Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Molly and the Dragons unable to reach a deal
AN award-winning Bristol company that appeared on BBC’s Dragon’s Den this week ultimately declined investment from the dragons.
Books That Matter is a book subscription box based in Montpellier, delivering to a band of loyal subscribers every month.
Business owner and entrepreneur Molly Masters, 25, conceived the idea for Books That Matter while still at university after being introduced to swathes of women writers during her studies.
Her English literature degree highlighted how male-orientated the curriculum is at England’s schools prior to university level.
The company was invited to face the Dragons after reaping huge success during the pandemic. Since its conception in 2020, Books That Matter has amassed an online community of 66,000, with 3,0004,000 regular subscribers.
“The past two years have been crucial to Books That Matter’s growth, having quadrupled in size,” Ms Masters said.
Molly entered the den with a proposition of £50,000 investment in exchange for five per cent of the business.
“What we have to offer is a very exciting and dynamic product in a fast-moving market,” she said.
“The current English GCSE curriculum offers a choice of 25 available books for study. Only five are by women,” Ms Masters said in her pitch.
“If women and girls cannot see themselves represented at school, in the media and on the bookshelves, then we have to take matters into our own hands.”
With the business showing an annual turnover of £800,000 since it began, Dragon Touker Suleyman showed immediate interest. He offered Ms Masters the full investment for 30 per cent of the business, an offer which she declined.
But it was the reactions from women Dragons Deborah Meadon and Sarah Davies that captured some viewers’ attention, with one person even saying they were ‘disgusted’ with their response.
Somerset-based Deborah Meaden had her doubts about the product.“I obviously love the promotion, certainly, of women. But why would you restrict your audience?” she asked.
Sarah Davies, who said her sons wouldn’t want to read books that came out of a pink box, said the product was excluding her as a consumer.
Ms Masters pointed out how 75 per cent of the book-buying market was women.
The two female Dragons were the first to say ‘I’m out’ and close the book on investment.
Although they didn’t secure any investment Ms Masters said she hopes the company’s appearance on Dragon’s Den will expose their work to a wider audience interested in feminist literature.
Each subscription box costs £17 per person - with discounts when bought in bulk - that typically includes a book and several gifts each month.