I didnt realise he had patented the chair. I dont understand how you can get further with a nail file. Its not a mouse trap which always seems to need improvement. I am also not sure what goes with it what doesnt yet exist. That is the problem helping others who dont have money either wont make you any money. He could use the 250K to further other people's ideas as well which I am sure he will. The only thing is most people get carried away with their own ideas (including myself) thinking they will sell. It is very hard to get new ideas to market however good they are. Even LS was surprised that Tom had it in him. Anyway I cant see this business working out.
Helen must be gutted
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If there are other companies operating in this field, then the concept is, in theory, viable and profitable.
More profitable than selling nail files for 88p (the price of Stylfile on Amazon).
And if Helen had some novel slant on the business, or could reduce overheads...
It wouldn't be easy, but there might be a lot of mileage in her idea, in the long term.
More profitable than selling nail files for 88p (the price of Stylfile on Amazon).
And if Helen had some novel slant on the business, or could reduce overheads...
It wouldn't be easy, but there might be a lot of mileage in her idea, in the long term.
Originally Posted by aussie_dave_:
“I bet anyone here £100 that you will never see a single chair produced from this business.”
“I bet anyone here £100 that you will never see a single chair produced from this business.”
I'm not sure why anyone would take that bet since Sugar on You're Fired basically said they have moved away from chairs and are concentrating on the nail file stuff. I guarantee this business wont produce a chair.
Originally Posted by bigmatt1234:
“I'm not sure why anyone would take that bet since Sugar on You're Fired basically said they have moved away from chairs and are concentrating on the nail file stuff. I guarantee this business wont produce a chair.”
“I'm not sure why anyone would take that bet since Sugar on You're Fired basically said they have moved away from chairs and are concentrating on the nail file stuff. I guarantee this business wont produce a chair.”
Right so they spent 11 weeks in a competition. A certain girl won 10 out of the 11 tasks. Somehow that wasn't good enough and wasn't picked.
But OK lets ignore that completely and focus on the last task where they put forward their business ideas.
'Sorry Tom, dont like your plan ...... but about that nail file you made a couple of years ago ....'
The whole series was a complete joke. It took us 11 weeks and several failed business plans just for the country to realise Alan Sugar wanted a nail file that already existed BEFORE the series started.
The BBC and LS should hang their heads in shame at the shambles this turned out to be.
Originally Posted by aussie_dave_:
“Right so they spent 11 weeks in a competition. A certain girl won 10 out of the 11 tasks. Somehow that wasn't good enough and wasn't picked.
But OK lets ignore that completely and focus on the last task where they put forward their business ideas.
'Sorry Tom, dont like your plan ...... but about that nail file you made a couple of years ago ....'
The whole series was a complete joke. It took us 11 weeks and several failed business plans just for the country to realise Alan Sugar wanted a nail file that already existed BEFORE the series started.
The BBC and LS should hang their heads in shame at the shambles this turned out to be.”
“Right so they spent 11 weeks in a competition. A certain girl won 10 out of the 11 tasks. Somehow that wasn't good enough and wasn't picked.
But OK lets ignore that completely and focus on the last task where they put forward their business ideas.
'Sorry Tom, dont like your plan ...... but about that nail file you made a couple of years ago ....'
The whole series was a complete joke. It took us 11 weeks and several failed business plans just for the country to realise Alan Sugar wanted a nail file that already existed BEFORE the series started.
The BBC and LS should hang their heads in shame at the shambles this turned out to be.”
I didn't say the series wasn't a joke, or that the outcome complied fully with the premis of this series.
All I said was there would be no point taking up your bet because a chair will never come out of that company.
Sugar isn't a fool, and he's made the BBC allow him to put money toward the only guy that could potentially bring it back in a decent period of time (through getting the nail thing into more channels).
Helen won the most tasks but I'm sorry - give her 250k and it would be wasted. Anyone who wants to sell wholesale products to retailers doesn't have basic business knowledge. Sugar knows that - hence picking Tom. Her business plan was nothing short of embarrasing after months to think it up.
It's not necessarily fair - but for Sugar it was the only choice.
Originally Posted by Cherrybomber:
“They all wanted it badly. She ballsed it up when she
A. Entered a contest with inadequate experience and knowledge
B. Believed her own hype
C. Had a terrible business plan
D. Bitched at her colleagues and delighted in their difficulties during the process
E. Grovelled with an even worse business plan
So, ifs she's gutted she only has herself to blame.
But you should have noticed by now that one of the things missing is any ability to be self afacing.”
“They all wanted it badly. She ballsed it up when she
A. Entered a contest with inadequate experience and knowledge
B. Believed her own hype
C. Had a terrible business plan
D. Bitched at her colleagues and delighted in their difficulties during the process
E. Grovelled with an even worse business plan
So, ifs she's gutted she only has herself to blame.
But you should have noticed by now that one of the things missing is any ability to be self afacing.”
Was she such a bitch? I didn't think so. She did complain that Susan was annoying her, but it would have been a very nerve-racking day and it's not surprising if she was a bit irritable. I thought Jim was bitchier to be honest.
Originally Posted by aussie_dave_:
“Right so they spent 11 weeks in a competition. A certain girl won 10 out of the 11 tasks. Somehow that wasn't good enough and wasn't picked.
But OK lets ignore that completely and focus on the last task where they put forward their business ideas.
'Sorry Tom, dont like your plan ...... but about that nail file you made a couple of years ago ....'
The whole series was a complete joke. It took us 11 weeks and several failed business plans just for the country to realise Alan Sugar wanted a nail file that already existed BEFORE the series started.
The BBC and LS should hang their heads in shame at the shambles this turned out to be.”
“Right so they spent 11 weeks in a competition. A certain girl won 10 out of the 11 tasks. Somehow that wasn't good enough and wasn't picked.
But OK lets ignore that completely and focus on the last task where they put forward their business ideas.
'Sorry Tom, dont like your plan ...... but about that nail file you made a couple of years ago ....'
The whole series was a complete joke. It took us 11 weeks and several failed business plans just for the country to realise Alan Sugar wanted a nail file that already existed BEFORE the series started.
The BBC and LS should hang their heads in shame at the shambles this turned out to be.”
Yes, it should return to the same format as the other years where who was hired was decided on being employed by Sugar for 6 months.
Come on, the competition has never been remotely important. All you're complaining about is that it's slightly more overt now.
I'm getting annoyed at all the "Helen won 10 out of 11 tasks!" stuff.
Helen was on the winning TEAM for 10 out of the 11 tasks - none of the wins were solely down to her - even those she PM'd on. She was very lucky to move teams when she did on a couple of occasions thus ensuring she wasn't in the losing team that week.
Up until the rubbish task - Helen was one of the invisible women - and even after that except when she was PM stayed pretty much in the background, with not much airtime. Maybe she was a lot more involved in the scenes which ended up on the cutting room floor, but while we saw evidence of her being a great team player, and organiser (even if she desperately wanted to micromanage Tom in the fast food task), we didn't actually see much of her actions taking the team to the win. Most of those 10 wins were definitely down to the rest of the team as much as they were for her!
Her business idea was ridiculous - and as soon as she said what it was - she was never going to win - and the fact that she even thought it was a good idea shows that she wasn't really cut out to run her own business.
Helen was on the winning TEAM for 10 out of the 11 tasks - none of the wins were solely down to her - even those she PM'd on. She was very lucky to move teams when she did on a couple of occasions thus ensuring she wasn't in the losing team that week.
Up until the rubbish task - Helen was one of the invisible women - and even after that except when she was PM stayed pretty much in the background, with not much airtime. Maybe she was a lot more involved in the scenes which ended up on the cutting room floor, but while we saw evidence of her being a great team player, and organiser (even if she desperately wanted to micromanage Tom in the fast food task), we didn't actually see much of her actions taking the team to the win. Most of those 10 wins were definitely down to the rest of the team as much as they were for her!
Her business idea was ridiculous - and as soon as she said what it was - she was never going to win - and the fact that she even thought it was a good idea shows that she wasn't really cut out to run her own business.
Originally Posted by DavetheScot:
“Was she such a bitch? I didn't think so. She did complain that Susan was annoying her, but it would have been a very nerve-racking day and it's not surprising if she was a bit irritable. I thought Jim was bitchier to be honest.”
“Was she such a bitch? I didn't think so. She did complain that Susan was annoying her, but it would have been a very nerve-racking day and it's not surprising if she was a bit irritable. I thought Jim was bitchier to be honest.”
Being less nasty than jim does not make one pleasant.
I didn't call her a bitch, I said she was bitching about her colleagues. And she did, she was sarcastic about Tom and Susan and she also sniggered at them both.
I see something rather unappealing in her, the tone, the facial expression the body language. She's not as bad as jim, but she's still not someone I'd want in my team.
LS tried to soften the blow by saying her current employer should promote her. I could see Greggs giving her a more PR related role now that she's 'famous'
Originally Posted by Cherrybomber:
“Being less nasty than jim does not make one pleasant.
I didn't call her a bitch, I said she was bitching about her colleagues. And she did, she was sarcastic about Tom and Susan and she also sniggered at them both.
I see something rather unappealing in her, the tone, the facial expression the body language. She's not as bad as jim, but she's still not someone I'd want in my team.”
“Being less nasty than jim does not make one pleasant.
I didn't call her a bitch, I said she was bitching about her colleagues. And she did, she was sarcastic about Tom and Susan and she also sniggered at them both.
I see something rather unappealing in her, the tone, the facial expression the body language. She's not as bad as jim, but she's still not someone I'd want in my team.”
If we tried to form a team at our office out of people who didn't bitch about colleagues sometimes, it'd be a very small team indeed!
Originally Posted by CaroUK:
“I'm getting annoyed at all the "Helen won 10 out of 11 tasks!" stuff.
Helen was on the winning TEAM for 10 out of the 11 tasks - none of the wins were solely down to her - even those she PM'd on. She was very lucky to move teams when she did on a couple of occasions thus ensuring she wasn't in the losing team that week.
Up until the rubbish task - Helen was one of the invisible women - and even after that except when she was PM stayed pretty much in the background, with not much airtime. Maybe she was a lot more involved in the scenes which ended up on the cutting room floor, but while we saw evidence of her being a great team player, and organiser (even if she desperately wanted to micromanage Tom in the fast food task), we didn't actually see much of her actions taking the team to the win. Most of those 10 wins were definitely down to the rest of the team as much as they were for her!
Her business idea was ridiculous - and as soon as she said what it was - she was never going to win - and the fact that she even thought it was a good idea shows that she wasn't really cut out to run her own business.”
“I'm getting annoyed at all the "Helen won 10 out of 11 tasks!" stuff.
Helen was on the winning TEAM for 10 out of the 11 tasks - none of the wins were solely down to her - even those she PM'd on. She was very lucky to move teams when she did on a couple of occasions thus ensuring she wasn't in the losing team that week.
Up until the rubbish task - Helen was one of the invisible women - and even after that except when she was PM stayed pretty much in the background, with not much airtime. Maybe she was a lot more involved in the scenes which ended up on the cutting room floor, but while we saw evidence of her being a great team player, and organiser (even if she desperately wanted to micromanage Tom in the fast food task), we didn't actually see much of her actions taking the team to the win. Most of those 10 wins were definitely down to the rest of the team as much as they were for her!
Her business idea was ridiculous - and as soon as she said what it was - she was never going to win - and the fact that she even thought it was a good idea shows that she wasn't really cut out to run her own business.”
I would go even further and suggest she isn't particularly motivated to run her own business. Not only has she never tried to start any independent business venture, it's striking that she merely took a Sabbatical from her job to do the show and, I believe, has accepted promotion with her current employers as reported today. People need to accept that not only is the show run a certain way for Sugar/BBC's benefit but that contestant's have fairly mixed motives too. We've seen many who were plainly in it to break into the media rather than gain business experience and I would suggest Helen had about as much real hunger to set up her own business as I have for flying to the moon.
Originally Posted by DavetheScot:
“If we tried to form a team at our office out of people who didn't bitch about colleagues sometimes, it'd be a very small team indeed!”
“If we tried to form a team at our office out of people who didn't bitch about colleagues sometimes, it'd be a very small team indeed!”
That may well be the case, but it's not really relevant in terms of what I'm saying.
But I get it. You like her and think she must be gutted.
I don't care for her and think she is probably more "Pee'd off" in manner of spoiled princess than gutted.
Originally Posted by missfrankiecat:
“I would go even further and suggest she isn't particularly motivated to run her own business. Not only has she never tried to start any independent business venture, it's striking that she merely took a Sabbatical from her job to do the show and, I believe, has accepted promotion with her current employers as reported today. People need to accept that not only is the show run a certain way for Sugar/BBC's benefit but that contestant's have fairly mixed motives too. We've seen many who were plainly in it to break into the media rather than gain business experience and I would suggest Helen had about as much real hunger to set up her own business as I have for flying to the moon.”
“I would go even further and suggest she isn't particularly motivated to run her own business. Not only has she never tried to start any independent business venture, it's striking that she merely took a Sabbatical from her job to do the show and, I believe, has accepted promotion with her current employers as reported today. People need to accept that not only is the show run a certain way for Sugar/BBC's benefit but that contestant's have fairly mixed motives too. We've seen many who were plainly in it to break into the media rather than gain business experience and I would suggest Helen had about as much real hunger to set up her own business as I have for flying to the moon.”
Agree with this.
Originally Posted by Dix:
“But if you were LS for instance, you'd look at all the options, so that you wouldn't miss anything which might turn out to be a goldmine. Helen's bakery business could easily be a success given the chance.
”
“But if you were LS for instance, you'd look at all the options, so that you wouldn't miss anything which might turn out to be a goldmine. Helen's bakery business could easily be a success given the chance.
”
Your joking right? 250k would not have even touched the sides to open up a single bakers outlet. Gregg's was founded in 1939 and basically took 72 years to get to where it is now. do you think LS want to wait around that long to get a good return on his investment????
Also this was just a last ditch attempt to give a new business plan. this was not backed up with actually any strategy, research and numbers.
Originally Posted by flossieblossom:
“I liked Helen all along. She was head and shoulders above the others in most tasks.
In the final, however, I was really disappointed in her. It wasn't just the dire business plan. I thought she came over as a real bitch. Could have been the editting, I admit, but between interviews she just seemed to be slagging off whoever wasn't there. I guess, in the end, she was just as insecure as the others.
Suprisingly, I thought Susan had it in the bag in the final. She came over very well and actually had business ideas.
Loved Tom though. Well done!”
“I liked Helen all along. She was head and shoulders above the others in most tasks.
In the final, however, I was really disappointed in her. It wasn't just the dire business plan. I thought she came over as a real bitch. Could have been the editting, I admit, but between interviews she just seemed to be slagging off whoever wasn't there. I guess, in the end, she was just as insecure as the others.
Suprisingly, I thought Susan had it in the bag in the final. She came over very well and actually had business ideas.
Loved Tom though. Well done!”
Totally agree with you, I still think Sugar had a 'bad lot'.
Originally Posted by CaroUK:
“Helen's idea seemed to be offering a glorified PA service for people who don't have a PA -”
“Helen's idea seemed to be offering a glorified PA service for people who don't have a PA -”
That is very shrewd, and exposes the irony of Helen wanting to leave her executive PA job to go into business -- a business which might as well be called Helen's PA Service. Instead of a salary she would be paid by invoice.
Such a service would be labour-intensive, and so to make big money will need to be upmarket with a client list long on cash but short on time. Under Recession even those who can afford it will be thinking twice.
Originally Posted by Cherrybomber:
“That may well be the case, but it's not really relevant in terms of what I'm saying.”
“That may well be the case, but it's not really relevant in terms of what I'm saying.”
Isn't it? You were arguing that Helen bitches about her colleagues behind their back, and I indicated that almost everyone does this to some extent.
Originally Posted by Cherrybomber:
“But I get it. You like her and think she must be gutted.
I don't care for her and think she is probably more "Pee'd off" in manner of spoiled princess than gutted.”
“But I get it. You like her and think she must be gutted.
I don't care for her and think she is probably more "Pee'd off" in manner of spoiled princess than gutted.”
As it happens, Helen wasn't a particular favourite of mine, though I didn't dislike her.
I just felt she exuded desperation in a way that the other three didn't, and that made me feel for her.
Originally Posted by DavetheScot:
“Isn't it? You were arguing that Helen bitches about her colleagues behind their back, and I indicated that almost everyone does this to some extent.
”
“Isn't it? You were arguing that Helen bitches about her colleagues behind their back, and I indicated that almost everyone does this to some extent.
”
No I wasn't.
You made that up from what I wrote. I wasn't even arguing and I never said behind backs or that she does it routinely. I also included it with a number of other actions that I think caused her to "balls up".
Originally Posted by DavetheScot:
“ As it happens, Helen wasn't a particular favourite of mine, though I didn't dislike her.
I just felt she exuded desperation in a way that the other three didn't, and that made me feel for her.”
“ As it happens, Helen wasn't a particular favourite of mine, though I didn't dislike her.
I just felt she exuded desperation in a way that the other three didn't, and that made me feel for her.”
I didn't say she was a particular fav of yours though Dave.
We'd be having less discussion if you wouldn't keep reading stuff into what I say that isnt there.
I'm saying what I think about her and you keep telling me that I mean something else, and the other thing, that you think I mean (but I dont) is wrong.
You can see why this is confsuing cant you?
Originally Posted by missfrankiecat:
“I would go even further and suggest she isn't particularly motivated to run her own business. Not only has she never tried to start any independent business venture, it's striking that she merely took a Sabbatical from her job to do the show and, I believe, has accepted promotion with her current employers as reported today. People need to accept that not only is the show run a certain way for Sugar/BBC's benefit but that contestant's have fairly mixed motives too. We've seen many who were plainly in it to break into the media rather than gain business experience and I would suggest Helen had about as much real hunger to set up her own business as I have for flying to the moon.”
“I would go even further and suggest she isn't particularly motivated to run her own business. Not only has she never tried to start any independent business venture, it's striking that she merely took a Sabbatical from her job to do the show and, I believe, has accepted promotion with her current employers as reported today. People need to accept that not only is the show run a certain way for Sugar/BBC's benefit but that contestant's have fairly mixed motives too. We've seen many who were plainly in it to break into the media rather than gain business experience and I would suggest Helen had about as much real hunger to set up her own business as I have for flying to the moon.”
I have to agree with that. I thought her heart wasn't in her first proposal, which was confirmed when she switched to her second proposal because both times she claimed she was so passionate about the business proposal. How can one be that passionate about one idea if you could be that passionate about the other idea?
I assumed she was so set on winning the prize, a chance to work with Sugar, that she still wanted to have a business of her own if she didn't win Sugar's backing. Her job announcement blew all that away. It simply confirms that she's a corporate employee at heart. It makes me wonder why she entered the competition in the first place. Media? Probably, but she wouldn't accept the new position if that were the case. She would use up all her holiday leave if she intends to juggle her new (and demanding) job and making most of media opportunities.
She probably applied for a laugh and when she was accepted as an apprentice, she decided to do it for experience's sake. It's an once in a lifetime opportunity, isn't it?
Originally Posted by Cherrybomber:
“I didn't say she was a particular fav of yours though Dave.
We'd be having less discussion if you wouldn't keep reading stuff into what I say that isnt there.
I'm saying what I think about her and you keep telling me that I mean something else, and the other thing, that you think I mean (but I dont) is wrong.
You can see why this is confsuing cant you?”
“I didn't say she was a particular fav of yours though Dave.
We'd be having less discussion if you wouldn't keep reading stuff into what I say that isnt there.
I'm saying what I think about her and you keep telling me that I mean something else, and the other thing, that you think I mean (but I dont) is wrong.
You can see why this is confsuing cant you?
”
It's certainly confusing, because your posts seem clear enough to me, then when I reply to what they're (imo) saying you say that's not what you're saying!
We have two options; we can go on arguing who said what and what they really meant until we both get irritated and everyone else gets bored, or we can accept that incomprehension has got the better of us and desist now. I've tried the first option before and it's overrated, so let's go for the second
Originally Posted by DavetheScot:
“It's certainly confusing, because your posts seem clear enough to me, then when I reply to what they're (imo) saying you say that's not what you're saying!
We have two options; we can go on arguing who said what and what they really meant until we both get irritated and everyone else gets bored, or we can accept that incomprehension has got the better of us and desist now. I've tried the first option before and it's overrated, so let's go for the second”
“It's certainly confusing, because your posts seem clear enough to me, then when I reply to what they're (imo) saying you say that's not what you're saying!
We have two options; we can go on arguing who said what and what they really meant until we both get irritated and everyone else gets bored, or we can accept that incomprehension has got the better of us and desist now. I've tried the first option before and it's overrated, so let's go for the second
”
I'm not arguing. I'm simply saying that you have read something into my posts that I'm not saying.
Anway, its nothing that we cant agree to differ on
I don't come on here to have verbal jousting sessions. I just like saying what I think about TA, because my husband refuses to watch it
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