Written by CHRISTINE SKOREPA
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
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Liquor On Fifth owner Cameron Thun will be pitching his Rat Trap invention to the Dragons' Den panel in Toronto on May 28.
Thun is among five people in Prince George who have received invitations to audition for the business moguls on CBC program, where investment money can be won for compelling new business ventures.
According to a Dragons' Den representative, more invitations could be issued in the coming weeks.
Thun's Rat Trap comes into play when a thief enters a store, commits a crime and tries to run away. The clerk doesn't have to feel pressured into taking action to prevent the crime and can then hit a safety switch located under the counter, which instantly locks the entrance and exit doors, trapping the perpetrator in a barred foyer area.
During Thun's initial interview in Prince George on April 7 for a Dragons' Den producer, Molly Duignan said thanks but no thanks and then at the last minute asked Thun if he would leave the DVD he made about his product with her. The day after she got back to her office, Thun said he got the call to come and audition in Toronto.
Thun, who owns three liquor stores and a pub, said it's not the money that is motivating him to go to the audition. He said he has a great life and would rather create awareness about the perils of store clerks and ensure their safety than anything else.
Setting a completely different tone is local resident, Jenny Taylor of the Zen Garden, who has enjoyed such great success with the business she opened 18 months ago, she wants to franchise her establishment, with the mission to relax the world, one person at a time.
"People think it's a simple thing to relax, but it's not," said Taylor. She would like to open franchises in bigger centres, like Vancouver. She recently got the call to go to Toronto and will be making her presentation on May 24. Taylor was so thrilled about the invitation she doesn't even remember being offered the travel honorarium of $750. She said it took her days to calm down, she's so excited about the prospect of auditioning for the dragons in their den. She does remember being told it could take up to 10 hours to get through the audition process, so she said she'll prepare for that.
Other entrepreneurs, who could not be reached for comment, are Kristi Wintemute and Laura Cameron of Little Baby Hugz, who have created baby accessories designed for comfort, Brent Goerz, who has created simple pine boxes, and Scott Stewart for his dirt tees.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
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