Appearing on Dragons' Den wasn’t ever on the agenda for us. But in January 2025, something extraordinary happened… The BBC approached us directly and invited Rehome to apply for the show.
They had discovered us after we were named Marie Claire Sustainable Business of the Year 2024, and our credentials as a B Corp business and winners of the Queen's Award for Sustainable Development made us stand out.
Suddenly, we had the chance to share our mission of making Rehome the go-to verb when renovating your home with viewers nationwide. With over 4 million people tuning in to Dragons’ Den, we knew it was an opportunity too big to miss.
Why BBC One Dragons’ Den Was the Perfect Platform for Rehome:
Rehome’s message is simple: pre-loved kitchens have real value, and most people are unaware of this.
Thousands of beautiful kitchens are removed every year simply because homeowners want a new style, or showrooms want to update. These used, second-hand, and ex-display kitchens often still have decades of life left in them and offer amazing cost savings to homeowners.
By creating a trusted marketplace to buy and sell used kitchens, Rehome helps:
- Homeowners recover money from their existing kitchen
- Buyers access high-quality, verified kitchens for a fraction of the cost
- Reduce unnecessary waste and remove the cost of skipping
- Make kitchen renovation far more sustainable
- Dragons’ Den felt like the perfect stage to show the public that rehoming a kitchen is both financially smart and environmentally responsible.
The Odds Were Against Us:
Once we started researching the show, we discovered that only around 1% of applicants actually make it into the Den, and even then, you aren’t guaranteed it will be shown on television.
After submitting our application, we went through extensive due diligence with the BBC production team. This involved countless documents, financial checks, and interviews about the Rehome business model.
Eventually we were invited to screen tests, and that’s where it started to become real…
The Screen Tests (Not something you do every day!):
Standing in front of cameras is definitely not our natural habitat. Phil doesn’t even like having his photo taken, and I get incredibly nervous speaking to a camera. But we knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bring Rehome and sustainable kitchens into the spotlight.
So, we took a deep breath and did it.
And somehow… they loved it!
We think the dynamic between us worked well. After all, we’re married and we approach things very differently. That contrast seemed to resonate with the producers.
Soon after, we received the message we’d been hoping for:
We were going into the Den.
Three Weeks to Prepare… With our Son’s Wedding in Between:
Once we received our filming date, we had just three weeks to prepare our Dragons’ Den pitch. The timing could have been better, to say the least! Our son was getting married in Italy the week before filming.
So, there we were, standing in the garden of our accommodation in Italy, practising our Dragons’ Den pitch, while other guests wandered past. We must have looked completely mad!
But between celebrations, speeches, and family time, we kept rehearsing how to explain:
- The Rehome marketplace
- The value of used kitchens
- Why ex-display kitchens deserve a second life
- The environmental impact of kitchen waste
We flew back to the UK early Monday morning, and we had to be in the studio at 7am the next day. Our feet barely touched the ground.
Behind the Scenes at the BBC Studio:
The BBC production team were incredible- supportive, encouraging and extremely professional. But they also got us do something that was almost as nerve-wracking than facing the Dragons themselves… Before filming, we had to deliver our pitch to the entire production team inside the Den.
Standing there with lights, cameras and a full room of people watching us was honestly terrifying. By the time we got the green light to enter the lift and go into the Den, our nerves were already sky high. Then something unexpected happened…
The Lift Incident:
Just as we were about to enter the Den… the lift stopped. We were stuck inside it for about 20 minutes because of a filming issue in the studio.
At the time it felt surreal, but looking back it was actually helpful. By that point the nerves had peaked and started turning into something else entirely…
A feeling of:
“Let’s just do this.”
So, when the lift doors finally opened, everything suddenly felt exciting rather than terrifying.
Inside the Dragons’ Den:
Walking into the Den is a surreal experience. You’ve seen it so many times on TV, but suddenly you’re actually standing there, facing the Dragons- Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman and guest judge Susie Ma.
Although viewers see only a short segment on television, we were actually in the Den for well over two hours. And strangely, after a while, you forget the cameras are even there.
The Dragons asked detailed questions about:
- The Rehome business model
- Growth plans
- The used kitchen marketplace
- Sustainability, Carbon savings and waste reduction
- Our technology platform
There was a huge amount of praise for the vision and mission behind Rehome, and the importance of creating a circular economy for kitchens, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Peter Jones questioned whether our technology investment had been the most cost-effective choice, a fair challenge and one that sparked a lot of discussions, most of which met the cut for the programme!
Then Dragons Started Dropping Out:
Then came the moment every founder dreads.
One by one… the Dragons started saying “I’m out.”. At that point, we genuinely thought our Dragons’ Den journey was over.
Until suddenly…
Deborah Meaden Saved the Day
Just when it seemed like we were heading home empty-handed, Deborah Meaden stepped in with an offer. For anyone who knows Dragons’ Den, Deborah is hugely respected for her focus on sustainability, ethical business and long-term impact. Receiving an offer from her felt incredibly meaningful for a business like Rehome.
Hearing those words in the Den was an unforgettable moment. We were ‘gob-smacked’, as we say in this part of the country!
Bringing Used Kitchens into the Spotlight:
Regardless of the outcome, the experience of appearing on BBC Dragons’ Den was extraordinary.
Most importantly, it allowed us to introduce millions of viewers to the idea that:
Used kitchens and ex-display kitchens still have huge value.
Choosing a pre-loved kitchen can:
- Save thousands of pounds
- Reduce waste dramatically
- Extend the life of high-quality products
- Support a more sustainable home renovation
- And that’s exactly what Rehome was built by us to do.
And that’s exactly what Rehome was built by us to do.
What’s Next for Rehome?
Our Dragons’ Den experience has only strengthened our belief that the future of kitchens is circular. More homeowners are discovering that selling their pre-loved kitchen makes financial sense.
More buyers are realising that buying a used or ex display kitchen gives them access to high-end brands at a fraction of the price.
And together, we’re helping reduce the environmental impact of the kitchen industry.
If you’re planning a renovation, consider giving a kitchen a second life.
Because sometimes the best kitchens…
Are the ones that already exist.