I can't believe Susan said that "everyone around here is poor." Just because they wouldn't buy products off her. What a shallow pathetic comment.

Just because the Bull ring is in the city it doesn't make the people who shop their richer! If anything Birmingham has much more run down places than anywhere around Merry Hill but that doesn't mean everyone who shops at the Bull ring is poor either. Shopping centre's attract all different kinds of people.

She was based at the Merry Hill centre. The Apprentice made it out to be a small shopping centre just outside Birmingham but it's a massive shopping centre attracting millions of people every year. Every weekend the place is packed out.

The fact is there are so many of those little stalls around Merry Hill and you get harassed by every single one of them it's bloody annoying, it's like running a gauntlet!

She was a sh!t saleswoman that's why people weren't buying, it isn't because everyone is poor ffs. Even Karen gave her a stupid look!

The stuck-up cow hasn't got a clue.

Don't be too hard on her - it was just one throwaway line in a hard two days of work with 6am starts.

A lot of those people shopping there did look like they would be happier shopping in a 99p store though than getting expensive treatments!

I did make the same points on the apprentice forum Wednesday OP, it wound me up as well

I don't think she was talking about the location, it was more the fact that the candidates were greeted with the response "I can't afford it" a million times, and all the students hanging about.

Karen gave her that look because it was stupid thing to say! and to do it in hearing range of potential customers. Is stupid.
You never slag of your potential customers are ( Ratners any one?).

Also a lot of people are struggling - not just the poorer. Peopler have lost jobs or are worried about loosing jobs. ( even when this was film). She needs to get real.

As from Birmingham. It has its share of money and it share of hardships like anywhere.

As for Susan. I dont really like her, she comes across as a daddys girl who needs to grow up.

She made one passing comment which she probably didnt really mean and you go off on one?

Some people.

She made one passing comment while being filmed for National Television. So ... Yeah

Its not going off on one, Its passing comment makng a comment ?

If you cant stand the heat ...

Yes, I agree. I don't think she was slating the area at all. Maybe not the brightest remark, but it just seemed like a throwaway comment to me. Not a big deal IMO.

I think it was a clutching at straws comment to make an excuse if they lost the task rather than a genuine observation

This. It was a stupid thing to say but it was just one comment made in exhasperation while exhausted and not doing well. The cameras picked up on it - so it became a "thing".

And she's probably right! Although I wouldn't want tan not because I'm tight but because I don't like the look...

...if she'd said "nobody here wants to look cheap!" it would have been just as bad

Yeah some people:yawn:

Exactly, it's the same in a lot of places.

When they are filmed constantly like that, they tend to forget the cameras are there much of the time.

It is however interesting that the editors picked that clip, when they were reducing the 70 or so hours filmed to a 1 hour episode. It does seem like they are trying to make Susan look bad.

I am starting to wonder whether she eventually gets fired in a dubious decision, and all this editing is trying to make it look more justified.

I actually agree with this. Susan is getting quite a horrible edit considering nearly every win has had something to do with her...

Episode 1 - She was the one to run out of food far before the others. Whenever she was shown she was selling fantastic amounts with real good sales lines.

Episode 2 - The one show that we didn't see much of her doing much. But I doubt her excitable & easy to talk to personality would not fit with the sales of the ipod at the games convention.

Episode 3 - As PM she really stepped up and even Nick said that she was a little force to be reckoned with. It takes a lot of skill to be able to manage a team of big personalities, e.g: Jim, Edna & Felicity.

Episode 4 - She was given a really dodgy edit, but all in all, I feel as if we can safely say one of the main reasons outside of sales that her team won was due to the fake tan treatment. It was her that was really connected with the saleswoman and ultimately won them over with her personality. Not the very dull Zoe, despite her taking credit for it.

She's been given a shoddy edit which does make you question whether they're trying to make out as if she isn't as strong as she actually is to prevent something similar to a Liz reaction.

They did kind of foreshadow it the week before Liz's firing when they showed her scolding Stella for criticizing her.
Though they may have needed a couple more b*tchy Liz moments to really soften the blow of her getting booted.

It was an odd moment after Liz had had such a squeaky-clean edit up to then.

I think Karen gave her that look for the cameras, because she wants to be Margaret.

It wasn't really in hearing range of customers, look again.

She hasn't been raised with Daddy as far as I can tell.

She is 21, bright, bubbly and seems hardworking. She also seems to be feeling a bit vulnerable and no wonder with the 3 witches after her. So she made a daft remark to try and divert attention from her failure to make the sales she thought she would.

I can't see its all that bad really. I have employed 100's of young women over the years. I wouldn't hesitate to take her on.

Agree

Ya it was a funny comment.

She actually said everyone SEEMS so poor not that they ARE poor. I don't think she meant it in a nasty way, just as the other people said, a throwaway comment. Surely we all have our opinions about which places have more/less money.

This really isn't worth creating a thread about, think you need to chill out a bit.

I think she was just surprised that the product wasn't selling as well as she'd thought it would. She'd found it quite easy to sell in the first task and was thinking out loud about why it was proving such a hard sell this time IMO.

Yes it was. It was monumentally stupid. There is alot of money sloshing around there and you are right, it is hell going around that shopping centre being pestered by people trying to flog you all manner of tat especially garbage make up (Victoria Jackson anyone).

Susan has some admirable traits. She came to the country without English, she has learnt a new language, educated herself and started her own succesful business. All traits to be admired.

However she has a petulant, even immature, side to her which she has shown in several incidents.

If I was Lord Sugar and I was looking to go into business with someone she would be the ideal candidate for me as long as I could get rid of her petulant side. She will have to take advice and criticism from Lord Sugar. She has already shown she does not accept criticism. Even when it is fair.

There's different ways to criticise people, Zoe was attacking her so no wonder she got defensive. I know I would get defensive when someone attacks me like that, even if I knew I was wrong. Thought she took criticism from Lord Sugar about her tea problem last week quite well.

And everyone has an immature side, even Lord Sugar, I think it's great that she's enthusiastic and a bit silly, makes great telly!

Welcome to the views of DS.

zealous overreactions.


It was nicely edited with Businesswoman of the Year Brady's scornful look though.

Yes - if you big yourself up as a football Chief Executive and then all the clubs you run end up getting relegated you are heading for a fall!

BRILLIANT!!!!