Kristy Miller lugged a heavy clawfoot bathtub through the busy streets of downtown Toronto for her retail setup inside the Dragons’ Den studio.
Miller started her eco-friendly candle business The Scented Market in 2018 in Guelph. Her clawfoot tub filled with bath bombs is a signature feature at all her locations and she wanted to recreate her store for the dragons to give them to experience what it’s like shopping in her store.
The first time she auditioned for Dragons’ Den was in 2019. In this stage she pitched her business to producers. “I was just too new. I didn’t really know what I was doing and I just wanted the experience,” said Miller.
“I think the first time I kind of went in as the cute little candle girl and that’s the way I pitched myself in front of the producers,” she said. The second time around she said she had more confidence and is now a successful woman entrepreneur.
Since her previous audition she said she grew from the experience and her business has expanded, with five locations in Ontario, including the anchor store in Guelph and another in Fergus.
In 2022 she decided to audition again, earning the right to pitch to the dragons in person.
“I’m Kristy Miller and I’m from Guelph, Ontario. I’m so proud to call Guelph our hometown and our flagship store, manufacturing location,” Miller said. It was important for her to represent Guelph and woman entrepreneurs in front of the dragons.
Before taking on the Dragons’ Den and pitching her business, Miller spent days practicing her speech to her colleagues.
“The dragons are actually there to help you. They want to see you do good. So although they’re challenging and their questions are challenging. If you practice and you know your numbers you’ve got this,” Miller explained.
“It was heartwarming and it was really humbling to hear from these six strangers that didn’t know me how amazing I was and how amazing it was I created this business from the kitchen stove to now.”
Miller said she gave them positive energy and they gave it right back to her. She said it was wonderful to be recognized by the dragons as a credible business and as a successful female Canadian entrepreneur.
She wanted to go on Dragons’ Den to bring her business from three to 30 steps bigger than it already is. With the feedback, business knowledge and mentorship the dragons gave her she used it to improve her business.
“I always like to say, dream a size too big so you can grow into it,” said Miller.
She wants people to know it is possible to dream big and build their own business. She said she’s living proof of what hard work and dedication can do to build a successful business from the ground up.
Miller said it will be August before she finds out if and when her segment will air.
