He has lofty goals, a solid idea and a fast-talking, can-do attitude, all attributes Chris Cordray hopes will impress the dragons in CBC's Dragons' Den studio next week.
The Langford resident is bringing the dragons his pizza delivery accessory company, Delivery Mate, which produces three varieties of satchels to carry extra cold drinks and dips for sale the door during deliveries.
B次元官网网址淚t just keeps (items) cold, looks a little more professional and makes it easier for the drivers too,B次元官网网址� Cordray said.
The idea is that when people order pizza, they often forget to order drinks or dipping sauces for the crust. These satchels enable delivery drivers to solve that crisis at the door.
Out of about 1,500 people who try out across Canada for DragonB次元官网网址檚 Den, producers pick about 200 to come to Toronto and make a taped pitch. Of those, Cordray has been told that about 100 make it onto the broadcast.
Usually itB次元官网网址檚 the most entertaining or unusual pitches that make it onto the show, so Cordray is hoping he can make an impression. He has one idea to offer the dragons a piece of his business for free, just to get their experience and connections.
B次元官网网址淣o oneB次元官网网址檚 ever really bartered with them before on DragonB次元官网网址檚 Den, to offer a company pretty much for nothing just to get them on board,B次元官网网址� Cordray said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the angle IB次元官网网址檓 trying to get, that alone might even put me on TV.B次元官网网址�
To woo the dragons B次元官网网址� wealthy Canadian investors Jim Treliving, Kevin OB次元官网网址橪eary, Arlene Dickinson, Robert Herjavec and Bruce Croxon B次元官网网址� Cordray is planning to start his pitch with a skit.
Using a prop door and with the help of his sister, Cordray will play out a typical delivery scenario, wherein a customer forgets to order dip and drinks and wants to buy some at the door.
B次元官网网址淎s long as I make it entertaining and good for them, theyB次元官网网址檒l put me on TV,B次元官网网址� he said.
Cordray has designed the shoulder-slung carrying bags that have outside pockets for dips, menus and a debit machine, and a cooler on the inside for a few drinks.
Another is a hip holster, or shoulder sling, for the debit machine and a couple of dips only. This helps delivery drivers deal with carrying pizzas while negotiating the use of a debit machine, something experience has taught Cordray can be tricky.
Cordray spent 14 years working in the pizza industry, first as a driver and eventually as manager and then part-owner of DominoB次元官网网址檚 Pizza chain for north Vancouver Island. Cordray designed and then tested out his own products while on the job, and said he had a 66 per cent success rate in selling extra dips and drinks at the door.
The product has been moving in Victoria and Cordray has had success selling to the DominoB次元官网网址檚 Pizza chain across the country. So far heB次元官网网址檚 sold more than 80 units, which he considers to be pretty good for just a few months in.
The bags are manufactured in China and Cordray has a garage full of them, waiting to go out to pizza delivery drivers of the world. He has a provisional patent, which guards the idea for one year, after which he can file for a full patent.
B次元官网网址淚 know IB次元官网网址檓 startup, I know IB次元官网网址檓 new, I havenB次元官网网址檛 even been around for a year yet,B次元官网网址� Cordray said. B次元官网网址淚 just need their expertise and connections. ... I figure if I had a dragon on my side to help me out then theyB次元官网网址檇 probably take me more seriously and give me those appointments.B次元官网网址�
For more information on CordrayB次元官网网址檚 product visit deliverymate.ca.
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