Deborah Meaden of Dragon’s Den fame was recently profiled in the Sunday Times ‘A Life in the Day’ (16 August 09).
‘Business is simple – but it’s not easy. These days peope are always coming up with business ideas. The biggest mistake they make is not thinking “Who’s going to buy it?” If there’s no competition, I ask why not? I’m much more interested if there’s something similar already out there and it’s selling, but it’s not very good. We just have to make a better one, find the right price and tell people about it – job done!… It’s about creativity – you’re constantly thinking, “we could do this, try that, test those boundaries.”‘
Background: Parents were in the leisure industry, brought up in the business from a young age.
Home life: Married to Paul, house in Somerset – a model farm with dogs, horses, cat, pigs, sheep and chickens. Doesn’t cook.