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What Happened to Thrift+ After Dragons’ Den?

Thrift+ appeared on Dragons’ Den in 2020, Series 17 Episode 14. The business was a online sales of used clothes. They secured investment from Sara Davies on the show. The current status of the business is not publicly known.

The Pitch

Joe Metcalfe walked into the Den in 2020 with a online sales of used clothes. They were asking for £150,000 in exchange for 10% of the business.

The pitch landed well enough in the Den that at least one Dragon decided to back it.

The Deal

A deal was struck on the show. Sara Davies offered £150,000 for 10%, and Joe Metcalfe accepted.

It’s worth noting that Dragons’ Den deals agreed on camera often go through further negotiation off-screen. Some complete as shown; others are renegotiated or never finalise at all. The company’s subsequent trading history is the clearest indicator of what actually happened.

What Happened After the Show

Thrift+ did not survive long-term. The company was dissolved in 2025, some 5 years after the pitch.

This is not an unusual outcome. The majority of businesses that appear on Dragons’ Den, deal or no deal, don’t make it in the long run. The show can provide a platform and capital, but it can’t substitute for a sustainable business model.

Is Thrift+ Still Available?

No. Thrift Retail Ltd is no longer in business. Companies House records show the company has been dissolved.

Related Companies

If you’re curious about other businesses from the same episode, you might also want to look at Yorkshire Dama Cheese (Squeeky Cheese), Punkbox, Talkies, Cucumber Clothing. Each has its own story of what happened after the Den.

Watch the Pitch

Companies House Data

Status
dissolved
Company Number
10630791
Registered Name
THRIFT RETAIL LTD
Incorporated
2017-02-21 (ceased 2026-04-22)
Company Type
ltd
SIC Codes
82990
Registered Address
Suite 3, Avery House, 69 North Street, Brighton, BN41 1DH
Accounts
total-exemption-full (period ending 2024-02-28)
Latest Financials
Total Assets Less Liabilities
-1368889
Employees
59
Period
1.3.23 to 28.2.24
Officers
  • METCALFE, Joseph — director
    Suite 3, Avery House, 69 North Street, Brighton, BN41 1DH
  • RAMESH, Dineshi Indika — director
    Suite 3, Avery House, 69 North Street, Brighton, BN41 1DH
  • WALLACE, Sebastian Paul — director
    Suite 3, Avery House, 69 North Street, Brighton, BN41 1DH
  • BEER, Poppy — director (resigned 2022-01-31)
    22, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PD, England
  • CRUICKSHANK, David — director (resigned 2022-06-28)
    22, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PD, England
  • PARKINS, James Edward Lewis — director (resigned 2020-06-18)
    76, Harford Drive, Watford, WD17 3DG, England
  • PEARSON, Mark Alan — director (resigned 2022-06-28)
    22, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PD, England
  • SINGH, Mandeep Gorst — director (resigned 2022-06-28)
    22, Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PD, England
  • WALLACE, Sebastian Paul — director (resigned 2025-02-13)
    Unit G1, Airfield Business Park, Market Harborough, LE16 7WB, England
← Series 17 ← Episode 14