Dragons’ Den star Sarah Willingham has opened up about the “cracking businesses” she invested in over the two series she spent as an investor – and admits that the most memorable one is still raking in profit several years later.
“One pitch that’s obviously really memorable is the Craft Gin Club because that’s one of those very, very few pitches where you have all five Dragons excited to try to get it,” she told us.
“I’m still on that journey with them [today]. I really enjoyed working with them and the business is going extremely well.”
Despite not taking up the opportunity to do a third series, due to a three-year escape around the world she took with her family, Sarah is adamant that while she was on the show, it was one of the most exciting experiences of her life.
“It was just such a fun experience from start to finish. When you are already an investor in small businesses and you just get to sit in a big comfy armchair and 120 businesses come in and pitch to you – it’s crazy. What’s not to love about it?” Sarah quizzed.
“I invested in some cracking businesses which have all done very, very well, so made some really good friends out of that and really enjoyed the process. I’m still very close to them all,” she enthused.
The serial entrepreneur certainly didn’t stop with The Craft Gin Club when it came to beverage businesses – and later, during the pandemic, she also launched Nightcap PLC with her husband and floated it on the stock market.
The first business that the pair brought into Nightcap was The London Cocktail Club, which she was also introduced to in its early stages on Dragons’ Den when it was pitched to the judges by mixologists.
As the UK narrowly avoided falling into recession recently, Sarah is adamant that she must have the best-performing businesses in order to succeed.
“There’s just no place for mediocrity…[especially] at a time when people are struggling and are really conscious of what value they are getting for their money,” she insisted.
Meanwhile, Sarah, who is turning 50 this year, has suggested that she might expand her investment opportunities in the future into the health sector.
A passionate fan of health retreats, she says she’d definitely consider starring in a TV show focused on the wellness industry.
“[Wellness is] something that I instil into my team at Nightcap. Rather than going away on a trip where all we do is drink, I take them away on health retreats and boot camps where there’s no alcohol, there’s lots of exercise, lots of water, lots of healthy eating – so it’s a reset,” she explained.
“I would absolutely love to do a TV show looking at all the health benefits, especially for women of my age now, and which ones really make a difference.”
Meanwhile, Sarah is also a judge on the Pour Moi Awards, honouring the successes of women, and the deadline to nominate an extra-special person for recognition is today.
Nominations for the Pour Moi Uplifting Women Awards are open until Wednesday 5th April at 11:59pm. https://www.pourmoi.co.uk/upliftingwomennominate
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