Entrepreneur rejected on Dragons' Den is now set to make millions

• Nicola Wood, 52, is the owner of a thriving hair product business
• READ MORE: The Dragons’ Den rejects who had the last laugh and made a fortune after being told the dreaded words ‘I’m out’ 

An entrepreneur who cried after she was brutally rejected on Dragons’ Den has revealed she is now set to make millions from her business.

Nicola Wood, from Bury in Greater Manchester, appeared on the BBC show in 2017 with her hair product business and was reduced to tears when the panel said her idea was ‘appalling’.

The 52-year-old is the owner of Hair Made Easi and, during her pitch to the dragons, asked for an £80,000 investment in return for a 25% stake in her business.

After admitting that she was making a net loss of £14,000 and that half the investment would be used to buy out her business partner, she failed to gain a coveted offer from the panel.

Fast forward seven years later, however, and Nicola’s business is thriving. She has revealed she is set to turnover £1million this year, while her products are used in 25,000 salons throughout the UK.

Nicola Wood from Bury says she cried when she was rejected on Dragons’ Den but is now set to turnover £1million. Pictured on her way to Chicago

Dragon Peter Jones (pictured) told Nicola her idea was ‘appalling’ when she appeared on the show in 2017

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, she said: ‘Dragons’ Den was an amazing experience, even though some of the comments were a bit harsh really, I cried when I came out of there.

‘I didn’t have a clue about business back then so it taught me so much, and it gave me a fire in my belly to make it work because obviously I didn’t get any investment, but I’m quite stubborn.’

During her appearance on the show in 2017, Nicola failed to impress with her ‘Easi-Weft’ hair extension holder, which she says makes it easier to style hair.

But her pitch didn’t fly with the Dragons as she revealed half of the £80,000 investment would be used to buy out her other business partner.

Peter Jones told her he couldn’t invest, saying: ‘I don’t think that’s good Nicola, I think that’s appalling actually.’

A speechless and visibly gutted Nicola just said: ‘Do you really?’

The mother-of-two revealed she cried after the brutal feedback but tried to stay positive, telling the panel: ‘I’ll just crack on and make it an amazing success’.

Her words have now come true as she now sells more than 40 different products in more than 25,000 salons throughout the UK.

Nicola failed to win the panel over and didn’t get the £80,000 investment she was asking for

At the time, Nicola was left almost speechless at the brutal rejection and was visibly upset

Nicola added: ‘If I saw Peter Jones today, I’d probably shake his hand and say thank you very much for NOT investing. If they had invested I don’t think I’d be here now. I’ve achieved everything since without any external investment.’

While she usually reinvests any profits back into the business, this year she managed her first proper splurge on a first-class trip to Chicago.

Even at the time the show aired, viewer reaction was incredibly positive and Nicola said her website crashed due to insane demand.

As well as Easi-Weft, the entrepeneur sells ‘Easi-Bonds’ – a tool that helps to remove hair extension tape, and XL luxury hair wrap towels to dry hair more efficiently.

Nicola, who lives with her husband Gary and has two sons aged 25 and 28, began her love for hair and beauty at a young age as she got a part-time job in a salon at just 13 years old.

She has now worked in salons for 35 years and is an expert in how to make styling easier for hairdressers.

Nicola, pictured at an International Women’s Day event, says her products are now stocked in 25,000 salons across the UK

During her appearance on the show in 2017, Nicola failed to impress with her ‘Easi-Weft’ hair extension holder

Nicola is not the only business owner to have found success despite being failing to gain the Dragons’ sought-after investments.

Other famous businesses that were rejected by the Dragons but went on to make millions include Trunki, the children’s suitcase that made a £7million fortune.

Meanwhile James Watt’s BrewDog pub chain is worth a whopping £1.8billion.

When they appeared on the show in 2009, they were seeking an £100,000 investment for 20 per cent of the business – and the returns would have seen the unlucky Dragons rake in millions.

Tangle Teezers are a staple product in drugstores but not a single Dragon was interested when hairdresser Shaun Pulfrey went on the show in 2007.

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