A Wiltshire-based gardening start-up has secured a £75,000 investment after appearing on Dragons’ Den.
Entrepreneurs Henry Bartlam and award-winning garden designer Alex Hollingsworth won over Sara Davies after pitching their lifestyle brand aimed at beginner and budding gardeners.
Mr Bartlam, who lives in Marlborough, conceived the idea for Dig during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, when he noticed a dramatic rise in popularity for gardening and food-growing at home.
He teamed up with Ms Hollingsworth, whose accolades include winning RTE Super Garden and a silver medal at Bloom; Ben Davies, a Bristol-based website and digital marketing expert; and communications specialist Ed Maitland Smith, to launch the business.
The company’s flagship product is ‘Instant Beds’ – a customisable, ready-to-plant garden packs tailored to different garden styles and aimed at beginners.
The business owners initially asked the dragons for £75,000 in return for 5% of their business. Ms Davies, founder of crafting empire Crafter’s Companion, finally agreed a deal with the duo in which should took a 15% stake in exchange for the funding.
She said: “When Alex and Henry began their pitch, I immediately saw how Dig’s offering would resonate with a lifestyle and DIY-focused consumer base who love the idea of gardening but don’t know where to start.
“They are passionate about sharing their joy and knowledge for gardening, and I believe there’s a whole generation of consumers out there eager to enjoy the benefits of Dig’s Instant Beds and other products. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and dig in with the team to make gardening easy and accessible for everyone!”
Mr Bartlam said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Sara’s retail expertise and passion for our business are exactly what we need to take Dig to the next level.”
The Dig team is planning to use the funds to scale operations and logistics, and evolve their product and services portfolio.
Ms Hollingsworth added: “We’re still very much a kitchen table business, but with Sara’s investment, we’re ready to expand our product range, partner with other brands, and bring the joy of gardening to a wider audience.”
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