KENSINGTON – Kensington entrepreneur Paul Folland says despite being burned by the dragons, he has no regrets about his "Dragons' Den" experience.
Folland earned an appearance on the popular CBC show that invites Canadians to pitch their business ideas to five wealthy business leaders, a.k.a the dragons, with his Shower Skin invention.
"Showers at fitness clubs can be quite disgusting. The Shower Skin solves three things: you stay hands free, you get the option of a good hygiene shower and privacy," Folland describes of his product.
The product can be described as an apron with pockets for shampoo, body wash, razor, etc. The material is waterproof and mould-proof and is designed to give men quick access to hygiene products in the shower at the gym or arena.
Auditions for the show were held in Charlottetown about nine months ago. Folland had presented a few of his ideas, but was asked to take the Shower Skin to present to the dragons in Toronto. Folland pitched his idea requesting $50,000 for half of his business.
"It was a pretty nerve wrecking process," Folland said about his experience on set. "They'll chew you up and spit you out pretty quick."
The dragons, particularly the opinionated Kevin O'Leary, are known for their harsh rejection methods but O'Leary took it pretty easy on Folland and his creation.
"I don't think I'd ever wear this to be honest with you. It's covering up my package and I don't like that in the shower. I'm out," O'Leary told Folland during a segment of the show that aired earlier this week.
Folland handed out a sample of his product for all of the dragons to try on, but said they were returned to him following the show.
"It actually wasn't too bad," he said. "And it was positive because I had three people that work for 'Dragons' Den' come up to me and say they would use the product."
Folland says despite the rejection, he is optimistic for the future of his product.
"They turn down products regularly and there's a lot of people that have success even after 'Dragons' Den.' I'll keep pursuing it. The right person could be sitting out there watching... an investor could see what I see and we'd be off to the races."
The episode can be viewed online at www.cbc.ca/dragonsden.
