Danielle Close walked into the Dragons’ Den with a unique advantage – a premonition. Years before appearing on the hit BBC show, she’d sensed that Gary Neville would be the ideal Dragon to champion her business, a feeling she couldn’t explain but knew she could trust.
Close’s company, My Skin Feels, isn’t just another skincare brand. It’s built on a powerful principle: rescuing discarded food by-products and transforming them into effective formulas for sensitive skin. This innovative approach caught the attention of not one, but two Dragons – Deborah Meaden and the very man she’d envisioned, Gary Neville – who initially offered a £50,000 investment.
But Danielle Close is more than just a businesswoman; she’s a fifth-generation psychic medium, a skill honed over seven years of dedicated training. She believes intuition isn’t a mystical gift reserved for readings, but a vital tool for navigating the complexities of the business world.
“People think my psychic work is separate, but intuition is your daily life,” she explained. “It’s about knowing which direction to go in, what feels right. I bet if you talk to any business leader, they’re using intuition and don’t even realize it.”
The journey took an unexpected turn after the cameras stopped rolling. While thrilled with the Dragons’ initial offer, a surprising development unfolded through her network – connections made through her psychic mediumship work. Private investors emerged, presenting a deal that ultimately surpassed the terms offered in the Den.
A humorous moment during the pitch saw her inadvertently overlooking an offer from Peter Jones, lost in the excitement of securing interest from Deborah and Gary. “It was a complete accident,” she confessed. “I actually forgot he made an offer because I was so focused on Deborah and Gary, and then I said, ‘I’m actually really sorry!’”
Despite initially agreeing to a £50,000 investment for 20% equity with Deborah and Gary, the subsequent offer from private investors proved too compelling to refuse. This allowed her to retain more control while still securing vital funding for growth.
Since her appearance on Dragons’ Den, My Skin Feels has experienced remarkable success, boasting a 250% year-on-year growth rate. The brand has expanded its reach, launching into all 15 Credo Beauty stores across the United States and securing early distribution with Whole Foods, proving that a little intuition – and a lot of innovation – can go a long way.
