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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the apprentice business will fail because these prices are ridiculous?!

120 replies

Flossie87 · 25/03/2022 11:38

I was having a look at apprentice winner Harpreet's new website - ohsoyum.co.uk - this morning and oh my I am shocked!

  • £16 for a box of 6 brownies or £30 for 12
  • £19.50 for 4 cookie cups or £38 for 8

Surely these prices cannot be right? I know these fancy dessert/treat places are normally more expensive but surely these prices are too high?

AIBU? Would you spend the money on these treats?

OP posts:
CandlesAtDinner · 25/03/2022 11:45

Why not make the treats yourself?

Calmitdownkermit · 25/03/2022 11:49

I wouldn't. There's a home business near me that does cookie pie slices at £3 each and i think that's pricey - harpreets are 4 slices for £21 or £5.25 each. Her flavours all look very ordinary - chocolate orange, kinder and biscoff. Yawn.

If i ordered it as a dessert at a restaurant id pay £5.25 but id expect a bit of ice cream with it.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 25/03/2022 11:49

Well... they are and they're not; like anything, really.

She's not aiming for the Greggs crowd, she's aiming for the type of people who buy hampers for afternoon teas and pre-made postal cakes. For those type of people, she's fairly reasonably priced.

It'll all depend on how well she markets it to those people; and whether those people are particularly hit by the rising living costs, as to whether it's a success...

If not, expect to see some Ellie Goulding style discounting very soon.

Hoppinggreen · 25/03/2022 11:50

I dint really understand what’s different or special about what she’s offering
I’m sure she will see an uplift due to the publicity but other than that it offers nothing somebody else doesn’t already (and cheaper)

FabFitFifties · 25/03/2022 11:57

There wasn't a decent business opportunity in the semi final. Her products will need to be very special. Worst series ever.

CaptainThe95thRifles · 25/03/2022 11:59

Well, I guess I'm marginally more likely to buy over-priced cookie cups than ghastly bloody dog pyjamas Grin

Whinge · 25/03/2022 12:01

@Hoppinggreen

I dint really understand what’s different or special about what she’s offering I’m sure she will see an uplift due to the publicity but other than that it offers nothing somebody else doesn’t already (and cheaper)
I feel the same way. We have so many similar businesses like this in my area, and many are much cheaper. I'm sure she'll get a boost from the publicity, but I can't see it being sustainable as a long term business.
FoxyFoxyLoxy · 25/03/2022 12:02

That woman with the brownies - Alana? - who won the Apprentice a few years ago is forever popping up on my facebook feed with adverts saying that the factory has produced too much again (oops!) and they need to offload cheap.

She appears to be still in business flogging 9 pieces of brownie/traybake for £18 plus £4 shipping. And she's not pitching to the premium vegan/gluten free market with hipsters willing to splash the cash.

FoxyFoxyLoxy · 25/03/2022 12:05

Oh and having not watched the Apprentice this series I saw the website and thought it was Oh Soy Um as in Soya. Not Oh So Yum.

Marcipex · 25/03/2022 12:05

It totally boggles me. What rip off prices for things that are easy to make.

Original poster
Flossie87 · 25/03/2022 12:12

@Calmitdownkermit

I wouldn't. There's a home business near me that does cookie pie slices at £3 each and i think that's pricey - harpreets are 4 slices for £21 or £5.25 each. Her flavours all look very ordinary - chocolate orange, kinder and biscoff. Yawn.

If i ordered it as a dessert at a restaurant id pay £5.25 but id expect a bit of ice cream with it.

@Calmitdownkermit I guess this is the same for me, I'd be happy to pay a bit more for something if dining in and it was served with something extra like ice cream etc but too pricey for a letterbox treat!
OP posts:
DaffTheDoggo · 25/03/2022 12:13

She's not aiming for the Greggs crowd, she's aiming for the type of people who buy hampers for afternoon teas and pre-made postal cakes. For those type of people, she's fairly reasonably priced.

The branding is a bit tacky if that's the case. Greggs style on a Hummingbird budget.

Original poster
Flossie87 · 25/03/2022 12:13

@CaptainThe95thRifles

Well, I guess I'm marginally more likely to buy over-priced cookie cups than ghastly bloody dog pyjamas Grin
@CaptainThe95thRifles this is true Grin
OP posts:
LadyMacduff · 25/03/2022 12:14

I didn't realise that this was about the show and I hadn't watched it yet Sad

I did think she would win after the interviews episode though.

Original poster
Flossie87 · 25/03/2022 12:15

@Duracellbunnywannabe

www.marksandspencer.com/6-indulgent-chocolate-brownies-letterbox-gift/p/hpp60517641?extid=ps_ps-gpla_ggl_hampers_food__-_UK_-css-_&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0PWRBhDKARIsAPKHFGjx7Ge2j2YVXEvJDBNu7JDGypae7E8j80E0QMNRsayipceRayJMncAaAo86EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

£17 for 6 brownies at M and S so it sounds about right but I suspect it’s a very busy market.

@Duracellbunnywannabe Shock
OP posts:
notacluewhattopick · 25/03/2022 12:18

Hmm, I don't think they're massively overpriced to be fair! We have a few places that do this close to me (north east) and it's £15 for 6 brownies or another is around 15 for 4! Both delicious though 😍

www.cakescontour.co.uk

www.thebrowniebar.co.uk

Original poster
Flossie87 · 25/03/2022 12:19

@DaffTheDoggo

She's not aiming for the Greggs crowd, she's aiming for the type of people who buy hampers for afternoon teas and pre-made postal cakes. For those type of people, she's fairly reasonably priced.

The branding is a bit tacky if that's the case. Greggs style on a Hummingbird budget.

@DaffTheDoggo exactly what I was thinking, it doesn't really scream "upmarket"..
OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 25/03/2022 12:27

@DaffTheDoggo

She's not aiming for the Greggs crowd, she's aiming for the type of people who buy hampers for afternoon teas and pre-made postal cakes. For those type of people, she's fairly reasonably priced.

The branding is a bit tacky if that's the case. Greggs style on a Hummingbird budget.

Exactly If she wants to go upmarket she should have a look at her branding. It’s not premium at all apart from the pricing
Ozanj · 25/03/2022 12:34

It’s comparable to Lola’s / Fortnams / Harrods. So I think there is most definitely a gap in the market for her.

ThinkForAMinute · 25/03/2022 12:36

@LadyMacduff

I didn't realise that this was about the show and I hadn't watched it yet Sad

I did think she would win after the interviews episode though.

What did you think it was about - the title gives a pretty good hint!
ajandjjmum · 25/03/2022 12:38

Haven't watched any of this series, but I did watch the final yesterday. Thought they were both dated ideas, with little inspiration.

DrSbaitso · 25/03/2022 12:41

It's been running for years already; this is just a name change, possibly a branding change (I don't know what it all looked like before) and a huge injection of publicity. Why would it fail now?

I don't like the name, though.

ClariceQuiff · 25/03/2022 12:43

Interesting that she's kept the 'Oh So Yum' branding.

@Flossie87 maybe ask MNHQ to add a spoiler alert to thread title as you haven't capitalised 'apprentice' so it isn't clear it's about the show.

Marcipex · 25/03/2022 12:49

I read it as a soya product too.

It certainly doesn’t appeal to me. Yum is a childish word.