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It's a wet lettuce battle off- The Apprentice 2017 Final

201 replies

Dillite2 · 17/12/2017 11:21

Guess who's back?

I am yet to watch the interviews although I did read what you have all said about the interviews. I will try an catch up eventually.

My brother and his girlfriend are visiting today, hopefully they don't plan on staying and I will be able to watch the final with you all. But if I don't, at least I will have a thread to come and read tomorrow.

See you all at 9!

OP posts:
theresneverbeen · 17/12/2017 23:25

Did anyone else notice Russell'sslow handclap when James was announced? I got the impression he wasn't a fan!

MipMipMip · 18/12/2017 00:16

Wow. Look at the size of the sweets in the jar - you get so little! Also I love that Sarah had to change the name as Sweeteze is a pill for diabetics!

TabbyMack · 18/12/2017 04:54

Big mistake letting Michaela go, imo.

I used to work in a job doing precisely what her business plan was (I am assuming for one of the two big companies she mentioned)....researching tender opportunities for anyone who might be interested in future or current construction projects. All sorts of people bought the info....not just plumbers, architects & electricians. We sold to pillow and bedding manufacturers (wanting to know about new hotels & hospitals), furniture makers, retail fitters, landscape gardeners...you name it.

That kind of info sells if presented properly. Shame. Hopes she doesn't give up the idea.

ImmortalityMyDarlings · 18/12/2017 08:18

It sends a terrible message that you can lie to people about your accreditation and still get investment. That's the sort of thing you can be sued for. I'm not surprised though as they totally failed to carefully correct that chap who said he was a "barrister" when he was not qualified.

ImmortalityMyDarlings · 18/12/2017 08:19

Reckon anyone would have been watching and called up Michaela to quickly invest?

QuiteUnfitBit · 18/12/2017 08:22

I reckon he thought that Michaela would read his contract, and decide she didn't want his investment.

Eightbelles · 18/12/2017 11:24

Big mistake for Sugar I think.

Sarah's sweetie idea has been done loads of times, by other companies. Been seeing similar things for years. Its not going to be as big as she thinks.

The worst thing you can do with cyber security too is get a moron like James to recruit people for it. He doesnt even know what cyber security entails, Ricky telling him to mention it was stupid because you have to have some knowledge on it to know who to recruit. These kind of companies I swear are why we keep having massive amounts of data stolen from big companies. Because they put forward the wrong people to make a quick sale. I work in the industry and it annoys me how many people we get through who dont have the slightest idea of what security is and how difficult it actually is.

Hope they both cost Sugar a lot of money.

Peregrina · 18/12/2017 13:48

I can't believe that after nine years of trading, Sarah hadn't sorted out a brand name and some basic marketing.

My money would have been on Elizabeth - seeing how with the dog parlour task, they didn't get the one they wanted but made the best of what they had and turned the task round. I think LordSugar would have had fireworks with her, but eventually would have got somewhere.

Akire · 18/12/2017 14:30

I don’t get that either, I appreciate you have to apply a year in advance and have basic outline of a fantastic plan to make you stand out. But by time you are handing in your notice and going on it surely have 3m notice to get the plan all up to date. Why would you trust half your team with the name, design and logo and come up with USP. So silly.

Peregrina · 18/12/2017 14:34

Not only that, you need to come up with a name which hasn't already been patented. A friend running a small business selling home made snack products to pubs found that the name he wanted had already been registered by one of the big firms, even though they weren't actually using it, and he had to find something else.

cathf · 18/12/2017 14:42

As a fellow food business owner, I can't see how Sarah's business stacks up.
She looked to have around 10 staff, so based on them all working part-time, her wage bill would be about £1300-£1500 per week, assuming NMW. Then she needs a wage.
Her premises will have to be paid for, business rates, insurance etc etc.
Judging from the footage I saw, it doesn't not look as if she has any accreditation beyond an environmental health visit, which will be a barrier if she wants to get listings in eg supermarkets.
That's an awful lot of outgoings on the back of a few jars of sweets, which will have a very small margin to her.

TheAntiBoop · 18/12/2017 15:43

I understood that they couldn't use their existing brand or designs etc

I think everyone is being hard on Sarah and the 7 years tbh. We don't know what was going on in her life. She's obviously now ready to go now

StripySocksAndDocs · 18/12/2017 15:46

One thing that I thought was impressive about that final: it was even more wet and uninteresting than the predicted wet lettuce.

olliegarchy99 · 18/12/2017 15:52

on a completely OT note - both finalists were left-handed Smile
as one myself I disclaim that this fact had any bearing on their ineptitude.

Idreamofalandrover · 18/12/2017 16:09

cathf like last year's winner she has office and warehouse space provided by her parents. The staff production line was just obviously just faked for filming to make her look bigger. She probably just has one or two part timers to pack the sweets.

cathf · 18/12/2017 16:16

So her overheads are not realistic then, idream? I could not see how she could make any money at all but if she is not paying rent and rates, that will make a massive difference! Not sure how that works as she grows though.

Idreamofalandrover · 18/12/2017 16:23

Yep not realistic at all, like so many of their "buisness plans" it's reliant on favors. Last year's winners parents built her a kitchen to use.

With £18 a jar and 70k turnover that's only 4000 jars a year sold. That's not even one full time job to pack and send off.

I wish the apprentice was better, it's annoying as a small business owner with so many things that are not realistic.

cathf · 18/12/2017 16:33

I thought she had a £400,000+ turnover?
Also, the outlets she is in - Harrods, Selfridges etc - while they sound impressive, they will only sell a tiny amount. Quite a few of our customers sell their products in these stores, but the amount sold is negligible.
As for unique - I had an ad on my Facebook feed this morning for a company called Treats, who do exactly the same as Sarah's postal box idea. Baffled by sugar's choice, to be honest

Peregrina · 18/12/2017 16:36

I understood that they couldn't use their existing brand or designs etc

If that's the case, then you would think that they would spend a bit of time thinking up a new name before going on the show.

Idreamofalandrover · 18/12/2017 16:37

400k turnover in total, so in 8 years. Agreed Harrods and that won't be many units a week.

It's a perfect one person buisness, that's it can't scale it really.

TheAntiBoop · 18/12/2017 16:42

It does sometimes seem as if they've never bothered to watch the show before. Makes you wonder how much is scripted

I don't get why the business plans aren't reviewed for viability before the interview stage. He was left with five lemons to choose from really.

Michaelas was probably the best but I don't think she would make a good business partner - and neither would Elizabeth. Both too stubborn and fond if their own ideas (although I liked Michaela so I don't mean that negatively - I just don't think she would like to be told she might want to rethink etc)

cathf · 18/12/2017 16:44

£400,000 turnover in total?!?? Are you sure? That would be spectacularly crap and I don't know how she had the nerve to apply, never mind get picked! Are you sure?

TheAntiBoop · 18/12/2017 16:54

But you are assuming she worked flat out for the last 7 years when it sounds like she had other commitments etc and wasn't able to focus on that business

I'm not saying it's the best business idea in the world but I do feel she probably has very good reasons for not having had the focus

Idreamofalandrover · 18/12/2017 16:58

Yes, I think it was 470k in total to be more accurate.

She would get laughed out of dragons den saying her business is worth 500k based on that.

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