Retailers are always on the lookout for the next big thing and in this series the buying teams of three high street giants are prepared to take an enormous gamble by asking members of the public to supply them with the next bestselling product. This is a chance of a lifetime for unknown designers and producers to pitch directly to the retail industry's power-brokers and have the opportunity to get their product stocked in prestigious shops. Over six months, retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis will be following both buyers and suppliers as they experience the highs and guaranteed lows of bringing a product to market, from initial pitch to shop shelf. Whilst many won't make the grade, for a lucky few it will be a life-changing experience.
The fledgling suppliers experience the highs and lows of life producing products for three of Britain's biggest retail names. As numbers are crunched, it looks like some suppliers and inventors are heading for the big time whilst others will need to stick to the day job for that little bit longer than planned.
Professor Weston's scarf adventure continues with a trip to the printers on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, as a design company's light narrowly avoids a costly mistake back in Britain and department store buyer Michelle Alger shows signs of losing patience with the young designers.
Under the orders of the product safety team, the pharmacy chain push Birgitte Lydum's pram shade to the limits, while Stuart Jolley's male deodorant wipe receives a makeover and Theo Paphitis spots a product he believes could make billions.
At the home retailer, Catherine Gray casts her critical eye over the re-design of her beloved vase as the future of Steven Biddulph's footstool hangs in the balance.
