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13 Oct 14
22:39
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05 Apr 02
Where do they get these ***** from.
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The guy who plays the Claude character always makes me laugh shame we never see him in anything else.
Bianca 1.0000000000000000000000000000000000000001
definitely some sexual tension in the taxi there. takes a man to know these things
When he said your hired at the end instinct felt he had said that to a woman, anyway I think her plan is the only viable one anyway.
anyone know who the business woman was with ryan & edmondson please?
This is the tenth series but none of the fired trio seem to have watched any of the other nine.
Daniel lied on his cv. Did he not realise it would be checked? And why not just say he was top salesperson rather than add the pointless embellishment that he won an award for it?
Roisin's unique product that is already on sale -- do they not have Google in Ireland? And why present a plan whose first requirement is to borrow another half a million quid from somewhere?
And Solomon. Dear, sweet, naive Solomon. At least over the 11 weeks he has learned to tie his own tie; next project is to learn what a business plan is. What do they teach at the University of Exeter?
Daniel lied on his cv. Did he not realise it would be checked? And why not just say he was top salesperson rather than add the pointless embellishment that he won an award for it?
Roisin's unique product that is already on sale -- do they not have Google in Ireland? And why present a plan whose first requirement is to borrow another half a million quid from somewhere?
And Solomon. Dear, sweet, naive Solomon. At least over the 11 weeks he has learned to tie his own tie; next project is to learn what a business plan is. What do they teach at the University of Exeter?
^ couldn't believe how dumb they were, and the 2 in the final - just the final 2 of a very bad bunch, and both could easily snap under any pressure.
Roisin let herself down very badly with her ridiculous business plan, infact they all did !
Best moment, Solomon nearly walking out the window on the 50th floor !!!!!
Roisin let herself down very badly with her ridiculous business plan, infact they all did !
Best moment, Solomon nearly walking out the window on the 50th floor !!!!!
You gonna stalk her?
no, my wife recognised her but couldn't rem her name, but she was the satchel woman who started making bags in her kitchen
no, my wife recognised her but couldn't rem her name, but she was the satchel woman who started making bags in her kitchen
Very true Ram.
The last 2 are only there so they can have a final.
The other 3 pretty much disqualified themselves.
Time to put this show out of its misery...
The last 2 are only there so they can have a final.
The other 3 pretty much disqualified themselves.
Time to put this show out of its misery...
themightymac 13 Oct 14 22:39
Where do they get these ***** from.
This is the first time I've opened this thread.
The first post says it all.
How it got 350 replies is beyond me.
Watched the first ever programme in the series, not watched it since.
Where do they get these ***** from.
This is the first time I've opened this thread.
The first post says it all.
How it got 350 replies is beyond me.
Watched the first ever programme in the series, not watched it since.
Dec 18, 2014 -- 6:52AM, Ramruma wrote:
This is the tenth series but none of the fired trio seem to have watched any of the other nine.Daniel lied on his cv. Did he not realise it would be checked? And why not just say he was top salesperson rather than add the pointless embellishment that he won an award for it?Roisin's unique product that is already on sale -- do they not have Google in Ireland? And why present a plan whose first requirement is to borrow another half a million quid from somewhere?And Solomon. Dear, sweet, naive Solomon. At least over the 11 weeks he has learned to tie his own tie; next project is to learn what a business plan is. What do they teach at the University of Exeter?
I was under the impression nothing practical or useful was taught at school or uni today. I'm suprised Roisin knows how to make a ready meal.
Really 
Here's a thought: perhaps some people watch certain tv programmes out of curiosity in the hope they may be either entertained or enlightened.
Here's a thought: perhaps some people watch certain tv programmes out of curiosity in the hope they may be either entertained or enlightened.
It seems Bianchi is your odd son favourite?
I don't think Mark can be written off just yet... could stills wing it?
I don't think Mark can be written off just yet... could stills wing it?
I didn't like the way Mark (last week) was slating the other candidates' business plans. Imo, that should be down to LS.
It's fair enough to blow your own trumpet but one of his comments was, "I will produce a net profit of over £1m in year 1".
I'm surprised he wasn't challenged on this last night (interviews) unless his business plan says something different.
It's fair enough to blow your own trumpet but one of his comments was, "I will produce a net profit of over £1m in year 1".
I'm surprised he wasn't challenged on this last night (interviews) unless his business plan says something different.
Remember Mark blew up badly under pressure a couple of weeks ago when stammering, coughing and getting the sweats. A clip from next week was him looking surprised at how big/intimidating the place looked where he was going to have to present. Could collapse in a heap again?
Interview stage and firing - I thought Daniel came across really well. He has been a bit of a **** through the series but has always been himself, has never cosied up to people, told them what he thought, been quite entertaining. Last night I thought he was very dignified. Took criticism, didn't give it the usual 'please Lord Sugar' waffle when he was on the ropes, took his firing on the chin and walked off with his head held high. Yes he told a little porky on his cv, but that aside I thought he should be very proud of that episode (unlike the hilarious country show episode when him and Cornholio bickered like 5 year old girls all day!)
Interview stage and firing - I thought Daniel came across really well. He has been a bit of a **** through the series but has always been himself, has never cosied up to people, told them what he thought, been quite entertaining. Last night I thought he was very dignified. Took criticism, didn't give it the usual 'please Lord Sugar' waffle when he was on the ropes, took his firing on the chin and walked off with his head held high. Yes he told a little porky on his cv, but that aside I thought he should be very proud of that episode (unlike the hilarious country show episode when him and Cornholio bickered like 5 year old girls all day!)
Has this been mentioned yet?
Just read on BBC news that on Tuesday night there was a 'glitch' on the BBC's 'meet the candidates' page that said 3 remained in the process.
But 5 appeared on the Wednesday show
Just read on BBC news that on Tuesday night there was a 'glitch' on the BBC's 'meet the candidates' page that said 3 remained in the process.
But 5 appeared on the Wednesday show
The post-show media coverage has been revealing.
One of the past candidates said that one advantage of being in the boardroom (which apparently goes on for hours) is that you get a free business masterclass from Lord Sugar.
Roisin has said that as well as firing her (which of course, we saw) he advised her that:
1) he (Lord Sugar) would be unable to open any doors for her as he had no contacts (although name recognition would probably mean people would take his call);
2) Roisin should therefore seek a partnership with an established food producer;
3) to avoid running out of cash (as in her business plan for immediate world domination) she should launch into small territories and expand as it takes off.
Roisin is now in bed with an Irish food manufacturer and will launch Nudles with Roisin first into Dublin, then (if all goes well) the rest of Ireland, then the UK etc.
Solomon on the other hand comes across as a fame-hungry TV **** who now wants to be on Made In Chelsea.
One of the past candidates said that one advantage of being in the boardroom (which apparently goes on for hours) is that you get a free business masterclass from Lord Sugar.
Roisin has said that as well as firing her (which of course, we saw) he advised her that:
1) he (Lord Sugar) would be unable to open any doors for her as he had no contacts (although name recognition would probably mean people would take his call);
2) Roisin should therefore seek a partnership with an established food producer;
3) to avoid running out of cash (as in her business plan for immediate world domination) she should launch into small territories and expand as it takes off.
Roisin is now in bed with an Irish food manufacturer and will launch Nudles with Roisin first into Dublin, then (if all goes well) the rest of Ireland, then the UK etc.
Solomon on the other hand comes across as a fame-hungry TV **** who now wants to be on Made In Chelsea.
The final is on Sunday. Mark vs Bianca.
Mark's plan is basically to do what he does for his old employer -- digital marketing and search engine optimisation, sfaict, ie getting your web site up near the top of Google's results -- for himself. A lot of small businesses start that way. Ricky Martin who won two years ago is similar.
Bianca's plan is to manufacture tights and shapewear (which has apparently moved on since whalebone corsets).
Prediction: no idea. And tbh I'm not really sure I care. Both seem plausible businesses but if it was the production team's aim to make me root for one or other of the candidates, it has failed. Anyway, there is not long to wait now.
Mark's seems safer in that we know he can do it (because he does it already for another company). It is a shame we did not hear more about his claims for £1 million in a year.
On the other hand, although in electronics rather than fashion, Lord Sugar's background is in manufacturing and selling products, which might favour Bianca. The fashion editor consulted by one of the interviewers said there was a real gap in the market, so could Bianca be the next Spandex or Ultimo?
Revised prediction: it is Bianca's to lose. It does not matter how well or badly Mark does in the final because everything is already known. Bianca on the other hand needs to prove to Lord Sugar that she, Bianca, can make this work in the real world. If the mock-launch in the final goes well, she wins. If it flops, she loses because Mark is the safe, fallback option.
Mark's plan is basically to do what he does for his old employer -- digital marketing and search engine optimisation, sfaict, ie getting your web site up near the top of Google's results -- for himself. A lot of small businesses start that way. Ricky Martin who won two years ago is similar.
Bianca's plan is to manufacture tights and shapewear (which has apparently moved on since whalebone corsets).
Prediction: no idea. And tbh I'm not really sure I care. Both seem plausible businesses but if it was the production team's aim to make me root for one or other of the candidates, it has failed. Anyway, there is not long to wait now.
Mark's seems safer in that we know he can do it (because he does it already for another company). It is a shame we did not hear more about his claims for £1 million in a year.
On the other hand, although in electronics rather than fashion, Lord Sugar's background is in manufacturing and selling products, which might favour Bianca. The fashion editor consulted by one of the interviewers said there was a real gap in the market, so could Bianca be the next Spandex or Ultimo?
Revised prediction: it is Bianca's to lose. It does not matter how well or badly Mark does in the final because everything is already known. Bianca on the other hand needs to prove to Lord Sugar that she, Bianca, can make this work in the real world. If the mock-launch in the final goes well, she wins. If it flops, she loses because Mark is the safe, fallback option.
I agree. In a nutshell, I would rather work with Mark but prefer Bisnca's plan.
For me Mark wins. Sir/Lord Al throws a small amount of money at it and six months later he is working as a salesman for Sir/Lord Al.
Mark is a bit daft really. Wants to work for himself and then goes towards going into a 50/50 shared business for a maximum £250k loan at terms to be discussed.
SEO must be a crowded market but may be quite lucrative.
I often get people offering SEO services. When I say I'm no but might need some website design work done, they don't seem interested.
I often get people offering SEO services. When I say I'm no but might need some website design work done, they don't seem interested.
Stow - suspect it's Alan's.
As an aside, he donates his fee for the show to Great Ormand Steet Children's Hospital.
Have no idea what the fee is but would guess iro £200k pa?
As an aside, he donates his fee for the show to Great Ormand Steet Children's Hospital.
Have no idea what the fee is but would guess iro £200k pa?
Bianca seemed incredibly thick during some of the tasks. Wasn't it her who gave exclusive rights to a small shop over Westminster? I seem to recall her going some ridiculous haggling as well. An airhead?
Would like to see Al be knocked down a peg or several. He has such an inflated view of himself.
Yes, that was Bianca. As I said earlier, I would rather work with Mark but prefer Bianca's business.
Dec 19, 2014 -- 10:05AM, i_agree_with_nick wrote:
SEO must be a crowded market but may be quite lucrative.I often get people offering SEO services. When I say I'm no but might need some website design work done, they don't seem interested.
A quick tip if you get people offering to get you onto the first page of Google.
Just respond that sounds great. Then go onto google and type in the search box 'get me onto the first page of google' if they company calling ain't on the first page tell them so and see what excuse they come up with 
Actually, I'm already on the first page of Google.
In fact, for most searches, I'm in the top three on page 1 and never had any help with SEO but I'm in a very niche market.
In fact, for most searches, I'm in the top three on page 1 and never had any help with SEO but I'm in a very niche market.
Spot on Nick.
Most companies can get themselves onto the first page of Google if they are locally or niche focused.
Most companies can get themselves onto the first page of Google if they are locally or niche focused.
This is the tenth series but none of the fired trio seem to have watched any of the other nine.
They do seem to have learned not to say, "I'm just like you, Surallan".
They do seem to have learned not to say, "I'm just like you, Surallan".
According to a pretty convincing story in the people, Bianca nicked her idea from a lady she met at an networking event for black business people in February 2013.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/apprentice-finalist-bianca-miller-stole-4...
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/apprentice-finalist-bianca-miller-stole-4...
@Stowe_judge re Bianca nicking the idea. Maybe. Who knows? Ideas are ten-a-penny; it's the execution that matters. It might even be one of the ideas Solomon tapped into his phone in the middle of the night. (Btw, the interviewer told Solomon his idea for renting bedrooms by the hour was an hotel -- but surely it is dangerously close to a knocking shop.) Ella told the People she had the idea in 2010, so four years later she has still failed to make a go of it.
Most businesses -- probably well over 99 per cent -- are not based on original ideas, but either on better or just local (not even better) application of an existing business. My newsagent retires at the end of the year but 40 years ago he was not put off by the thought of other shops selling papers. Vauxhall has not chucked it in because Ford makes cars. Purely by coincidence, I was just clicking around Youtube (not the first internet video site btw) when I came across this from ex-Dragon Theo Paphitis: "I've never had an original idea in my life. I just look at other people's ideas and execute them better."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ouc-gxtRDo
Tbh I'd be astonished if tights for darker skins was not already an established industry in America where there is a large Black middle class, not to mention Africa or India.
And that I think might be the weakness in Bianca's idea -- that really she has not designed a better product but merely wants to sell (wholesale or retail?) one that she will commission from existing manufacturers. Or at least, that is my understanding from last week. The final is on BBC1 tonight so we shall see. From a shop's point of view, tights take up hardly any room so stocking (no pun intended) an extensive range of sizes and colours will be easy enough (although if Bianca is aiming at a premium brand with boxes and tissue paper, that might not be true). The problem is that if sales do take off, as they probably will since it is a good idea, Bianca is easily bypassed, so she needs quickly to develop a strong brand before then: not easy if she is not the designer.
Most businesses -- probably well over 99 per cent -- are not based on original ideas, but either on better or just local (not even better) application of an existing business. My newsagent retires at the end of the year but 40 years ago he was not put off by the thought of other shops selling papers. Vauxhall has not chucked it in because Ford makes cars. Purely by coincidence, I was just clicking around Youtube (not the first internet video site btw) when I came across this from ex-Dragon Theo Paphitis: "I've never had an original idea in my life. I just look at other people's ideas and execute them better."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ouc-gxtRDo
Tbh I'd be astonished if tights for darker skins was not already an established industry in America where there is a large Black middle class, not to mention Africa or India.
And that I think might be the weakness in Bianca's idea -- that really she has not designed a better product but merely wants to sell (wholesale or retail?) one that she will commission from existing manufacturers. Or at least, that is my understanding from last week. The final is on BBC1 tonight so we shall see. From a shop's point of view, tights take up hardly any room so stocking (no pun intended) an extensive range of sizes and colours will be easy enough (although if Bianca is aiming at a premium brand with boxes and tissue paper, that might not be true). The problem is that if sales do take off, as they probably will since it is a good idea, Bianca is easily bypassed, so she needs quickly to develop a strong brand before then: not easy if she is not the designer.
Regarding the existing tights manufacturers, what's stopping them from just bringing out darker shades if it's proved there is a hungry market?
According to a pretty convincing story in the people, Bianca nicked her idea from a lady she met at an networking event for black business people in February 2013. Shocked
Does that mean white people were banned?
Does that mean white people were banned?
How shocking that black people who are vastly over-represented in business could have an event all to themselves.
it is shocking that people should be excluded because of the colour of their skin.
Indeed - probably the reason why they felt there is still a need to have events.
What you need to ask yourself Percy, is why there is such a need for such events in the first place.
"Bianca seemed incredibly thick during some of the tasks."
They all seemed incredibly thick during some of the tasks !
Whoever wins it, Bianca or Mark, both lightweight, and both could easily snap under a bit of real pressure. This is probably the thickest lot they have ever had on The Apprentice. I thought Roisin (or whatever her name is) would be in the final 2, but let herself down badly with the most ridiculous business plan..... and wanting to go global straight away...... and oh, I just need another £500,000 now..... this is so unique...... and oh, what do you mean it's already on the market, is it ?
Seen that in the papers today that Bianca has not based her business plan on an original idea and apparently she pinched the idea ...... happens all the time ...... Mark Z with Facebook was a punk genius, but he basically pinched the idea although he was the one who developed it.
They all seemed incredibly thick during some of the tasks !
Whoever wins it, Bianca or Mark, both lightweight, and both could easily snap under a bit of real pressure. This is probably the thickest lot they have ever had on The Apprentice. I thought Roisin (or whatever her name is) would be in the final 2, but let herself down badly with the most ridiculous business plan..... and wanting to go global straight away...... and oh, I just need another £500,000 now..... this is so unique...... and oh, what do you mean it's already on the market, is it ?
Seen that in the papers today that Bianca has not based her business plan on an original idea and apparently she pinched the idea ...... happens all the time ...... Mark Z with Facebook was a punk genius, but he basically pinched the idea although he was the one who developed it.
dum dedum dedum dedum dedum dedum dedum dum
anyone else noticed that Bianca has an absolute mahoosive heeed.
anyone else noticed that Bianca has an absolute mahoosive heeed.
£35 for a pair of tights
Might be a big potential market but wouldn't have thought many would pay that much
Might be a big potential market but wouldn't have thought many would pay that much
like a psychologist called Phyllis calling their Business Psy Phyllis
French guy : "sorry if I sound so bland"
"Blunt" ! ....you snail muncher !
"Blunt" ! ....you snail muncher !
Mark is getting ready to unleash the mother of all chokes.
AAhem..
AAhem..
don't like Marks branding at all. looks very public sector
bianca wins i suspect.
she's got an idea that needs polishing.
mark's area is too competitive.
she's got an idea that needs polishing.
mark's area is too competitive.
the choke was a complete set up to add drama. the guys a pro.
don't like Marks branding at all. looks very public sector
Agree - didn't like his logo. Doesn't look at cutting-edge or hi-tec
Agree - didn't like his logo. Doesn't look at cutting-edge or hi-tec
do you think Karren Brady asks not to be called Baroness Brady or has Lord Sugar vetoed it.
Mark has practiced that grin a thousand times in the mirror....you can be sure.
The Baroness Brady CBE. Baroness Brady seems clumsy (perhaps owing to the alliteration) and Lady Brady sounds ridiculous.
Bianca's use of christian names for her tights seemed silly, even if it works for Coca Cola. The particular names chosen were not obviously aimed at ethnic minority women. The packaging did not seem worthy of a premium product. Even after knocking a third off the price, £24 sounded a lot for an item that would mostly be worn only once: as one of the market research women said, at that price she'd expect it to make the tea.
Felipe was the only member of Bianca's team to voice any doubts. We see the same phenomenon on Dragons Den and even X-Factor or BGT, where people have not been told by those close to them that their product is rubbish or they can't carry a tune in a bucket.
If I were Bianca, I'd have made more of the smartphone app to match skin tone, and then sell online. This would mean she could start as a one woman business. (It also means she could use Mark's SEO service and Solomon's shipping company!)
Felipe was the only member of Bianca's team to voice any doubts. We see the same phenomenon on Dragons Den and even X-Factor or BGT, where people have not been told by those close to them that their product is rubbish or they can't carry a tune in a bucket.
If I were Bianca, I'd have made more of the smartphone app to match skin tone, and then sell online. This would mean she could start as a one woman business. (It also means she could use Mark's SEO service and Solomon's shipping company!)
The contrast between Mark's effective team management and delegation, and Bianca dismissing three fifths of her team and ignoring market research was clear.
One thing that confused me was Bianca limiting her market to women over the age of 30.
Mark's (or really James and Solomon's) dancers were annoying. I don't go to many product launches but I've been to a few, and in general prefer it when they get to the point. It might be different if there is direct visibility of the product but here, dance was just a metaphor.
Mark's (or really James and Solomon's) dancers were annoying. I don't go to many product launches but I've been to a few, and in general prefer it when they get to the point. It might be different if there is direct visibility of the product but here, dance was just a metaphor.
Tights in different colours wasnt exactly the greatest idea id ever heard but compared to the woman who invented a new ready meal that already existed it was genius.
Surely this must be the last season of this now. They seem desperate to talk it up as a serious programme with good young business people fighting for a large prize but its got zero credibility. By just picking so many clueless types for entertainment has made it quite good to watch but its no longer real or sensible. It looks more like something Ricky Gervais could star in each series.
Surely this must be the last season of this now. They seem desperate to talk it up as a serious programme with good young business people fighting for a large prize but its got zero credibility. By just picking so many clueless types for entertainment has made it quite good to watch but its no longer real or sensible. It looks more like something Ricky Gervais could star in each series.
@Dotchinite re Apprentice past its sell-by date.
To a point. The £250,000 prize and Lord Sugar's backing is well worth winning.
But I do agree the producers have ballsed it up, especially this series where they seem to have gone too far down the Big Brother route. They started with too many candidates so that in the early episodes it was hard to keep up with who was whom. The double and triple firings were intended to be dramatic but soon became routine and even contrived. And too many of the candidates had clearly been cast as "characters" with no chance of winning -- what Lord Sugar himself referred to as dead wood. This meant that even by the end, we'd not seen enough of the last 5 or 6 on tasks for us to properly judge, and they'd only been PM once each. (For instance, Sanjay tonight did an exceptional job producing the video but up to now we'd only seen him moaning and whining.)
The tasks are still too based around sales, and encourage candidates to rip off the public because there is no rating of quality or likelihood of repeat business.
The treats taken in isolation did have the wow factor, especially the one in Iceland, but looked at in aggregate seemed to have been chosen by a pair of production company interns, one of whom favoured variations on a spa (spa in Britain, spa in Iceland) while the other did variations on sport (football, boxing, motor racing etc).
To a point. The £250,000 prize and Lord Sugar's backing is well worth winning.
But I do agree the producers have ballsed it up, especially this series where they seem to have gone too far down the Big Brother route. They started with too many candidates so that in the early episodes it was hard to keep up with who was whom. The double and triple firings were intended to be dramatic but soon became routine and even contrived. And too many of the candidates had clearly been cast as "characters" with no chance of winning -- what Lord Sugar himself referred to as dead wood. This meant that even by the end, we'd not seen enough of the last 5 or 6 on tasks for us to properly judge, and they'd only been PM once each. (For instance, Sanjay tonight did an exceptional job producing the video but up to now we'd only seen him moaning and whining.)
The tasks are still too based around sales, and encourage candidates to rip off the public because there is no rating of quality or likelihood of repeat business.
The treats taken in isolation did have the wow factor, especially the one in Iceland, but looked at in aggregate seemed to have been chosen by a pair of production company interns, one of whom favoured variations on a spa (spa in Britain, spa in Iceland) while the other did variations on sport (football, boxing, motor racing etc).
I don't mean to be sexist but speaking from personal experience, "the cars will be with you in 30 mins". Has any Man on here known a women be ready 30 mins after waking up, 3 hours more realistic.
There isn't a single aspect of this show that bears up to any any analysis. Best just to treat it as light entertainment.
Just watched the final & surprised that there was no Roisin. Had the teddy been hurled out?
Roisin, best candidate material, awful business plan.
She would have made the final and probably won under the original format
I meant that I was surprised she wasn't there to help when the two finalists were choosing their helpers - all the other losers seemed to be there
I noticed that. She was in the audience for the second hour iirc.
@pumphol -- Roisin, best candidate material, awful business plan.
On reflection, I'm not sure her business plan was as bad as first thought. And ironically, it was probably because of the technical quality of her business plan, as you'd expect from an accountant, that Claude was able to see that once he'd corrected Roisin's unrealistic assumptions about the ease of gaining credit from suppliers, that she'd run out of cash in two or three months. This was the hole she tried to patch up by talking about a bank loan, which we saw anger Lord Sugar in the boardroom. Presumably Roisin had been misled by her experience at Ernst & Young auditing global corporations: it is one thing to give credit to Hewlett Packard (Ireland) but quite another to retool a production line on tick for an unknown kitchen table startup.
And according to interviews since The Apprentice, Roisin has followed Lord Sugar's advice to launch into a small market then expand (so Dublin, then Ireland, then UK and so on) so that expansion is financed organically from profits not loans; and also to partner with an established (Irish) food producer who knows the market and has established relationships with retailers.
Though by all accounts her key ingredient, while tasteless, has a most unpleasant texture, in which case maybe it won't get beyond the trial stage.
Bianca's business plan for premium tights did not survive the final -- by the end of the programme she'd knocked over a third off the price with no consideration of what this meant for quality. She's since told the papers she'll go ahead but at under a tenner.
Roisin's plan, then, in hindsight, was probably better than Bianca's but both had the crucial flaw that the women were unfamiliar with their chosen industries and would be reliant on Lord Sugar to do the work for them: arrange manufacturing, open doors with retailers and so on, as well as providing all the money.
Ironically, Solomon's plan-free, 50 per cent clip art proposal was probably a better business idea since he'd actually got experience of doing this (arranging manufacture and shipping) for himself, though as Claude complained, the complete absence of financial projections meant it could not be evaluated.
On reflection, I'm not sure her business plan was as bad as first thought. And ironically, it was probably because of the technical quality of her business plan, as you'd expect from an accountant, that Claude was able to see that once he'd corrected Roisin's unrealistic assumptions about the ease of gaining credit from suppliers, that she'd run out of cash in two or three months. This was the hole she tried to patch up by talking about a bank loan, which we saw anger Lord Sugar in the boardroom. Presumably Roisin had been misled by her experience at Ernst & Young auditing global corporations: it is one thing to give credit to Hewlett Packard (Ireland) but quite another to retool a production line on tick for an unknown kitchen table startup.
And according to interviews since The Apprentice, Roisin has followed Lord Sugar's advice to launch into a small market then expand (so Dublin, then Ireland, then UK and so on) so that expansion is financed organically from profits not loans; and also to partner with an established (Irish) food producer who knows the market and has established relationships with retailers.
Though by all accounts her key ingredient, while tasteless, has a most unpleasant texture, in which case maybe it won't get beyond the trial stage.
Bianca's business plan for premium tights did not survive the final -- by the end of the programme she'd knocked over a third off the price with no consideration of what this meant for quality. She's since told the papers she'll go ahead but at under a tenner.
Roisin's plan, then, in hindsight, was probably better than Bianca's but both had the crucial flaw that the women were unfamiliar with their chosen industries and would be reliant on Lord Sugar to do the work for them: arrange manufacturing, open doors with retailers and so on, as well as providing all the money.
Ironically, Solomon's plan-free, 50 per cent clip art proposal was probably a better business idea since he'd actually got experience of doing this (arranging manufacture and shipping) for himself, though as Claude complained, the complete absence of financial projections meant it could not be evaluated.
Maybe that is the flaw with the new Apprentice business partner format. Experience.
It's ten tasks followed by a sub-par episode of Dragons Den. The crucial difference is that the punters in the den are actual entrepreneurs who have actually put the graft into designing, making and selling their products, whereas most of the Apprentice candidates just have ideas and pipedreams. It is telling that of the three winners so far, inventor Tom had a track record of getting products onto shelves, and Ricky and now Mark were both basically just going self-employed and doing what they'd previously done for their employers.
In the other direction, of course, the Dragons have a fit of the vapours if anyone asks for £250,000. £30 to £50,000 is more their mark.
It's ten tasks followed by a sub-par episode of Dragons Den. The crucial difference is that the punters in the den are actual entrepreneurs who have actually put the graft into designing, making and selling their products, whereas most of the Apprentice candidates just have ideas and pipedreams. It is telling that of the three winners so far, inventor Tom had a track record of getting products onto shelves, and Ricky and now Mark were both basically just going self-employed and doing what they'd previously done for their employers.
In the other direction, of course, the Dragons have a fit of the vapours if anyone asks for £250,000. £30 to £50,000 is more their mark.
Roisin's plan as it was then meant she would have done the £250,000 in within two months, so LS had no option but to ditch her.
@bigH re clim - bon - line
Actually, Sarah had a point, and Mark did take it onboard, since by the final presentation there was a space between Climb and Online.
What does seem odd is that Mark had got this far in the process without having thought of a name for his company. (And climbonline.com is already taken: it is a blog for rock climbers. Probably its owner is wondering why he got so many hits on Sunday.)
Actually, Sarah had a point, and Mark did take it onboard, since by the final presentation there was a space between Climb and Online.
What does seem odd is that Mark had got this far in the process without having thought of a name for his company. (And climbonline.com is already taken: it is a blog for rock climbers. Probably its owner is wondering why he got so many hits on Sunday.)
Indeed. Come up with a name and bag the .com and .co.uk domains
@pumphol -- yes. In that respect Roisin was a bit like Susan Ma and her plan to sell cosmetics a couple of years back. Her business plan also fell into the trap of making all the assumptions in her favour so she ended up promising the moon on a stick.
As punters, we know that while Chelsea probably will beat West Brom and Man City overcome Sunderland, it is when you string ten of these certainties together that your footie accumulator comes unstuck, and Ladbrokes survives for another week.
It may be significant that after the programme, once Susan had scaled back her ambition to more realistic levels, Lord Sugar did invest in her, and similarly Roisin and Bianca also seem to have found backers at a lower level.
As punters, we know that while Chelsea probably will beat West Brom and Man City overcome Sunderland, it is when you string ten of these certainties together that your footie accumulator comes unstuck, and Ladbrokes survives for another week.
It may be significant that after the programme, once Susan had scaled back her ambition to more realistic levels, Lord Sugar did invest in her, and similarly Roisin and Bianca also seem to have found backers at a lower level.
Ram - four winners so far. Leah is the other one.
Can you please leave your football 10 fold on here, I may have a sneaky fiver on it 
@i_agree_with_nick -- aargh! Yes, Dr Leah slipped my mind. She fits the pattern as well, since she already had experience in cosmetic medicine.
Too many of them just seem to have an idea and rely on using Lord Sugar's money to buy in expertise. I could take Bianca's plan a bit further. She's identified a gap in the market: skin tones for Black women. OK. So let's sell tights online, with a smartphone app to measure the precise colour of someone's legs, and then feed that result into a small dying machine which does one or two pairs at a time, and injects the precise mixture of different dyes needed.
So Lord Sugar, can you pony up the quarter of a million, and find me someone to write the app, and also find me the small, computer-controlled, dye-injection machine?
(Hmm. Actually, that might even be viable if such a machine exists, which it may well do.)
Too many of them just seem to have an idea and rely on using Lord Sugar's money to buy in expertise. I could take Bianca's plan a bit further. She's identified a gap in the market: skin tones for Black women. OK. So let's sell tights online, with a smartphone app to measure the precise colour of someone's legs, and then feed that result into a small dying machine which does one or two pairs at a time, and injects the precise mixture of different dyes needed.
So Lord Sugar, can you pony up the quarter of a million, and find me someone to write the app, and also find me the small, computer-controlled, dye-injection machine?
(Hmm. Actually, that might even be viable if such a machine exists, which it may well do.)
Ideal for selling online in so much as they're lightweight, easy to package and unlikely to be damaged in transit.
Cash needed for website design and advertising.
Cash needed for website design and advertising.
Yes, sell online because with the smartphone app to measure colour, women will not need to see them in a shop. This time next year, Rodney, we'll be millionaires.
Bianca's business plan for premium tights did not survive the final -- by the end of the programme she'd knocked over a third off the price with no consideration of what this meant for quality. She's since told the papers she'll go ahead but at under a tenner.
Not having a realistic price point - not even ball park - as evidenced by its subsequent shift, is quite worrying when she has put together an actual business plan.
Not having a realistic price point - not even ball park - as evidenced by its subsequent shift, is quite worrying when she has put together an actual business plan.
Its Transition Year stuff lads (secondary school). Grade C level.
Why the fascination?
Why the fascination?
nothing else to talk about since side show bob left
Quote from one of this year's candidates: "I want the cars. I want the girls. But most of all I want the power." 
Good clip.
Being a socialist, Cloughie probably despised people like Alan Sugar especially as he was a poster-boy for Thatcherism. The irony being that in many ways, they were similar characters.
Being a socialist, Cloughie probably despised people like Alan Sugar especially as he was a poster-boy for Thatcherism. The irony being that in many ways, they were similar characters.
Yes - he was also a large donor but he's recently resigned.
I admire Clough and Sugar - they've both been tremendously successful in their respective fields and both did it the hard way from the bottom up.
I admire Clough and Sugar - they've both been tremendously successful in their respective fields and both did it the hard way from the bottom up.
i_agree_with_nick 06 Oct 15 11:49
I admire Clough and Sugar - they've both been tremendously successful in their respective fields and both did it the hard way from the bottom up.
You could add Gareth Thomas to the list too - he's been tremendously successful in his respective field, and done it the hard way from the bottom up...
I admire Clough and Sugar - they've both been tremendously successful in their respective fields and both did it the hard way from the bottom up.
You could add Gareth Thomas to the list too - he's been tremendously successful in his respective field, and done it the hard way from the bottom up...
I think there's a 'Meet the Candidates' programme rolling on the Red Button today.
Just watched it. Only lasts about five minutes.
One of the women looks like a brunette Katie Hopkins.
One of the women looks like a brunette Katie Hopkins.
In preparation for the new series I started watching series 1 of The Apprentice on Youtube a couple of days ago. Cracking stuff, Paul Torrisi is easily in the top 5 Apprentice candidates ever, a superb chap. Would urge any other Apprentice fans to reminisce and get stuck into it, excellent stuff.
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