Rob Fraser could practically touch the Dragons when he appeared before them. And he was tired, because for the first time in his life, he couldnB次元官网网址檛 sleep the night before.
B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 from being unprepared,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here were just a lot of unknowns.B次元官网网址�
One of them was FraserB次元官网网址檚 unfamiliarity with the lair of the beasts, ahem, the CBC television set, where Canadian entrepreneurs Jim Treliving, Arlene Dickinson, Michele Romanow, Vincenzo Guzzo, Manjit Minhas, and Lane Merrifield either torch or support entrepreneurial ideas with their money.
Fraser for his part appeared before them with his business partner Brent Cameron to pitch their all-day performance socks along with other items out of their Uptown shop under the label of Endur Apparel.
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Fraser said he could not discuss how the Dragons responded to their pitch, but described the experience of appearing on an iconic television show as unique. The show B次元官网网址� which taped in May 2018 and airs on Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. on CBC B次元官网网址� is a favourite of FraserB次元官网网址檚.
B次元官网网址淚 have been watching this show since I was a young teenager, so it is kind of surreal just getting the opportunity to get on,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ever in my wildest dream did we think weB次元官网网址檇 start a business and end up pitching to the Dragons.B次元官网网址�
So what where his impressions? B次元官网网址淢y initial thoughts were, one, they [the Dragons] are much closer than youB次元官网网址檇 think, the set is much smaller than youB次元官网网址檇 think, and itB次元官网网址檚 like you are inside the TV.B次元官网网址�
Friends and family in the audience helped to steady Fraser, as he and his business partner made their well-honed pitch, for the show, despite all its familiar artifice, is an actual business meeting.
While viewers will see six minutes of the duoB次元官网网址檚 pitch, Fraser and his partner answered up to 50 questions in 45 minutes. B次元官网网址淭hey get in deep,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hese are real business decisions. These are real deals.B次元官网网址�
For Fraser, the appearance on DragonsB次元官网网址� Den marks an early highlight of his entrepreneurial career that started after he retired from professional mountain biking, having been a five-time member of the Canadian national team.
It was also during this time that he developed a taste for colourful socks to express his personality. B次元官网网址淚 became the sock guy before owning a sock business,B次元官网网址� he says.
After retiring from biking, Fraser pursued a degree in sport management at Camosun College, looking to combine his academic education with his background in sport.
Fraser found a business partner in Cameron and the duo found their niche in an under-serviced segment of Athleisure, the term used to describe clothing durable for athletic activities but appropriate enough for the office: socks.
B次元官网网址淭he bigger [companies] will do socks, but it is an afterthought,B次元官网网址� Fraser said. B次元官网网址淪o there was this little slice of the apparel pie market that remain untapped in that Athleisure market.B次元官网网址�
To fill it, Fraser and his business partner first needed to learn everything about socks. B次元官网网址淲e tried to attack every common problem that people have with socks,B次元官网网址� he said. This deep dive into an otherwise neglected clothing item eventually yielded socks that do not fall down, wick away moisture and breath. B次元官网网址淎nd on top of all that they have a fun design,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey are loud, there is a wide variety of different floral [schemes] and funny animals, and fruits.B次元官网网址� In short, they have personality.
They even produced custom socks for the Dragons.
Some two-and-a-half years after launching their business without any prior experience and enduring various setback along the way, Fraser and his business partner now sell their socks in over 100 locations. They have also been expanding its product palette, while working with various groups such as ParticipACTION to sharpen it profile.
While no can predict the future, Fraser has an idea what happens next.
The rest of us will just have to tune in next Monday.
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