Just seven months after securing investment from BBC Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies, entrepreneur Carla Saull has blown her sales projections out of the water.
Since the episode in which she pitched sustainable hair towel brand Good Wash Day aired at the end of February, Carla has matched the sales she achieved in her first three years of trading in just six months.
She has also recently stepped away from being a “kitchen table business” by moving into a new local office and warehouse space, and growing her team with new hires both in the UK and in Australia to support the brand’s international reach.
Launched in 2021, Good Wash Day’s unique ‘T-shirt towels’, eco-friendly hair wraps designed to protect and enhance natural hair, are a hit with customers in 47 countries and all but three of the 50 US states.
Good Wash Day has also achieved B Corp certification and entered the retail space for the first time through the Fearless Founders initiative by fashion and beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall.
A long-time fan of the brand, Trinny selected Carla as one of three female founders who rotate every six months. To prepare for the retail debut, Carla adapted her packaging from online-only to eye-catching, on-shelf designs, and she will host an in-store event at Trinny’s London boutique to share her story directly with customers.
Carla credits much of her post-Den growth to her Dragon investor: “Sara has been an incredible mentor and sounding board. Her support, along with her team, has been invaluable, but most importantly, she lets me stay true to my vision.”
Carla – who grew up in Guildford and now lives in Winchester – plans to expand further into Australia, continue refining her strategy with Sara and her team, and build her profile as a female founder.
Carla started Good Wash Day after a long career break to raise her family, launching the business in her 50s. She reflects: “There’s nothing scarier than Dragons’ Den.
“After that, I feel like I can do anything. My mantra is to be useful, and now, with my children grown, I can channel my energy into growing my business.”