitches on Dragons’ Den episode 12 of series 22, presented by Evan Davis. But there’ll be no spoilers about which entrepreneurs secure investment from the Dragons.
Dragons’ Den pitches tonight: L’hood hats, headwear, and rain bonnets
Entrepreneurs Phil Moore and Carolyn Asome appear on Dragons’ Den tonight pitching their business L’hood. They pitch is as a “patented, portable, hands-free alternative to the umbrella”.
Londoner Carolyn is a design journalist by trade, and former fashion editor at The Times newspaper. She and her business partner Phil, who lives in Warsaw, show off their range of headwear products. The rain and sun hats offer a “sustainable, stylish alternative to the 1.1 billion umbrellas which are thrown away each year”.
They source recycled components to make their products. These include 100% bio-degradable plant-based packaging, hang tags and metal parts.
The “stylish yet functional” collection of hats and hoods come in many colours and fabrics designed by fashion designer David Szeto.
They want £150,000 in return for 15% equity in their business, which they co-founded. But the Dragons question if the hats are a high-end product, or a “grab at a wet Disneyland” type of purchase?
Will the rather kooky headwear meet the approval of fashion guru Emma Grede? And, at £49.99, would you be seen out in one? When Steven Bartlett tries one on, Peter Jones blasts: “You look ridiculous”. Meanwhile, Peter Touker calls it a “novelty hat”, Emma said it’s “not cool”, and Sara questions the price.
Food-and-drink hampers ‘for every occasion’ Imp & Maker
Sarah Louise Fairburn, 40, appears on Dragons’ Den to pitch Imp & Maker, the “modern way to dine and gift”. The very likeable mum-of-four from Lincolnshire started her “personalised” gift hamper business in 2020 with the help of her kids.
She claims her “luxury gifting” business is “made easy” as it’s “curated by experts, and delivered when you need it”. Brands including in the hampers include Belazu, Peter’s Yard, Charbonnel et Walker, NOAM, and Whispering Angel.
Bestselling hampers include the Ultimate Italian Food Lovers Hamper at £105, the Signature Cheese & Wine Gift Hamper at £75, and the Black Pig Red Wine & Artisan Cheese Gift Hamper at £59.00.
Other luxury hampers on offer from Imp & Maker include the Signature Italian Food Lovers Hamper at £59, and Premium Prosecco & Cheese Board Gift Hamper, also at £59.
The Dragons are shocked when Louise reveals she sunk £1m of her own money into the business – and continues to lose money. Meanwhile, Peter wonders if it’s an “investible business”, while Steven claims she’s the “most resilient entrepreneur” they’ve had in the Den. Is Sarah deluded? Or does she really have a sustainable business model?
Dragons’ Den pitches tonight: Mobile grave-tending service Graceful Graves
Jaynika ‘Jay’ McGregor appears on Dragons’ Den tonight with her unique pitch for Graceful Graves. She says the business idea “came out of nowhere” much like her beloved dad’s unexpected death. Jay explains: “Out of that pain came a lot of purpose.”
Graceful Graves offers grave cleaning maintenance services for your loved ones, “making grief more graceful”. The company clean graves and headstones, tidy plots, remove moss and grime, and replace or arrange flowers.
The South Londoner, who is neurodivergent, says: “I created Graceful Graves after sadly losing my dad in March 2020. I found myself always cleaning and tidying his grave. I was there so frequently, that other visitors often asked me if that was my job and if I could help them too.”
Offering post-death-care, Graceful Graves provided mobile grave cleaning and maintenance services for your loved ones. Prices cost £120 for a one-off, £110 monthly, or £440 a year which offers a subscription to a quarterly clean and flower replacement. Currently, the cleaning and maintenance services are available only in London.
Sara wonders if grave cleaning is more of a “private” thing, and also questions the cost. Peter tells Jay: “I feel your pain because I lost my dad last year.”
‘Voice’ of Googlebox Jay McGregor appears on Dragons’ Den
Before starting Graceful Graves, Jay’s background was in radio – pirate, community, and commercial. She worked behind the scenes in production, and worked her way up to being a presenter.
Now, Jay McGregor is the voice of Channel 4 and E4. She says: “So you may have heard me introducing some of your favourite shows like Gogglebox and First Dates.”
She has also started presenting documentaries about grief.
‘Salon-quality hair dye’ Yuv Beauty
Mexican-born Francisco Gimenez appears on Dragons’ Den tonight to pitch his ‘salon-quality hair dye’ Yuv Beauty. The founder and creator claims it’s the “biggest innovation in the hairdressing world since the hair dryer”. It’s actually a tech platform intended to revolutionise the way professional hair stylists apply colour.
The yuv® Lab has been designed with the professional colourist in mind. It’s “built to make hair colour formulating easy, smart and fast”. Yuv helps hair salons create the “perfect hair colour formula”.
So does “the bald guy” know what he is talking about? Well, he sold his first hair invention for £200m. Which does rather beg the question of why he’s on Dragons’ Den asking for money!
He wants £250,000 for 1% of his business. So he’s pretty confident. But do the Dragons’ want to back him? Sara says he has “everything going for him”, while Debra says she “loves the vision”. But enough to settle for 1%?
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