Dragons get something to sniff at in Kelowna
Entrepreneur with line of hot tub and spa fragrances among crowd pitching ideas to CBC-TV show
Brent Slater knows all about hot tubs giving off a chemical or musty smell. He’s a hot tub owner himself and also used to own Beachcomber Hot Tubs & Patios in Edmonton.
“So, I came up with these hot tub and bath fragrances with aloe and vitamin C that not only make your hot tub smell better, but moisturize the skin,” said Slater.
The SpaScents-branded crystals and liquids come in aromas such as white jasmine, spearmint, French vanilla, ocean and Japanese cherry blossom, which are all much more olfactorily pleasing than chemical or must.
Slater had his entire SpaScents lineup with him Thursday at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus to pitch to Dragons’ Den producers for the chance to appear on the hit CBC-TV show.
“I’m asking for $75,000 for 20 per cent of the business,” said Slater.
“That money would really help me grow the company.”
SpaScents is already in production and being sold at 100 stores across Canada, including Beachcomber Home Leisure in Kelowna.
Slater is from Spruce Grove, Alta., but was out of town when Dragons’ Den auditions were held in nearby Edmonton.
So, he signed up online to appear at the Kelowna auditions and travelled here to pitch.
Through February and March, Dragons’ Den producers are holding auditions in 34 cities across the country.
A steady stream of entrepreneurs and inventors pitched at the Kelowna auditions between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
“If we like what we see, we’ll invite them to Toronto sometime between April 17 and May 10 when the show is taped,” said Jane Chupick, one of two Dragons’ Den producers screening applicants in Kelowna.
“This is a business pitch show, so, of course, we’re looking for passionate pitches for good companies,” she said.
“But we’re also looking for a great story and emotion, because, after all, people tune in to the show for entertainment.”
Gary Moroz of Kelowna was getting ready to audition with his big, black Roughneck Dirtbag duffel bag for oilpatch workers.
“I worked in the oilpatch myself for 15 years and had this idea for 12,” he said.
“Now that I’ve finished in the patch, I have time to develop Roughneck Dirtbag.”
The durable duffel has a patented front pouch to zip a hard hat in, additional big pouches on either end for work boots, and myriad pockets and compartments for safety glasses, gloves and identification.
“I’m still in prototype phase, but I’m asking the Dragons for $100,000 for five per cent of the company,” said Moroz.
“I imagine the bags would sell for about $160 each.”
Chris Waneck of Original Designs in Kelowna wasn’t at the auditions to ask for money for her startup colouring-books-foradults business.
“I know it seems a little vague, but I just want to ask the Dragons for contacts of who I might sell the images and concept to,” she said. “I’ve seen that done before on the show.”
Waneck has already started a small production of wedding, hippie and floral colouring books she sells to friends.
She’s also hoping to launch online sales soon.