Environment

The Tiny Box Company, the recycled gift box maker that won £60,000 in backing on this week's Dragon's Den, has doubled in size and turnover since the show was recorded in May, Packaging News can reveal.

The company, run by radio DJ Chris Richardson and business graduate Rachel Watkyn, won the backing from millionaires Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones to develop their start-up on Monday night's programme.

They agreed to the investment in return for a 40% share of the business.

Speaking to Packaging News, Watkyn said that when the programme was aired on Monday the company's website took "1,000 hits in the first four seconds and crashed".

The Tiny Box Company had only been operating for six months when the programme was recorded.

It supplies recycled gift boxes made from 100% recycled box board, recycled paper, brown kraft recycled paper, or 80% post-consumer waste.

Customers include Google, Tate Galleries and EDF, plus gift and jewellery shops.

The firm's turnover was £22,000 in May when it had a staff of two. Both of which have now doubled.

"We've had a ridiculous number of enquiries since the programme and we've also added a range of recycled gift mailing boxes for internet retailers or postal services," said Watkyn.

"They have a paper flap that extends further than the box so that you don't have to seal it with unsightly tape."