Dragons` Den back on BBC2 now

After a pencil is used for a while, it gets sharpened and reduces in length which I'm surprised no one mentioned.

Shane, any chance I can have a fiver on my nap tomorrow?

that pencil thing was the daftest idea I've ever heard. As you say, either go to Argos/bookies and steal them, or get a normal pencil, saw it in half and sharpen the other end

Boot buddy was a pile of sh1t however the three dragons worked out for what they paid for the investment that even if they lost it all the PR they get from supporting the little kid is worth more than the investment.

I`ll give you 7/1 nick

Mail-order gin club -- bizarre bidding from four dragons with Peter and Deborah dropping out in a contrived huff -- Sarah for 12.5%

Small pencils for children -- did parents used to nick betting shop pencils? -- sounds reasonable I suppose but the obvious danger is that if it does take off, then the existing pencil manufacturers will just undercut them -- no bids

Reaction room -- wtf?

Bean bags -- nice product -- Peter doesn't like family businesses but would buy one and the rest felt similarly -- no bids

Boot buddy -- seems clever -- another family business -- £250,000 already invested, apparently mainly on taking out lots of foreign patents for no real reason -- Touker bid for 35% -- Deborah liked the product and bid half for 12.5% -- Peter proposed a 3-dragon investment -- accepted

that boot buddy was expensive too-

12.99 RRP - and something like 7 cost


china could mould that for about .10p

I don't think even Poundshop would stock that cr@p.

Saw it before.....getting very irritating, especially that pr*tt Peter Jones, as I said before, my brother in law worked with him in the management at Phones 4 U .....20 years ago, can't say anything here as he would sue.

Sarah Willingham can invest in my 'personalised pork sword business.' I am willing to give away 100% of the equity at no cost. In fact I will even throw in a bit of dinner and drinks

I thought the pencil man had a very  logical argument and have thought similar myself. When a young child has a pencil it waves all over the shop as it's too big. But I cannot understand why current manufacturers don't just copy it as impossible to patent a shortened pencil.

That boot cleaner is useless as it only does one boot. And golfers tend to have motorised boot cleaners off the 18th green so I think the 'size of the prize' has been grossly over estimated.

Liked Mr Bean Bag. Buy 51% of the business for 3 x his asking price. Sack the kids and job done. Plenty of opportunity to make money in that outside of the family.

Did I see a picture of an ex footballer on the Gin Box? Sure I could see 'As recommended by Ray Wilkins' and a photo of him winking drinking a large G&T.............Gin & Tango.

Not kidding

Out of nowhere

Mail-order food -- progains is a reasonable name for promoting muscle growth but the other half of the business was about weight loss. The pitcher seemed deluded, or maybe just thick. He did not seem to understand the problems with his valuation, or the trademark, or why the dragons did not want to work with him. As Nick pointed out, if the company's sales are as high as was claimed, he can fund it himself. If he wanted advice,

Guitar cable -- basically a prototype rather than a product at this stage. I'm surprised none of the first four invested because the inventors already had the contacts and really just needed the cash. Tuker @ 35 per cent.

Maps -- a niche product at best, and interestingly most of the dragons saw the market as personalised gifts rather than maps. All out.

Manholes -- good profit but low turnover, or at least until the figures fell apart. This pitch was even worse than the first one. The patent has lapsed. Deborah bid 35% but based on someone else running the business. Peter bid 40% but offered to share with Deborah. Tuker likewise. Deborah preferred not to share. Peter rejected Tuker. Deborah's offer was accepted.