A Scots entrepreneur whose product was rubbished on Dragon’s Den has had the last laugh after securing a massive money-spinning order.
Alistair Taylor was slammed by the BBC2 show’s business gurus when he presented his LadderLimb device.
The stars, including fellow Scot Duncan Bannantyne, slated the farmer for not having a firm grasp of the company finances.
But Alistair, of New Luce, Wigtownshire, has now secured a huge deal with DIY chain B&Q.
He told The Sunday Post: “The Dragons said they would have missed a trick if LadderLimb ended up being sold in B&Q. Well, B&Q has just put in an order for 10,000 and it will be in the stores before Christmas.”
Around 150 of the retail giant’s stores will stock the Ladderlimb which securely fastens paint tins, buckets and tools to ladders.
It’s already proving popular on the internet shopping site Amazon too.
And now shopping channel QVC has confirmed it is to showcase Alistair’s award-winning invention in the coming months.
He added: “The Dragons were quite right to have a go at me when I couldn’t tell them the turnover figures but it’s actually my son David who handles the financial side of things. He couldn’t be there for the presentation.”
During Alistair’s grilling in the Den, media magnate Peter Jones blasted: “I think you need more than just Dragon power, I think you need lady luck on your side as well.”
Multi-millionaire interior designer Kelly Hoppen, sneered: “Your figures are all over the place it’s not something I’d invest in.”
But Alistair was philosophical about his gruelling ordeal at their hands.
He said: “There is no such thing as bad publicity. We got a lot of attention as a result of Dragon’s Den.”
LadderLimbs cost £20 each and, if initial B&Q sales go well, Alistair believes they’ll soon be on sale at hundreds of stores nationally.
He believes that by the end of the year he will have sold 50,000 LadderLimbs generating £1million.
A spokeswoman for B&Q said: “We can confirm we are in the process of ordering this product.”
QVC added: “We will be selling the LadderLimb in October or November.”
To see the LadderLimb in action visit ladderlimb.net
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