An entrepreneur who appeared on hit BBC show Dragon’s Den has launched a new company to celebrate all things literature.
Newcastle-under-Lyme businessman Dave Breese launched The Gold Disc company in 2002 to provide personalised framed gold discs for music lovers everywhere, as well as major retailers including HMV, Hard Rock Cafe and Hammersmith Apollo.
He appeared on Dragon’s Den in 2015 to pitch for £30,000 investment to improve the music memorabilia’s website and mobile offering.
Despite being rejected by investors, Dave’s business remains a thriving success, so much so that he has now launched a new company.
He has launched thebookframer.com to coincide with World Book Day on March 4.
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The Book Framer operates in a similar way to The Gold Disc company, providing box-framed books and framed covers, canvas prints and personalised ‘awards’.
Dave – who runs both companies from an office at Brampton Sidings – said: “We all love to celebrate landmark moments in our lives and our memories are often marked by songs or novels that we’ve loved. That idea led me to launch thegolddisc.com around 19 years ago and has now led to thebookframer.com.
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“We’re looking to attract authors, publishers and the general public, basically anyone looking to celebrate their favourite book.
“I’ve been working on the idea for some time and we’ve been able to test it due to the success of thegolddisc.com, with publishing companies coming to us with ideas for memorabilia and gifts.
“Now we’re launching to the general public and I think there’s no better time to launch than on World Book Day.”
Dave – who has already produced book awards for Hachette Children’s Books and the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy – added: “Publishers come to me looking for novel presentation gifts and awards in both the music and book publishing sectors, but there’s also a desire from the general public for gifts and nostalgia – and the explosion in the self-publishing market, both in fiction and with business leaders becoming authors with “how to” guides.
“In the 21st century, many authors have become celebrities and literature is the new rock and roll. That’s why I’ve launched thebookframer.com.”
Dave hopes that the Book Framer will become the ‘leading resource’ for independent authors, novelists and publishers to support book launches or memorabilia.