The Apprentice - They make it look so easy!?

[W4NTED]

Watching the apprentice makes me wonder if it is that easy to get an appointment with lead buyers in big national chain stores!

I know they must edit the programme to make things look easier but is it really a matter of finding a decent marketable product (like that love handle dog walking rope)and then contacting someone like Pets r Us - would they be so easy to get an appointment with!?

I once found a great product that I thought people like Harrods, John Lewis and Selfridges could sell but it was impossible to get in to meet their buyers and in the end I just gave up.

Do you think "Sir Alan" makes it easier?

Thats the whole point of Dragons Den isnt it? People have ideas that they want to get out there but they dont have the leads so they try to get people like the Peter Jones and Theo to help them on their way to marketing success.

If this is the case surely BBCs editing is misleading!

your thoughts?

[Simpo Two]

A researcher will ring them up and the store will grab the publicity. (Plus a couple of senior staff get to go on telly and it will look good on their CVs)

What surprises me are the cringeworthily inept presentations and attempts at selling that these so-called whizz-kids come up with!

[Chris_w666]

I am pretty sure its not that easy. But the free plug for your store on the BBC and the calls from show producers to the MD probably means the buyers have no option but to say yes we will look at your imaginary products.

[Martial Arts Man]

Simpo Two said:

What surprises me are the cringeworthily inept presentations and attempts at selling that these so-called whizz-kids come up with!

What amazes me is that these people have decent jobs to start with. On the whole, they are incompetent morons. Perfect for tv though, I guess.

[V8mate]

Chris_w666 said:

I am pretty sure its not that easy. But the free plug for your store on the BBC and the calls from show producers to the MD probably means the buyers have no option but to say yes we will look at your imaginary products.

And I bet there's some reassurance that they don't HAVE to go through with the imaginary order they place either!

[jon-]

Martial Arts Man said:

Simpo Two said:

What surprises me are the cringeworthily inept presentations and attempts at selling that these so-called whizz-kids come up with!

What amazes me is that these people have decent jobs to start with. On the whole, they are incompetent morons. Perfect for tv though, I guess.

Agreed. They miss fundamental things weekly. Makes you wonder just how they've got anywhere in life without a lot of help.

The criteria for hiring must be "Good job, cocky, stupid".

[bga]

Chris_w666 said:

I am pretty sure its not that easy. But the free plug for your store on the BBC and the calls from show producers to the MD probably means the buyers have no option but to say yes we will look at your imaginary products.

I used to work in one of the smaller buying departments in M&S there is not a chance that they would have got through to meet the senior buying team without months of preliminary work first. If it was an interesting product then a face to face with a junior buyer, merchandiser and technologist would be achievable.

[mk1fan]

jon, MAM, Simpo Two,

I fully agree.

[Chris_w666]

V8mate said:

Chris_w666 said:

I am pretty sure its not that easy. But the free plug for your store on the BBC and the calls from show producers to the MD probably means the buyers have no option but to say yes we will look at your imaginary products.

And I bet there's some reassurance that they don't HAVE to go through with the imaginary order they place either!

That probably swings it, anyway we all love the idea of stardom for 5 minutes. There is a good chance they reimburse the store for the time of their buyers that is wasted, the beeb paid us to bring people sailing during an episode of diy sos.

[Marcellus]

For your average or even good salesman not a cat in hells chance of virtually cold calling and then closing a sale......... so I reckon it must be the buyers going for their 2secs of fame and lets face it hardly risking anything are they... what was it 200 leads across 50 stores?? very very low risk so worth a punt..

As for the presentations of the candidates... I've seen better presentations from A level students!!

They only "say" they were successfull... never proven and a lot of the evidence suggests that they are in fact "failed" marketing consultants!!

[StevieBee]

I find it increasingly frequent that I have to explain to non-business people that the programme, whilst good telly, bears near to zero relationship to true business.

[topsparks]

Marcellus said:

For your average or even good salesman not a cat in hells chance of virtually cold calling and then closing a sale......... so I reckon it must be the buyers going for their 2secs of fame and lets face it hardly risking anything are they... what was it 200 leads across 50 stores?? very very low risk so worth a punt..

As for the presentations of the candidates... I've seen better presentations from A level students!!

They only "say" they were successfull... never proven and a lot of the evidence suggests that they are in fact "failed" marketing consultants!!

Also their job titles change weekly and they are always something like Senior Business Manager etc. when the candidate is only about 19 years old.

[Funk]

If they were that good, they wouldn't be on The Apprentice.

[evoesque]

Anyone know anything about getting products into major outlet stores?

I'd be interested to know the process from who to call in the first instance to seeing the product on the shelf.

[Soir]

evoesque said:

Anyone know anything about getting products into major outlet stores?

I'd be interested to know the process from who to call in the first instance to seeing the product on the shelf.

I think a lot of retailers will have a suppliers section on website, or call head office for information on introducing your business as a supplier

[broganski]

I'm a friend of a friend on the show. He said it is all scripted, not just slightly - the whole thing. From the start of the show they know who the winner is going to be before the first episode is even filmed and how their characters are meant to develop throughout the series.

So in response to your question, all the appointments are arranged months in advance of filming and the outcomes of each meeting predetermined.

Well, that's what I have been told. Wasn't told who the winner was though, would have placed a bet.

[Stitch]

Lets face it - would a real whizz kid apply for the Apprentice?

I don't think so - if (and its a big if) you win, you get a 'six figure salary'

Against that - no one seems to last long post the show, the show is entertainment so will be edited to show character flaws and downsides, you have to take the risk of giving up your job, if you get fired, getting a new job must be difficult - look at the poor guy a couple of weeks ago (Science teacher) he was light weight but Sir Alan's parting shot ("whoever employs him next better keep the receipt") can't have done his job prospects much good.

In summary - IMHO, the 'best business brains in Britain' are out doing it, not performing on a reality TV show.

[Windsorphil]

Soir said:

evoesque said:

Anyone know anything about getting products into major outlet stores?

I'd be interested to know the process from who to call in the first instance to seeing the product on the shelf.

I think a lot of retailers will have a suppliers section on website, or call head office for information on introducing your business as a supplier

We're going through this process now, both in UK and USA, both very different environments. Our basic strategy is to appoint already successful distibutors to work for us. We have been with our distributors at major tradeshows to deal directly with multiples and indepenent stores, demonstrating product, talking to buyer about the products, but letting the distributor finalise the deals in their territories. The reason we chose distributors is because the logistics of supplying the large multiples are a nightmare, and it was in fact cheaper to give up some of our margin than to try and develop robust logistics ourselves. That frees us up to concentrate on developing sales to distributors in other countries, PR, product development, etc.