An Irish inventor has secured investment for his pet business through Dragons' Den.
Former stand-up comedian Darren Lewitt Pfizer, of Carlingford, Co Louth, impressed mogul Touker Suleyman during his appearance on the BBC show.
Darren pitched his Potty Mouth pooper scooper to the dragons, seeking £50,000 in return for a 10% stake in his business.
The product, which resembles a Pac Man, is designed to make picking up your dog's waste much easier. A biodegradable bag is attached to it and the 'mouth' closes magnetically ensuring that you never come into physical contact with the poo.
Prior to entering the den, Darren joked: “I used to do a lot of jokes about poop and now I’m literally designing products to pick up doggy poop.”
However, it was no laughing matter to the stern-faced dragons as most of them struggled to use the device.
Dog lover Peter Jones, who has three pooches at home, was impressed with Darren’s previous track record working for a product design company for 15 years.
But he wasn’t inclined to invest, telling him: "I think it’s a neat idea. I just feel that that’s a bit big. If I had three of those that would be like a ball and chain for dogs.
"You’re a really creative guy and well done for getting a great business for yourself but it’s not something I’m going to invest in today. I’m out."
Tej Lalvani wasn’t impressed with Darren’s marketing efforts. Although he has sold $40,000 to a US distributor, he claimed they were still testing the product and was forced to admit that he had only sold 50 or 60 units on Amazon.
Darren explained: "That product has been a little slow because we haven’t put too much money in marketing."
This drew an incredulous look from fellow dragon Deborah Meaden but he continued: "I’ve been so focused on developing the products that I haven’t really been pushing it that hard. The plan is to create lots of multimedia. Lots of video."
However, Tej wasn’t convinced and declined to invest. As did Deborah who didn’t feel it was fit for purpose, telling Darren: "Your dog bed I think is really neat and really nicely designed so that’s great. But this piece here – I don’t like it!
"It’s actually a) very fiddly b) I’ve got big dogs. Four big dogs. There is no way, if that wasn’t a really solid neat poo, there is no way that would pick it up. Because there isn’t much body to that.
"So if you’re trying to actually scrape it kind of doesn’t. Most dog poo I can assure you this is going to struggle."
Meanwhile crafting queen Sara Davies was put off by Darren’s lack of experience.
She told him: "I don’t believe you are the full package. And there is a lot of other work that needs to go around the inventor to make a successful business.
"That comes at a cost and the problem is the cost that that comes at means that I would need to take too much of your business for me to feel comfortable to do that. So I won’t be investing. I’m out."
With four nos and only Suleyman still to make a decision, Darren looked visibly nervous.
Fortunately for him, the businessman was actively looking to expand his pet product portfolio, telling a delighted Darren: "The area that I’m lacking is development. New products. And I think what interests me is you it’s the fact that you’ve got all these ideas.
"I think combined we could do something. I can help you with your sourcing, distribution, where you to get focus to create a product. I’m gonna make you an offer."
A tense-looking Darren listened as the dragon offered the £50,000 he was seeking, but in return Suleyman wanted 35% of the business.
After some negotiation, Suleyman agreed that he would drop to 30% if he got his investment back within 18 months.
He told Darren: "We’ll take the pet world by storm."
After a few moments considering the idea, Darren accepted Suleyman's offer and became the latest addition to the dragon's extensive portfolio.
