They started from scratch and managed to stare dragons in the face.

After making appearances on CBCB次元官网网址檚 popular show DragonsB次元官网网址� Den, these entrepreneurs continue to work hard at their businesses and are thankful for being able to pitch their ideas on national television.

Chris Cordray appeared on DragonsB次元官网网址� Den in 2012 to pitch his product, Delivery Mate.

Delivery Mate is a satchel for pizza delivery drivers to carry things like debit machines, extra pop, dip and menus.

Cordray spent 14 years working in the pizza industry as a driver, manager and part owner before he came up with this product.

A deal was struck on the television show but it didnB次元官网网址檛 finalize, Cordray said. Despite that, Cordray said the show gave his product exposure with pizza companies ordering his bags for their drivers.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still doing well, itB次元官网网址檚 still active,B次元官网网址� Cordray said.

Cordray has also ventured into another delivery business called Add2cart. He said he has partnered with furniture stores on the mainland, such as IKEA and Crate and Barrel, and delivers furniture to the Island.

B次元官网网址淒ragonsB次元官网网址� Den was a positive thing for the business,B次元官网网址� Cordray said. B次元官网网址淓very time thereB次元官网网址檚 a rerun thereB次元官网网址檚 a surge in sales sometimes too.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: Langford entrepreneur marches into the DragonsB次元官网网址� Den

Graham and Pam Bavington of Hee-Haw Horseradish appeared on the DragonsB次元官网网址� Den holiday special in 2016, two years after they came up with the idea for their product.

The episode showed that the couple received four offers from the dragons.

They took an offer of $75,000 for 15 per cent of the company from Manjit Minhas.

However, Graham Bavington said the deal ended up not going through.

Regardless, Bavington said business has still been moving and being on the show has helped the company grow.

B次元官网网址淏usiness continues, itB次元官网网址檚 going well,B次元官网网址� Bavington said.

The operation is still family run but the production of horseradish moved to a federally inspected kitchen in Vancouver about six months ago. This means they can now qualify for FDA approval.

Bavington said the product is being sold in four provinces B次元官网网址� British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba B次元官网网址� and theyB次元官网网址檙e hoping to get it into Ontario soon. Production in their new kitchen should help them do that, Bavington said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a big market that we just need to be sure we can make enough,B次元官网网址� Bavington said.

The same recipe is still being used and the horseradish is continuing to be made in small batches.

Bavington said being on the show brought a lot of traffic to their website and he said the company is in a good position to grow.

READ MORE: Hee-Haw Horseradish founders spice things up

Sooke-based fudge company B次元官网网址� Fudge in A Round B次元官网网址� also has the show to thank for an increase in sales.

Kelly DeRocco and her husband, Paul, were on the show last fall and let the dragons have a taste of their fudge.

Kelly DeRocco said they didnB次元官网网址檛 expect to get the call to go to Toronto for the show and while they didnB次元官网网址檛 make any deals with the dragons, found it was a valuable experience.

B次元官网网址淚t did help,B次元官网网址� DeRocco said. B次元官网网址淲e went from two stores and now weB次元官网网址檙e at 12 stores.B次元官网网址�

DeRocco said they spent one hour with the dragons but only seven minutes of their interaction aired on television.

In that time, DeRocco said they were able to make some contacts through one of the dragons, Jim Treliving, with WestJet.

Now, DeRocco said WestJet will be serving their fudge on inaugural flights and for special events.

B次元官网网址淚 almost think itB次元官网网址檚 better not getting a deal because you have so many more opportunities to do things,B次元官网网址� DeRocco said.

The episode was re-aired this August and DeRocco said that brought on an increase in orders as well as a phone call from a chain that is willing to sell their product.

DeRocco said she and her husband are still the only ones producing the fudge and they can make 2,500 to 3,000 units of fudge per day if needed.

B次元官网网址淚t was the experience of a lifetime and I think it has helped us as far as approaching higher-ups in business,B次元官网网址� DeRocca said. B次元官网网址淚f we had the guts to go on national TV and talk to these six dragons, then we can accomplish almost anything.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: Sooke fudge company on DragonsB次元官网网址� Den Nov. 2

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 FATSO peanut butter aired on DragonsB次元官网网址� Den just over one month ago.

Jill Van Gyn, owner of the all-natural peanut butter product, said shortly after the episode aired, suppliers were interested in her product immediately.

Her ask on the show was $200,000 for 15 per cent of her company.

Van Gyn received four offers in the episode and she made a handshake deal with Arlene Dickinson, who offered $200,000 for 30 per cent of the company.

However, Van Gyn later met with her to formalize the deal with new numbers. FATSO peanut butter has been evaluated at twice its original amount and Van Gyn wanted the deal to reflect that.

In the end, Van Gyn walked away from the deal.

Now, she said there are local investors offering more money and more support. B次元官网网址淚t really worked out well for us.B次元官网网址�

As of Oct. 25, FATSO peanut butter will be funded for the next year.

In December, FATSO will begin working with a national distributor and in 2022, Van Gyn has plans to spread her business to America.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e certainly growing faster than we ever expected, and whenever we think things are going to slow down something else blows up,B次元官网网址� Van Gyn said.

READ MORE: VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 FATSO one month after DragonsB次元官网网址� Den deal

With files from Keili Bartlett.

shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com

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