Love Bomb Cushions impresses Dragons
A NOVELTY cushions business is smiling after securing an £80,000 investment on the hit BBC TV show Dragons’ Den.
Leeds-based Love Bomb Cushions was established 18 months ago and sells popular emoji cushions.
The business was founded by Sarah Agar-Brennan, who now runs her business from Leeds Beckett’s Creative Hub, based at AW Hainsworth & Sons Ltd in Stanningley.
The entrepreneur, who set up the business after struggling to find an emoji related birthday gift for her daughter, impressed the Dragons on the show. Tej Lavani offered £40,000 for a 17 per cent share in the business while banking entrepreneur Jenny Campbell offered to stump up the other half of Ms AgarBrennan’s investment target.
Peter Jones was also impressed by the business and offered the full £80,000 investment for a 40 per cent share in the business.
In the end Ms Agar-Brennan shook hands with Mr Lavani and Ms Campbell on a combined £80,000 investment for a share of 15 per cent for each of the Dragons.
“I really opened up on the show and they were all very kind to me, especially Peter Jones,” said Ms Agar-Brennan. “It is really intense – you are in there for one and a half to two hours, although they only show about 10 minutes.”
Love Bomb is now planning to start a new ‘Made in Britain’ range and a new personalisation service, using seamstresses on site at AW Hainsworth.
The business has also just signed a contract with Debenhams which will see their products available to purchase from 161 Debenhams stores throughout the UK.
Ms Agar-Brennan began her career running a movie memorabilia business and at the height of its success, she had six shops and two websites. However, she sold the company when her son died when he was only six days old.
She said: “After my son died, I lost my confidence, self-belief and self-worth. However, 18 months ago I was ready to get back into work and looking for a change of direction.”
Love Bomb Cushions turned over in excess of £500,000 in its first year of trading. Ms AgarBrennan says the company’s aim is to become the “number one novelty cushion manufacturer”.
I really opened up on the show and they were all very kind to me.
Sarah Agar-Brennan, founder of Love Bomb Cushions