All Philler, no Killer - The Apprentice Thread Three

[ArticSaviour]

New thread for tonight as we have nearly reached the end of Thread Two

Phil must have an amazing business..

I genuinely thought both products were going to fail .

Phil was set up to win wasn't he? He was put with three of the strongest left - Tre, Flo and Paul. What business idea does he have that Suralan wants him in the interviews I wonder?

It wasn't fair to leave Falusa on her own but she was her own cheerleader when it came to branding. Plus Rachel was the only person to put herself forward as a team lead. Falusa could have ensured her own safety in numbers by being the team leader and ensuring that she wasn't on her own but she didn't step up. Falusa had what is missing in most of them, fun!

Steve's 'pick me dance' at the end was not genuine as shown by his smarmy 'I can't believe I wasn't chosen/I've never been told no before'. He adores himself and his networking/friend idea has been done so many times already. Was he really just going to change other people's ideas from a website to an app and that was it? Surely not?

Flo is falling after starting so strong. Perhaps its because the weaker people are gone now so she's not standing out anymore? She has the confidence that only rich people have and imo that is why she has progressed in the selection process.

Interviews next week. Already looking forward to them.

I hope Rachel wears cooler shoes for the interviews and maybe a bit of blush too instead of the heavy foundation.

Interviews week and Claude. Thank gods.

It’s always great in the interviews for the accountability
when one of them says something that is obviously not true having been. Checked they are made to squirm
looking forward to Claude

His pie business is fantastic, I have to say. 10 years ago they had one very popular shop in Bognor which people flocked to, and now have several in the local area. They absolutely are the most amazing pies.

I do think he has been set up to win though. I think they always know who is going to win before they even film episode 1.

I imagine he wants to upscale it, make into a household name like Greggs. Or perhaps get the pies into supermarkets. Turners Pies are very well respected locally - I've never heard anyone say a bad word about their food and they are hugely popular.

Phil was set up to win wasn't he? He was put with three of the strongest left - Tre, Flo and Paul.

I thought this. Also having a team of 4 not 3 is an advantage in itself.

Only just seen this - I wondered why there weren't many comments on the 'Shucked' one 😃

Faluso and Steve were never on my list for the interviews, not that Phil was either. Faulso has had some narrow misses in previous weeks saved by someone elses' greater cock-up/ track record. Steve seems like a nice guy and has mucked in, but has been a bit of a coaster. It did feel like the 3:4 disadvantage was putting Rachel on a no-win path as the only one prepared to stick her neck out as PM.

The interviews will weed out on the business plans so I don't tend to try and call it after that as they often have curve-ball results. It will be annoying if Phil does get through on buisness plan alone after such an extensive run of creeping through while others make greater risks around him. He's not been a good team player, whereas people like Paul have been more productive and given clear feedback for better or for worse. Normally Phil's lie-low strategy results in being fired before this stage.

The frustrating thing about the branding tasks is that there's too much flying blind without knowing the direction of the other half of the team.

Phil definitely a set up for a win. However, I think the others are all strong too.

falouso did make some serious errors on her branding for someone who is a branding expert but also feel she was thrown in at the deep end.

Phil has a successful award winning family business going back to the 1930s not sure how they're going to get him out in the next round. Also seems a bit unfair to have established businesses competing against start ups.

Maybe Lord Sugar fancies himself as a ' pie magnet ' and they can open more shops in London or elsewhere. It sounds as if it's successful, but only in certain areas of the UK
Claude or one of the others might argue they should have expanded years ago or whatever!

Surely it’s not the family business he wants investment in though? Wasn’t there a fuss a few years ago because the candidates sister was a major shareholder/worked in the business. Phil can’t be the only one in the family business?

so is he launching a different business that will play off the existing?

Yes. I didn't realise his business was so successful. I have really begun to dislike him; always throwing others under the bus, zero charisma or personality, awful at pitching.

Also, it's Foluso, ladies! Her name has been spelt every which way😂

Thank you : I hate spelling names wrong.

I remember this too. The interviews showed that Alan Sugar would be going into business with two people instead of one.

From seeing Phil on The Apprentice, I wonder how much is Phil carried by his family. Eg there is a successful business near where I am from originally. Two if not three of the sons have learning difficulties. They mainly drive and do deliveries yet are wealthy as they are part of a successful family business. The father should have retired years ago but can’t….. (not that Phil has learning difficulties)!

It sounds like Phil should be on Dragom’s Den instead.

I can totally see the appeal though of an established business instead on online apps.

Pies has got to be better than cupcakes

Maybe Phil's plans are different to his family business? New type of pies or something like that ? Can't think what though as you can get vegan / veggie pies easily enough.

Phil has expanded the business (locally) but he hasn't really contributed to it's brand and success. It was a very well known business and trades on its excellent reputation which it has had for decades. I actually would worry if he won and if the business plan is about upscaling because at the moment the quality is excellent, but I can see that falling by the wayside if they become mass-produced.

Are his pies available in London? And are there any veggie ones? Curious to try.

Yes., once things become mass produced purely for profit it loses its uniqueness I think.

Same here I thought everyone had stopped watching! 🤣

I just found the website. Looks great and they do Pies By Post too, and treacle tart!

It's really hard to see what Lord S's investment would add to the current business, I can only think Phil must want the publicity.

It would be so funny if Phil’s being kept in because his pie business looks great and he’s actually pitching for a new motivational speaking business or something

Suralan really seems to favour Phil. I think he deliberately made Phil's team the stronger and larger team. It can only be the business he likes, as Phil has been a weak candidate throughout.