Success for Sharon in Dragon's Den

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Thursday, July 23, 2009
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This is Scunthorpe

SCUNTHORPE’S Sharon Wright stunned the judges on Dragons’ Den – and is now aiming to be a millionaire by the end of the year.

The 39-year-old single mother, who has invented a device to thread cables through cavity walls, was pitching on the BBC programme for investment in her business.

And the Dragons, who are known for grilling hopeful entrepreneurs and some dismissive comments about their pitches, all wanted to invest.

Sharon said: "I was told by the BBC and the Dragons that for the first time in the seven-year history of the programme they had to go to the back of the room and discuss among themselves which of them was going to get the chance to invest."

Dragon Peter Jones told Sharon: "I think you have done amazingly well."

His colleague Deborah Meaden’s verdict on Sharon was: "She’s brilliant."

Sharon went on to Dragons’ Den asking for £50,000 in exchange for a 15 per cent share of the company.

She said: "All five Dragons told me I did not need the money and I was more than capable of doing it on my own."

But she added: "I agreed it was never about the money but about having the mentor and support behind me."

In the end two Dragons – Duncan Bannatyne and James Caan – between them took a 22-and-a-half per cent share in exchange for £80,000.

Sharon, who lives with her 13-year-old daughter Molly on the new housing estate near Morrisons, said: "I have the support from the infrastructure of their own businesses to drive the success of the product."

Already she is achieving major deals for the MagnaMole product for her Queensway Business Centre based Talpa Products company.

She said: "I’m aiming to be a millionaire by the end of this year."

The MagnaMole works using magnetic attraction. After a hole is drilled in a wall a magnetic rod is inserted. Then a cap is screwed on to the end of the cable or wire which is to go through the cavity from the other side. When the cable is then inserted magnetism connects it with the rod, allowing it to be simply pulled through.

The product retails at between £12.99 and £24.99. It is sold in electrical distribution outlets and will soon appear in DIY outlets.

Sharon said that beforehand she had thought it was an even chance whether the Dragons would like the product or ‘rip it to shreds’.

But she added: "They loved the simplicity and they know it’s a generic problem it tackles. They said what I have achieved is unbelievable and in the timescale I have done it but that I needed the confidence and that is exactly what they would give me."

She said the publicity and product awareness resulting from the Dragons’ Den appearance would be ‘priceless’ as she moved forward.

She added: "I have three or four other inventions, but until I have seen this one through to the end I’m keeping them under wraps."

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17 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by its that anon, scunny

    Wednesday, July 29 2009, 10:48PM

    “check your spelling anon your full of it clown”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by clair, scunny

    Friday, July 24 2009, 4:15PM

    “plus not being able to spell isnt a reflection on someones intelligence as my partner is dyslexic and cant spell at all but has just passed his first year for his law degree with a B so i should defo think about what you are saying ANON”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Clair, scunthorpe

    Friday, July 24 2009, 4:11PM

    “Well done to sharon, girl power to the max. Will be hunting for a repeat so i can watch it myself.
    As for people taking the mick out of people that cant spell, it is very childish and immature. Who is to say that who ever spelt something wrong may be dyslexic, that is discrimination againt dyslexic people. So if i were the people that are taking the pee should seriously consider what they say in the future and stick to what the story is about in the first place.”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Zakir, london

    Thursday, July 23 2009, 11:05PM

    “after watching the programme, i felt wats an amazing performance by sharon. but we seen only 5 minutes grilling, but i found on net she said she has been grilled for 90 minutes.i want to see more that 85 minutes performance.”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by dave, crosby

    Thursday, July 23 2009, 10:34PM

    “yes anon dont get your knickers in a twist”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Dan, Winterton

    Thursday, July 23 2009, 8:56PM

    “I see what you're saying Kez, I've spent years using tape, drills and threading cables through walls with no problems.......I just wish I was as smart as this lass and made it look even easier, I take my hat off to her, she deserves every success”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by mark, scunny

    Thursday, July 23 2009, 7:06PM

    “only jokeing anon”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Kez, Scunny

    Thursday, July 23 2009, 6:07PM

    “As someone who works in the communications trade, I dont see how this is different to attching the cable to a steel whip or ariel with lecky tape. Fair play for coming up with the idea tho and managing to sell it.”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Old Pete, Crosby

    Thursday, July 23 2009, 1:49PM

    “Yes, really well done Sharon, you were magnificent. It's not a programme I watch often but I'm pleased I did last night. Best wishes for your products in the future.”

  • Profile image for This is Scunthorpe

    by Chris, Nr Scunthorpe

    Thursday, July 23 2009, 12:42PM

    “You should learn to spell yourself Anon!! You have a go at others for the same thing, yet you can't spell or use grammar. What a Tard!!!”

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