Deborah Meaden left fuming by the dumbest move EVER on Dragons’ Den
Gin entrepreneurs snub two Dragons' offers in a costly schoolboy error
DRAGONS' Den star Deborah Meaden was left fuming by two gin entrepreneurs on the first show of the series.
John Hulme and Jon Burke made a schoolboy error while touting for investment for their Craft Club company – and insulted both Deborah and Peter Jones.
After asking for £75,000 investment for just three percent of the business, the two men were offered the cash for 12.5 per cent by Sarah Willingham.
But both Deborah and Peter topped the offer by pledging the money for a 10 per cent stake.
After consulting each other, the ambitious pair made a massive blunder – by asking Sarah Willingham to reconsider her offer and totally snubbing the other two potential partners.
Dragon Deborah was breathing fire after the insult.
She fumed: “What do you think that makes an investor feel like? When you’re asking us to commit to you and change your business.”
The men backtracked and tried to claim that they were just trying to see if she would go further.
But furious Deborah fired back: “You’re very good. But I won’t believe that. Clearly you want Sarah.”
Then she added: “I’m out!”
Shaking his head, Peter Jones also told them: “I’m out!”
Unperturbed they carried on fighting, telling Sarah: “We feel we can only go to 10 per cent.”
RELATED STORIES
But by that time they’d blown it and the crafty Dragon told them: “I’m 12.5 per cent.”
The men took the offer – and probably a stiff swig of gin to get over the fact their little mistake had cost them dear.
Earlier, Sarah had looked surprised at their pitch and admitted she was already a customer of Craft Club, which sends subscribers new gins to try every month.
She – whose portfolio includes The London Cocktail Club and the Craft Cocktail Company - told them: “I’m really excited.”
Dragon's Den is on BBC2 on Sunday nights
