Retail Technology Show 2026 headliner and Ghost owner Touker Suleyman announces exit from Dragons' Den
Touker Suleyman, the owner of fashion brand Ghost and Hawes & Curtis, is stepping down after a decade on BBC TV show Dragons' Den. He told Sky News that Dragons' Den had given him "a platform not only to deploy capital, but to share hard won wisdom built over decades in business".
Suleyman, 72, is moving on to focus on other business interests. Dragons' Den will use a roster of guest judges on its next series, including the former footballer and Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville and Candy Kittens founder Jamie Laing.
Suleyman said: "It is time for new, young blood to take their seat in the Den. I will now have more time to mentor young entrepreneurs directly. If I can help the next generation avoid the pitfalls I faced, seize the opportunities I almost missed, and build businesses they are truly proud of, then that will be the most rewarding chapter of my career yet."
RTS 2026
“Technology is an overhead. It’s expensive if you don’t use it properly,” reflected Suleyman at Retail Technology Show 2026 in London during April, while cautioning it has its uses.
In conversation with Kate Hardcastle, Suleyman used his slot at RTS 2026 to encourage the thousands of retailers attending “not to give up” during the present tough times and recommended harnessing technology in the right way, namely, to enable: Manpower reductions and better cost control; Improve decision-making power; Enhance customer insights and service, citing CRM systems as “important in this area”.
In regard to AI, which was inevitably a hot topic at RTS 2026, Suleyman said: “My question is does it help the bottom line? Does it help with staffing costs, marketing, targeting and so on?”
AI running too fast
“AI is running too fast,” he said. “If I was an SME I’d sit on the fence and see how it develops. You’ve got to find the bit of AI that actually helps you.” Otherwise, it’s just another overhead without sufficient return on investment.
He reminded those in the audience that cashflow should still be king, especially for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are facing rising rents, taxes, employment costs and regulation, while their consumers simultaneously suffer a renewed cost of living crisis.
“However, the fundamentals of retail in sales, expense control, and a focus on profit and loss don’t change,” added Suleyman, while stressing nor does the way to success. This is achieved by making sure you focus tightly on: Ongoing excellent service; Value; Awareness of the competition.
“If you can survive in retail, you can survive anywhere. But you must work hard,” said Suleyman, while also bemoaning the planned UK governmental addition of digital passports and ID work validity checks as “a new cost overhead”.
“The price will come down though in my opinion,” he added, “so don’t sign up yet to expensive fancy solutions.”
Lessons learnt during a long retail career
The reason for the retail veteran’s cautious approach to cost control and RoI perhaps lies in Suleyman’s history. In the 1980s auditors identified significant debt in parts of his business, giving him only six weeks to find £2 million or face liquidation. Unfortunately, an investor pulled out, so that happened.
Suleyman had to start again from nothing. But he responded by building a thriving international clothing manufacturer, which still sits at the heart of his expanding empire, which now covers multiple and varied businesses.
“At 28 I made a couple of mistakes. Lost some businesses and a house to the bank,” he candidly admitted at RTS 2026. “But it makes you humble. It’s why I want to give back and help entrepreneurs today. Every successful entrepreneur has had failures. But it’s not the end, it’s knowledge. Don’t give up!”
Lipstick and your collar
An example of Suleyman’s determination to succeed is the fact he is launching another business in cosmetics in the UK capital during September. “Lipstick is Charlotte Tilbury at half the price,” he quipped.
“I’ve duped luxury brands after spending a year researching the marketplace thoroughly, empowering a chemist, and so on. It’s made in China … and will be available in two flagship stores in London’s West End; eight to ten kiosks in shopping centres like Westfield; and online.”
Lipstick will deploy guerilla marketing tactics for its autumn launch, providing 10,000 online and social media ambassadors with free product that they will help evangelise for. “There are 300,000 pieces of product being offered as well, which is a cheaper way to get customers than giving it to Meta, Google or any of those others.” The cost of acquisition is a live issue in retail at the moment and this is one possible response.
The passion to succeed still burns bright in the Dragons’ Den star, it seems. But the direct to consumer (D2C) Beauty Pie rival dupe brand already exists. It may be a tough potential competitor, albeit in the D2C arena without stores, and often with bland packaging.
Regardless, Suleyman has had enough success to think he can make a go of Lipstick and his shirt collar and high end outfitter, Hawes & Curtis. As he himself advised: “Don’t give up!”
