So what does a Business Development Manager actualy do?

Boots could now bring out thier own version of this product, but I dont think that they will, as they wont be able to sell the product. Do you think that the dragons would invest in it?
I dont think so.

It's a pretentious way to say salesperson that's all.

Boots were interested more in the name than the crappy product. I wonder if the Book-Eeze had a pocket in which you could store a packet of Dulco-ese? I mean, all book lovers hate hard stools. Everyone knows that.

Do we know what type of product that she was selling? Maybe she is one of those annoying people that work in Comet or DFS, or tries to sell you double glazing etc.
Rubbish jobs, no wonder they need a fancy name to make them sound important.

I want somebody to address LS as Alan. Lord Sugar indeed. Like when he insisted being called Sir Alan. They even refer to him as Lord Sugar when they are out of the boardroom.

He started off as Alan Sugar. Then he became Sir Alan Sugar. Now he's Lord Sugar.

Based on his rate of exaltation, I predict next series the candidates will have to call him

God Sugar.

Twenty quid for the book stand?

A pity Lordsiralan didn't arrange for them to pitch to Poundland

i actually liked the Cuuli - I would totally buy it., The book stand is crappy - it's a really really stupid product.

There was some bloke on Dragon's Den that had a utility towel with side pockets and such like. Not sure about the cool facility though. How did this towel last night keep things cool? I missed that bit. The book stand was terrible though and you would look a bit of a t***t on the beach using that.

I think the one on DD had hidden pockets only. The Cuuli had a built in pillow. The stuffing for that was made of insulating material in a hollow closed tube, same as the cool bags they sometimes give away for carrying beer in (or enough baby food for a 15 stone baby).
It's selling point is it's an all in one solution for the needs of one person (being smaller than a cool bag). Only needs one arm to carry.

I seem to recall someone doing that on Junior Apprentice. They backtracked toot sweet.


Joanna had, the previous task. I think the team was hard to manage basically because Laura was weak. It was actually Laura who started all the shouting over people. She failed to listen to Joanna, and probably others, so they felt they had to shout to be heard. She was indecisive and that made them more nervous - made them want to take over.

It'll be interesting to see if she survives long enough to manage again. I suspect she won't: she'll go next time she's in the boardroom. Even if we accept all your excuses for her negative points, she didn't have a lot positive.


She was PM. I would definitely hesitate to contradict my boss in front of clients, especially over something that was a judgement call and her decision. It looks really unprofessional.


Agreed.


Although it took her two attempts. At first she wanted Sandeesh. She was clueless.

I'd have picked Melissa instead of Joanna, for giving some pretty awful pitches (and her crimes against the English language).

Each to their own. I think Laura is pretty, though Liz, Paloma and Sandeesh are all even better-looking.

Sorry, didn't mean it to come across like I thought Yasmina was ugly; actually I think she's attractive. But I do think Kate is more so, and certainly has the more obvious kind of appeal that the poster I was replying to seemed to be talking about.

That seems to be getting forgotten.

I think the first two tasks show how much difference the PM can make. Under Joanna, the girls were impressive; under Laura, they were a rabble. Under Dan, the boys were a rabble; under Stella, they were impressive.

^ Agreed. Also, it seemed to me the 3 women Liz, Sandeesh and Paloma got on OK when they were alone in Brighton, albeit without coming up with any usable ideas. They whinged about Paloma not helping with the sandbags, but that's par for the course and she did a fair job of photographing the poster from what I could see. That side of it went pretty smoothly.It was Laura, Joanne, Joy and Melissa who came across as rabble. I doubt firing Joy will affect that.

While we're criticising, let's not forget the boys team were lucky to win. They may not have been a rabble but they only got 100 sales, which isn't much, and 0 from two of the retailers. Had Laura accepted the exclusive deal, they'd have lost. I reckon the boys are weaker and will lose the next task.

It seems like neither team has found a good pitcher/presenter yet.

From what I saw and my own opinion, I was surprised the Cuuli had so little interest. It's not cheap for what it is, a towel and (free promotiona) cool bag are things people usually have. But it's a convienient package and looks to do the job. Any thoughts as to what was wrong with it?

Chris's pitch was pretty dire, but in this task a poorly delivered pitch doesn't totally kill sales. The uses for the thing were put across quite well.

Melissa was the one member of the girl's team who seemed to be causing problems in the first task, and continued to do so this week. She's no chance of winning it.

It certainly seemed better than the Book-eeze.

I didn't see any synergy. I'd rather have a towel and a cool bag separately. Possibly the towel would have helped insulate the cool bag, and even cooled it further by evaporation when wet, but if so that point didn't come across. And you could just wrap a cool bag in a towel if you wanted to.

It was too expensive and bulky to be a good impulse buy, especially when most people have a towel already. I don't see who would have bought it.

Yeah, though I still don't see how two buyers rejected it completely, and one though take a small punt. It does have some appeal to those who want to travel light. Most cool bags are bulky. Ok you can put a towel in a typical cool bag but you have to carry it in your hand. The Cuuli (bad name) can be tucked under your arm, or be tied to the top of a backpack. Not the family market, but for younger people who don't want 8 cans of lager as a way of getting through the day, I can see them not dismissing it so quickly. The cool bag does work as a pillow better than nearly any other cool bag would.