By Andrew Shepherd

Regina businesses make pitch to Dragon’s Den producers

Jan 29, 2014 | 3:14 PM

Saskatchewan entrepreneurs are hoping for a chance to pitch their businesses to a panel of wealthy Canadians on the TV show Dragons' Den.

Auditions were held Wednesday in front of producers of the show at the Delta Hotel in Regina, the first of only two stops in the province.

Among the hopefuls was Garry Frigon, who owns a business based in Edenwold called Lisa B Originals Inc. that makes custom prosthetic breasts for breast cancer patients.

Prosthetic breasts are nothing new, but Frigon said his product is different than other gel-filled prosthetics. Those are wrapped in plastic and women need to wear a specialty bra that costs more. Frigon said his product is made of silicone, it fits comfortably behind a regular bra and it's half the weight. He explained his goal is also to create a feeling of familiarity.

“We copy the women's nipple areola and put them onto our prosthetics and make it custom,” he said.

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The problem for Frigon is growing his businesses in Saskatchewan. He said the population in this province is smaller and less dense compared to places like Alberta or Ontario. The prosthetics are being sold at one retailer in Regina and will soon be in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. He's also competing for shelf space and admits he faces challenges getting retailers on board.

That's why Frigon wants to ask Dragons' Den for money to spend on marketing. He said even appearing on the show will help.

“Big time opportunity! If you can get on Dragons' Den, it says a lot about your product. Hopefully we can spread it across Canada.”

This is the second time Frigon has brought his prosthetic business to an audition and he made some changes in his pitch from last time.

“When you put an areola nipple on the producer's wrist and cover their eyes and they open them up, they wake up,” said Frigon.

Last time, it was just him and his wife Pam at the pitch. This year they are taking a more emotional approach. Frigon's sister-in-law Heidi Clay was diagnosed with breast cancer and uses the prosthetics. They hope her story and first-hand account of wearing Frigon's product every day will help sway the dragons.

When asked if the strategy would do any good against the hard-nosed Kevin O'Leary, Frigon said he has a weapon.

“I got a little two-year-old girl that could make him cry,” he said confidently.

That little girl just finished nursing before her mother lost her breasts from cancer and she's expected to join Frigon if they make it to Dragons' Den.

The entrepreneurs will find out if they will stand before the dragons by the end of February.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow