A gardening concept has been awarded £75,000 by Sara Davies of Dragon’s Den. Wiltshire-based Dig, which was founded by garden designer, Alex Hollingsworth and Henry Bartlam, secured the funding during the BBC show held on Thursday 13th February.
Dig is a gardening lifestyle brand for fledgling gardeners that was dreamed up during the 2020 Covid lockdown, when Bartlam noticed that grow-your-own had rapidly soared in popularity. He quickly teamed up with award-winning garden designer, Hollingsworth, who had previously scooped the RTE Super Garden Award and a silver medal at Bloom, to make the dream a reality.
Digs’ flagship product is ‘Instant Beds’, which are ready-to-plant, customisable garden packs which can be tailored to different garden styles, all suitable for beginners. The concept was an instant hit with Crafters Companion founder, Davies, who loved the idea of inspiring a new generation of gardeners and helping with overall food sustainability.
She said: “When Alex and Henry began their pitch, I immediately saw how Dig’s offering would resonate with a lifestyle and DIY-focused consumer base who love the idea of gardening but don’t know where to start. They are passionate about sharing their joy and knowledge for gardening, and I believe there’s a whole generation of consumers out there eager to enjoy the benefits of Dig’s Instant Beds and other products.”
Davies has taken a 15% stake in the company in return for her £75,000 investment.
Henry Bartlam said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Sara’s retail expertise and passion for our business are exactly what we need to take Dig to the next level.”
Alex Hollingsworth commented: “We’re still very much a kitchen table business, but with Sara’s investment, we’re ready to expand our product range, partner with other brands, and bring the joy of gardening to a wider audience.”
Bristol-based web designer and marketing specialist, Ben Davies, is another co-founder of Dig, alongside London-based communications professional, Ed Maitland Smith.
Dig is also co-founded by Ben Davies, a Bristol-based website and digital marketing expert, and London-based communications specialist, Ed Maitland Smith.
