BUSINESS NEWS
While the book doesn’ t appear in the same detailed and dramatic way that it did in Paddington 2, David says that it still plays a role in a pivotal scene and is already causing a stir.
“ It’ s getting noticed,” he says.“ People have been contacting us through Instagram about it telling us it looks great. We’ ve also made a giant version of it, which will appear in the Emerald City but that’ s in the second instalment which comes out in a year.
“ It was a fantastic opportunity, and I got to work with the Director John Chu and his team which was a really good experience.”
The Dragons’ Den deal has also enabled David to branch out into producing a completely new type of product.
He explains,“ I’ ve always been quite interested in a hybrid of book and toy and that’ s what we are doing with one of our latest products – the Booklight. It’ s basically a storybook for very young kids and when you twist a tab on the cover it becomes a night light.
“ Also, because we are completely sustainable this means we are bringing sustainable paper and card manufacturing practices into the toy business – which is exciting because it hasn’ t really happened before.”
When it comes to advice he would offer other creative entrepreneurs, David is still a big fan of crowdfunding.
“ Things like Kickstarter are just so amazing to take your ideas to the next level. For your average creative the idea of getting investment used to be almost impossible and just so complicated. Whereas now, you can actually get the idea out there.”
David was introduced to the world of Kickstarter by gaming companies that had gone down the crowdfunding route.
He says,“ Warhammer were making pop-up terrain and models for their games and many of those guys crowdfund these developments. It’ s unbelievably successful and the numbers are extraordinary. The initial seed capital is relatively small for making prototypes, and then once you introduce them to the world and they exist, they develop a life of their own. For inventors and creatives, it has massively helped.”
Another benefit of Kickstarters, says David, comes down to intellectual property rights.
“ You get to hold onto your product a bit as well, rather than having to give away your work when finding a manufacturer or a publisher. Normally they just take all your intellectual property whereas now you can hang on to it.”
As for his future business plans, exploring new products is what holds the most interest for David.
“ I would like to work more on the hybrid area between books and toys and produce more work like that. And also trying to work more with major licences as well like Harry Potter and Wicked which is another exciting area.”
He adds,“ I’ ve also recently developed a prototype for a very well-known TV entertainer. I can’ t say any more at the moment but watch this space!”
For more info: www. hawcockbooks. co. uk
ARE YOU ROARING TO GO?
If you’ re looking to take your business to the next level, don’ t miss out on your chance at winning a £ 20k expert support package to expand your business. Bath Dragons is a new initiative designed to help growing local businesses get to the next level.
The competition gives companies a shot at winning an unrivalled £ 20K business support package, which includes 12 months of access to legal, financial, accountancy, and tax advisory services as well as a publicity package and PR advice.
The idea was conceived by tax advisers Richardson Swift, lawyers Mogers Drewett and business finance experts South West Business Finance, in partnership with The Business Exchange( TBE).
To be in with a chance of winning, entrants will have to face‘ the Dragons’ and go through a gruelling process of interviews and have their development plans picked over.
The panel of Dragons is made up of Richardson Swift
Managing Director Debbie Boulton, Corporate and Commercial Partner at Mogers Drewett Tom Webb, Co-founder of South West Business Finance Dan Smith and Founder of The Business Exchange, Anita Jaynes.
Businesses are now invited to submit their entries by completing an online form and have until Friday 4th April.
Only 12 entrants will be taken forward to meet the Dragons, in a series of Radio Bath weekly special programmes. The companies’ owners or senior managers can expect to be grilled about their business and their plans in a series of 15-minute interviews.
The competition will culminate in a live final, where four finalists will have to present their ideas and face questioning in front of an invited audience of their peers, business leaders and enterprise specialists from Invest In B & nes, Bath BID, Bath Spa University Business School and University of Bath School of Management, among others.
Ultimately, the winner will be decided by an audience vote at the end of the final, and then the hard work begins …
The competition is open to registered companies, based in B & NES( Bath and North East Somerset) or within a ten-mile radius of Bath city centre.
For more info: http:// bit. ly / bath _ dragons
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2025 7