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Trial by fire at auditions

They came, they saw, they pitched. Their ideas, that is, to the producers of the popular CBC television show, the Dragon’s Den.
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Producers of CBC’s Dragon’s Den listen to a pitch Thursday at Port Hardy’s Quarterdeck Inn.

They came, they saw, they pitched.

Their ideas, that is, to the producers of the popular CBC television show, the Dragon’s Den.

Only four people showed at the Quarterdeck Inn Thursday to pitch their ideas that could, somewhere down the road, earn them a spot on the Den to flog their ideas and products on camera.

If the entrepreneurs get that chance, they will also have the opportunity to convince one or more of five millionaires, known as the Dragons, to invest their own money in the product or service.

“We’re looking for ideas that are great for television and for investment,” said Jeff Power, a CBC program assistant, and one of three people who judged the auditions.

The entrepreneurs had about five minutes to pitch their products, and the judges’  committee offered advice on how to pitch to the Dragons, should they get  the chance.

First up was Linda Olsvik who was pitching Zipelos, unique, large oval-shaped zipper pulls that depict action and adventure activities.

Olsvik told the judges she’s selling them at the local airport and other vendors, but noticed a market she didn’t initially anticipate.

“I originally thought they’d be great for the five- to 25-year-old market,” she said.

“But it looks like the age is a lot broader, I’m finding seniors like the big pulls.”

Next up was Port Hardy’s own Jon Korhonen, who had an idea to help southern arenas keep their ice cold with a series of air tubes that blow onto the surface.

Kelley Geisler wowed the panel with her chocolate bark,  sold on the North Island as Kelley’s Chocolates.

“They are the finest chocolates in all the land,” she told the judges.

There was a last, late, presenter from Campbell River, but it’s unknown what product was pitched.

“We had some really good auditions,” said Power.

Now the people who pitched must wait until sometime later this month to see if they will move on to pitch their products in Toronto’s CBC studios.