Tangle Teezer
Tangle Teezer is a British manufacturer of detangling hairbrushes.[1] Established in 2007, the brushes are now sold in over 70 countries and are used by celebrities like Cara Delevingne and Victoria Beckham.
Company Foundation & History
Tangle Teezer’s founder, Shaun Pulfrey, started a career as a hair colourist in 1978. Throughout his career, he worked at Pierre Alexandre, Toni&Guy, Nicky Clarke and Richard Ward salons. In 2002, Pulfrey released I Wanna Be Blonde, a book sharing his insider style tips.
In 2003, Pulfrey began to research and develop the idea for Tangle Teezer brushes, with the aim of creating the world’s first professional detangling tool. In 2005, Pulfrey remortgaged his flat to finance the product launch.
Pulfrey appeared on Dragons’ Den in 2007. Pitching to Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, James Caan and Deborah Meaden, Pulfrey offered 15% of the Tangle Teezer brand for £80,000 but was rejected. Jones labelled the brushes ‘hair-brained’, Caan said they were a ‘waste of time’ and Bannatyne said he wanted to ‘pull [his] hair out’. However, when the episode was aired, the Tangle Teezer website crashed as a result of public demand,[2] with 1,500 orders placed. In 2008, Boots began stocking the brushes and by 2009, the brand had turned a profit and started to expand into a global market.
Turnover
In the 12 months leading up to March 2015, Tangle Teezer reported an annual turnover of £23.4 million.[3]
Endorsements
Many celebrities are fans of Tangle Teezer brushes. In 2013, Victoria Beckham tweeted about the brand’s Magic Flowerpot brush, while Cara Delevingne carries one in her handbag.[4][5]
Awards & Achievements
· May 2012 — Pulfrey wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation
· October 2012 — Named Best Hair Essential in Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Hot 100
· December 2013 — Tangle Teezer is number 19 in Sunday Times Fast Track 100
· July 2014 — Received second Queen’s Award for International Trade
· September 2014 — Won first National Business Award for Growth Business
· February 2015 — Collaborates with Lulu Guinness
· May 2015 — Won Best Hair Product award at Sunday Times Style Awards
· September 2015 — Won second Allure Best of Beauty Award
· September 2015 — Won International Business of the Year award at the Private Business Awards
· October 2015 — Won first UK award for blow-styling tool at the Pure Beauty Awards
In 2015, Pulfrey was the ambassador for the Business is GREAT Britain campaign, a UKTI government initiative to help support UK entrepreneurs.
References
- ^ "Tangle Teezer Homepage". www.tangleteezer.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ Dann, Kitty (2014-08-23). "Small business in the spotlight: Tangle Teezer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ "Meet the Dragons' Den rejects who went on to earn millions". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ "Dragons Den brushed off comb entrepreneur now worth £65million". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ Topshop (2013-03-11), What's in Cara Delevingne's Handbag?, retrieved 2016-04-13