I really cannot see any other winner
Zara should win this easily
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I agree with the OP.
Anybody who can ignore their boss, make up her own prices for stuff and then manage to get away without being fired when her team loses is clearly being viewed sympathetically.
Can you imagine how Alan Sugar might feel if he tasked a sales-rep with flogging a million half-assed computers to Curries for £30 each and the sales-rep decided to charge £40 each instead and, as a result the contract was cancelled and he was left £30 million out of pocket and with a million shite computers filling up a warehouse?
Would that sales-rep have been likely to have much of a future at Amstrad?
Anybody who can ignore their boss, make up her own prices for stuff and then manage to get away without being fired when her team loses is clearly being viewed sympathetically.
Can you imagine how Alan Sugar might feel if he tasked a sales-rep with flogging a million half-assed computers to Curries for £30 each and the sales-rep decided to charge £40 each instead and, as a result the contract was cancelled and he was left £30 million out of pocket and with a million shite computers filling up a warehouse?
Would that sales-rep have been likely to have much of a future at Amstrad?
She's clearly very accomplished and eloquent, particularly at pitching, but ignoring the figure given to her by her PM, and losing the hotel bid on that basis, was unforgivable. It'll be interesting to see whether she carries on in a similar vein because it could be her undoing.
Originally Posted by Si_Crewe:
“I agree with the OP.
Anybody who can ignore their boss, make up her own prices for stuff and then manage to get away without being fired when her team loses is clearly being viewed sympathetically.
Can you imagine how Alan Sugar might feel if he tasked a sales-rep with flogging a million half-assed computers to Curries for £30 each and the sales-rep decided to charge £40 each instead and, as a result the contract was cancelled and he was left £30 million out of pocket and with a million shite computers filling up a warehouse?
Would that sales-rep have been likely to have much of a future at Amstrad?”
“I agree with the OP.
Anybody who can ignore their boss, make up her own prices for stuff and then manage to get away without being fired when her team loses is clearly being viewed sympathetically.
Can you imagine how Alan Sugar might feel if he tasked a sales-rep with flogging a million half-assed computers to Curries for £30 each and the sales-rep decided to charge £40 each instead and, as a result the contract was cancelled and he was left £30 million out of pocket and with a million shite computers filling up a warehouse?
Would that sales-rep have been likely to have much of a future at Amstrad?”
I thought the other team won the hotel bid at £150 and so Zara would have lost at £165 anyway?
I'm not too clear on the maths but she could probably argue that the extra profit she got on the two she did get outweighed the loss of profit on the hotel - don't forget that the £165 had overheads. Hannah sadly made the classic mistake of starting with a low price - she should have tested the water with Harry M's price and then cut it if no-one was buying.
Lord Sid had said at the top of the program he wanted risk takers after all - would be a bit rich to then sack someone for taking risks...
I wouldn't mind betting that the hotel wished they had gone with Zara's offer when they saw what they got for going with the lower bid.
As she pointed out in the boardroom - she used the same tactic on another pitch which she won - and she was right to say that the PM's figure gave her no room to negotiate with. Neither Zara nor Harry deserved to be brought back with Hannah - she was trying to get a good candidate fired - and it backfired on her! Harry and Zara brought in most of the sales for their team whilst the dreadful twosome of Lewis and Gbemi did very little in comparison... Gbemi in particular, and her attempt to claim a part of Harry's stellar sale of the ghastly triffid needed to go before anyone else!
As she pointed out in the boardroom - she used the same tactic on another pitch which she won - and she was right to say that the PM's figure gave her no room to negotiate with. Neither Zara nor Harry deserved to be brought back with Hannah - she was trying to get a good candidate fired - and it backfired on her! Harry and Zara brought in most of the sales for their team whilst the dreadful twosome of Lewis and Gbemi did very little in comparison... Gbemi in particular, and her attempt to claim a part of Harry's stellar sale of the ghastly triffid needed to go before anyone else!
Originally Posted by Shrike:
“I thought the other team won the hotel bid at £150 and so Zara would have lost at £165 anyway?
I'm not too clear on the maths but she could probably argue that the extra profit she got on the two she did get outweighed the loss of profit on the hotel - don't forget that the £165 had overheads. Hannah sadly made the classic mistake of starting with a low price - she should have tested the water with Harry M's price and then cut it if no-one was buying.
Lord Sid had said at the top of the program he wanted risk takers after all - would be a bit rich to then sack someone for taking risks...”
“I thought the other team won the hotel bid at £150 and so Zara would have lost at £165 anyway?
I'm not too clear on the maths but she could probably argue that the extra profit she got on the two she did get outweighed the loss of profit on the hotel - don't forget that the £165 had overheads. Hannah sadly made the classic mistake of starting with a low price - she should have tested the water with Harry M's price and then cut it if no-one was buying.
Lord Sid had said at the top of the program he wanted risk takers after all - would be a bit rich to then sack someone for taking risks...”
The other team won the hotel bid at £175 - but reduced it to £150 when the hotel were disappointed with what they got. James offered the reduction on the spot!
Originally Posted by CaroUK:
“The other team won the hotel bid at £175 - but reduced it to £150 when the hotel were disappointed with what they got. James offered the reduction on the spot!”
“The other team won the hotel bid at £175 - but reduced it to £150 when the hotel were disappointed with what they got. James offered the reduction on the spot!”
Thanks for that - I knew £150 featured somewhere
Originally Posted by spannerandpony:
“She's clearly very accomplished and eloquent, particularly at pitching, but ignoring the figure given to her by her PM, and losing the hotel bid on that basis, was unforgivable. It'll be interesting to see whether she carries on in a similar vein because it could be her undoing.”
“She's clearly very accomplished and eloquent, particularly at pitching, but ignoring the figure given to her by her PM, and losing the hotel bid on that basis, was unforgivable. It'll be interesting to see whether she carries on in a similar vein because it could be her undoing.”
People are making far too big a deal of the hotel pitch. Her strategy worked on the other two and without her they probably would have lost by a greater margin. Yes she went against the PM, but in business you have to take risks. It's hardly 'unforgiveable'.
As for Hannah she made the mistake of thinking she was on the X Factor I.e a popularity contest rather than a contest about actual ability. If the candidates continue this vilification of Harry M I can see more of them being fired. All of them thought he'd go, which means none of them realise the contribution he's making at the moment. They may not like him, but they need to start listening to him.
Originally Posted by Shrike:
“I'm not too clear on the maths but she could probably argue that the extra profit she got on the two she did get outweighed the loss of profit on the hotel - don't forget that the £165 had overheads. ”
“I'm not too clear on the maths but she could probably argue that the extra profit she got on the two she did get outweighed the loss of profit on the hotel - don't forget that the £165 had overheads. ”
It looked like the hotel was the biggest client out of the three.
Originally Posted by Shrike:
“Hannah sadly made the classic mistake of starting with a low price - she should have tested the water with Harry M's price and then cut it if no-one was buying.”
“Hannah sadly made the classic mistake of starting with a low price - she should have tested the water with Harry M's price and then cut it if no-one was buying.”
People seem to have misunderstood this task (as Zara did), the price was a one time offer. There was no negotiating involved, they would each pitch a price and the client would decide based on that (and the presentation, I think the boys mainly failed on that part and not on the pricing).
The task was a bit of a funny one as they never bought stock as such, they only paid for whatthey sold. Therefore although the team that won the hotel bid did it poorly they put few cheap flowers in and still got £150. In the real world they wouldn;t have been paid at all and it would have cost them.
Originally Posted by seellee:
“People are making far too big a deal of the hotel pitch. Her strategy worked on the other two and without her they probably would have lost by a greater margin. Yes she went against the PM, but in business you have to take risks. It's hardly 'unforgiveable'.
As for Hannah she made the mistake of thinking she was on the X Factor I.e a popularity contest rather than a contest about actual ability. If the candidates continue this vilification of Harry M I can see more of them being fired. All of them thought he'd go, which means none of them realise the contribution he's making at the moment. They may not like him, but they need to start listening to him.”
“People are making far too big a deal of the hotel pitch. Her strategy worked on the other two and without her they probably would have lost by a greater margin. Yes she went against the PM, but in business you have to take risks. It's hardly 'unforgiveable'.
As for Hannah she made the mistake of thinking she was on the X Factor I.e a popularity contest rather than a contest about actual ability. If the candidates continue this vilification of Harry M I can see more of them being fired. All of them thought he'd go, which means none of them realise the contribution he's making at the moment. They may not like him, but they need to start listening to him.”
If my boss gave me a price and I ignored that figure, losing the business as a result, I'd most likely be either fired or given a severe dressing down. If they had won that contract - which they would have done at £165 - they would have won the task. It wasn't her risk to take, and as such was a serious mistake which in the real world would not have gone unpunished.
I agree with regards to Hannah.
Harry M is her only contender. Harry H is kind of good as well (not bad for his age), but surely Harry M and Zara are better. Hayley seems to be ok.
Lewis, Gbemi and James have no chance at all.
Not sure about Haya. No charm.
Ranking:
1 - Harry M. / Zara
2 - Hayley
3 - Harry H.
4 - Haya (ok-ish, unsure whether she's talented or not. She seems a bit moody)
Definitely not The Apprentice material:
5. James
6. Gbemi
7. Lewis
Lewis, Gbemi and James have no chance at all.
Not sure about Haya. No charm.
Ranking:
1 - Harry M. / Zara
2 - Hayley
3 - Harry H.
4 - Haya (ok-ish, unsure whether she's talented or not. She seems a bit moody)
Definitely not The Apprentice material:
5. James
6. Gbemi
7. Lewis
The problem with these narrow margin wins is its very easy to point at one element of the task and say 'if that had made a bit more, they would have won' - whilst if they had lost by, say £162 the hotel would have been a mere detail.
Realisitically, it was the selling to the public price being set too low that lost them the task. Zara was wrong, but not as wrong as Hannah was. Even then, I suspect Lord S would have forgiven Hannah if she'd brought Lewis in to the final.
Realisitically, it was the selling to the public price being set too low that lost them the task. Zara was wrong, but not as wrong as Hannah was. Even then, I suspect Lord S would have forgiven Hannah if she'd brought Lewis in to the final.
Zara is mature beyond her years.
She's switched on, she's articulate, she's polite, she's got style.
I'm so impressed with her.
So yes, Zara to win!
She's switched on, she's articulate, she's polite, she's got style.
I'm so impressed with her.
So yes, Zara to win!
Zara didn't fully understand what they was doing.. she believed that negotiations would take place had the people they pitched too liked what "display" she was offering them. Once she was told by the PM, she swiftly changed her strategy, so I'd let her off on that one. Remember she was key to winning 2 out of the 3 pitches, so it's not like she did a bad job. She was clearly showing enthusiasm regarding what the customer wanted, which eventually won over the hairdressers. She is very mature, not sure about her winning quite yet, she could get too big for her own shoes later in the series.
Originally Posted by AA2009:
“She'd win a "who's the hottest?" contest, not sure about the show...”
“She'd win a "who's the hottest?" contest, not sure about the show...”
She is defo not fit.
Hannah the one just gone is the only one who was half decent.
Originally Posted by ausfun:
“She is defo not fit.
Hannah the one just gone is the only one who was half decent.”
“She is defo not fit.
Hannah the one just gone is the only one who was half decent.”
As a female (old enough to be their mum!) I think Zara is the prettiest of the girls. She has a lovely face and fabulous figure as well as being intelligent and eloquent. She has a good business head on her too! Just look at the way she has handled herself all the way through - stunning poise and elegance in one so young!
Hannah had badly dyed hair and dodgy eyebrows, and did herself no favours in the way she slouched in the boardroom. She also had misplaced loyalty to her feeble mates. Had she had the guts to bring them back into the boardroom with her - she would still have been there. She tried to get rid of one of the two strongest contenders - and without any really good reason for bringing them back - she left herself wide open for firing as the only person out of the three of them in that final 3 who made the decisions which REALLY lost the task was herself!
Originally Posted by capekdeh:
“Harry M is her only contender. Harry H is kind of good as well (not bad for his age), but surely Harry M and Zara are better. Hayley seems to be ok.
Lewis, Gbemi and James have no chance at all.
Not sure about Haya. No charm.
Ranking:
1 - Harry M. / Zara
2 - Hayley
3 - Harry H.
4 - Haya (ok-ish, unsure whether she's talented or not. She seems a bit moody)
Definitely not The Apprentice material:
5. James
6. Gbemi
7. Lewis”
“Harry M is her only contender. Harry H is kind of good as well (not bad for his age), but surely Harry M and Zara are better. Hayley seems to be ok.
Lewis, Gbemi and James have no chance at all.
Not sure about Haya. No charm.
Ranking:
1 - Harry M. / Zara
2 - Hayley
3 - Harry H.
4 - Haya (ok-ish, unsure whether she's talented or not. She seems a bit moody)
Definitely not The Apprentice material:
5. James
6. Gbemi
7. Lewis”
You forgot someone
I agree with KillerJoe, she didn't ignore her project manager she misinterpreted the figure she'd been given. She thought it was the lowest value they should go to in a negotiation. As it happened one of the other clients did try to negotiate (not sure with which team mind).
I was quite impressed with Hannah despite the pricing mistake and slouching... I'm pretty sure she would have survived had she brought back Lewis. Zara looks like she'll go to the end. I think her competition will come from the other girls (not Gbemi though).
I was quite impressed with Hannah despite the pricing mistake and slouching... I'm pretty sure she would have survived had she brought back Lewis. Zara looks like she'll go to the end. I think her competition will come from the other girls (not Gbemi though).
Originally Posted by JauntyMonty:
“Lizzie”
“Lizzie”
Oh yes, of course. Lizzie is a bit like Helen Milligan from the previous Apprentice. I never noticed Helen until about episode 4 / 5 when she was Team Manager.
Originally Posted by CaroUK:
“As a female (old enough to be their mum!) I think Zara is the prettiest of the girls. She has a lovely face and fabulous figure as well as being intelligent and eloquent. She has a good business head on her too! Just look at the way she has handled herself all the way through - stunning poise and elegance in one so young!
Hannah had badly dyed hair and dodgy eyebrows, and did herself no favours in the way she slouched in the boardroom. She also had misplaced loyalty to her feeble mates. Had she had the guts to bring them back into the boardroom with her - she would still have been there. She tried to get rid of one of the two strongest contenders - and without any really good reason for bringing them back - she left herself wide open for firing as the only person out of the three of them in that final 3 who made the decisions which REALLY lost the task was herself!”
“As a female (old enough to be their mum!) I think Zara is the prettiest of the girls. She has a lovely face and fabulous figure as well as being intelligent and eloquent. She has a good business head on her too! Just look at the way she has handled herself all the way through - stunning poise and elegance in one so young!
Hannah had badly dyed hair and dodgy eyebrows, and did herself no favours in the way she slouched in the boardroom. She also had misplaced loyalty to her feeble mates. Had she had the guts to bring them back into the boardroom with her - she would still have been there. She tried to get rid of one of the two strongest contenders - and without any really good reason for bringing them back - she left herself wide open for firing as the only person out of the three of them in that final 3 who made the decisions which REALLY lost the task was herself!”
I agree. Zara's confidence is a huge asset and really alters the way she carries herself. I liked her dress in the boardroom; very unusual and pretty neckline.
I think Hayley could also be one to watch; not as confident as Zara but quietly assertive and I was glad Nick stood up for her in the boardroom. I will be watching her with interest.
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