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What if all the final 5 business plans are terrible? |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lytham St Annes
Posts: 2,366
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What if all the final 5 business plans are terrible?
The problem since the show changed from Lord Sugar finding an apprentice to a business partner is the possibility that the candidates might be good but their business plans could be flawed or simply businesses that Lord Sugar wouldn't be interested in being a partner in. I have wondered what would happen if there simply wasn't a good business plan offered by any of the final candidates? Does he HAVE to choose one?
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#2 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,587
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Quote:
The problem since the show changed from Lord Sugar finding an apprentice to a business partner is the possibility that the candidates might be good but their business plans could be flawed or simply businesses that Lord Sugar wouldn't be interested in being a partner in. I have wondered what would happen if there simply wasn't a good business plan offered by any of the final candidates? Does he HAVE to choose one?
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#3 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 13,456
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See Tom Pellereau. Invest in the person: something they've already done or another idea they have.
I'd expect there to be at least a couple of good ones though just to avoid that scenario happening again, though I also expect there to be at least one dud *cough* Jordan *cough* for the entertainment factor. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,385
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This is why I really hate the new prize format. I firmly believe that the winner is chosen well in advance of filming based on the business plan, with a few solid backups just in case the desired winner completely bombs on the tasks. The rest are all just filler there to either amuse, shock, or generally just make tits of themselves until the coronation.
I'm sure the same basic concept was applied back in the day with the job prize, but at the very least I think candidates had the chance to actually change the script with solid performances back then. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: South Wales
Posts: 5,866
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Although LAS knows the plans, he probably doesn't know whose plan it is, this would A: stop him showing favoritism and B: he's had to actually ask the candidates what their plan is.
So it looks like the producers maybe narrow down the applicants to say 50 or so plans that LAS may like, he then chooses the 16 he actually likes, but he's not told whose plan it is. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 147
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How are you so sure he knows the plans. If he does how would he allow Jason's even if he doesnt know whose it is. I dont think the plans are really that important. A 'good' person can make money out of anything. I suppose Luisa's plan is to open a shop in Oxford Street. We dont hear anything about her 'Louisa lingerie' shop or has that closed down. Does anyone know her maiden name? I suppose something similar with Francesca.
Leah's business plan is really the great mystery. Most likely something online. LS doesnt really like online businesses and they dont usually work without a good 'ground' presence. Neil as I continually point out has almost been told by LS that he wont win but still everyone thinks he will. I dont think he has ever been in business on his own like the girls and always worked for others. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 752
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Didn't they show the candidates writing up their business plans in full at the start of last year's final? Plus I remember there being a lot of speculation last year that the show was probably rigged for Jade to win since she kept avoiding being fired, yet when she prevented her actual business plan LAS was underwhelmed to say the least.
I'm guessing that what the candidates give Sugar is a brief summary (something like a side of A4 or so) on what their business plan would entail, just enough to outline what the business would do and show that the candidate isn't completely talking out of their backside. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,443
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Quote:
How are you so sure he knows the plans. If he does how would he allow Jason's even if he doesnt know whose it is. I dont think the plans are really that important. A 'good' person can make money out of anything. I suppose Luisa's plan is to open a shop in Oxford Street. We dont hear anything about her 'Louisa lingerie' shop or has that closed down. Does anyone know her maiden name? I suppose something similar with Francesca.
Leah's business plan is really the great mystery. Most likely something online. LS doesnt really like online businesses and they dont usually work without a good 'ground' presence. Neil as I continually point out has almost been told by LS that he wont win but still everyone thinks he will. I dont think he has ever been in business on his own like the girls and always worked for others. eBay. Google. Facebook. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 55
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Quote:
See Tom Pellereau. Invest in the person: something they've already done or another idea they have.
I'd expect there to be at least a couple of good ones though just to avoid that scenario happening again, though I also expect there to be at least one dud *cough* Jordan *cough* for the entertainment factor. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: South Wales
Posts: 5,866
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He must know something about the plans, I can't see him investing in something that he has absolutely no interest in or is totally adverse to the idea.
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
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Amazon.
eBay. Google. Facebook. Google is mainly a search engine, Facebook a 'social' site. eBay an auction house. The only one is really Amazon. They started with books, the idea being you looked in the bookshop for what you wanted and then bought it cheaper from them. This has resulted in closing down all (or nearly all) the bookshops. So they used other bookshops as their offline presence. There are not many products like books where one can do this. In the US an online food distributor went bust because they had no shop. A shop also gives 'legality' to a net site. I am sure without her shop Louisa would not be able to be in business. Anyone know what happened to Louisa Lingerie. Does it still exist or has she given up and why. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
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Although LAS knows the plans, he probably doesn't know whose plan it is, this would A: stop him showing favoritism and B: he's had to actually ask the candidates what their plan is.
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He must know something about the plans, I can't see him investing in something that he has absolutely no interest in or is totally adverse to the idea.
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Does anyone know her maiden name?
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#13 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 33
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This is why I really hate the new prize format. I firmly believe that the winner is chosen well in advance of filming based on the business plan, with a few solid backups just in case the desired winner completely bombs on the tasks. The rest are all just filler there to either amuse, shock, or generally just make tits of themselves until the coronation.
Frankly none of the business plans plan discussed in the boardroom over the last two episodes has raised any enthusiasm. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
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I'm also very suspicious. There was no discussion of business plans in the boardroom when the first candidates were fired from this series. In recent weeks LS can't seem to make his mind up whether he is firing people based on performance on the tasks, or his initial probing about their business plans.
Frankly none of the business plans plan discussed in the boardroom over the last two episodes has raised any enthusiasm. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: South Wales
Posts: 5,866
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Yes but doesn't he normally say "what's your plan" he did last week to both Jordan & Neil, showing he doesn't know what their plan is, sometimes he can guess as with Myles's plan.
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#16 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
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Yes but doesn't he normally say "what's your plan" he did last week to both Jordan & Neil, showing he doesn't know what their plan is, sometimes he can guess as with Myles's plan.
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#17 |
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 193
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I think it would be really funny if Lord Sugar rejected all the business plans. It would be great TV!
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#18 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
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I think it would be really funny if Lord Sugar rejected all the business plans. It would be great TV!
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#19 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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These are not really businesses and dont have to have an 'offline' presence.
Google is mainly a search engine, Facebook a 'social' site. eBay an auction house. The only one is really Amazon. They started with books, the idea being you looked in the bookshop for what you wanted and then bought it cheaper from them. This has resulted in closing down all (or nearly all) the bookshops. So they used other bookshops as their offline presence. There are not many products like books where one can do this. In the US an online food distributor went bust because they had no shop. A shop also gives 'legality' to a net site. I am sure without her shop Louisa would not be able to be in business. Anyone know what happened to Louisa Lingerie. Does it still exist or has she given up and why. Amazon started off solely online, and still are almost 100% online, they've been experimenting with bricks and mortar warehouse shops in the States but that's as far as any offline presence has got - they're famous for using the fact that they have no physical presence anywhere to avoid sales tax in the States. Words fails me in your dismissal of the other online only businesses.....what can I say....Google is 'just' a search engine, eBay ....Facebook... I think you need to go look up what the definition of a business is. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 147
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Errr, they're not businesses? Really? You don't think they exist to make money, and provide services in exchange for money?
Amazon started off solely online, and still are almost 100% online, they've been experimenting with bricks and mortar warehouse shops in the States but that's as far as any offline presence has got - they're famous for using the fact that they have no physical presence anywhere to avoid sales tax in the States. Words fails me in your dismissal of the other online only businesses.....what can I say....Google is 'just' a search engine, eBay ....Facebook... I think you need to go look up what the definition of a business is. I was referring to a product which is not really based on the net. One that has traditionally been sold in shops or offices. Without being also offline and just being online they rarely survive. Banks still have retail premises at great cost. One can buy anything from a channel Islands company without paying VAT up to a certain amount online like at shops on Amazon but for some reason not everyone is doing it and not everything can be bought from there. Business doesnt always work with logic and usually doesnt. That is why experience counts more than anything, more than the best business plan. |
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 34,226
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Quote:
The problem since the show changed from Lord Sugar finding an apprentice to a business partner is the possibility that the candidates might be good but their business plans could be flawed or simply businesses that Lord Sugar wouldn't be interested in being a partner in. I have wondered what would happen if there simply wasn't a good business plan offered by any of the final candidates? Does he HAVE to choose one?
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#22 |
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,587
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Whats the wording for the prize? Is it will invest 250k or up to 250k, as needed, by agreement. . If its up to, he can pick the best and give them a starting 10p. Young Apprentice I think was the second - offering up to 25k?? There was some negative talk on twitter from the losing cnadidates because one winner only needed a laptop, if I read it right.
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#23 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Nottingham, UK
Posts: 11,878
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Yes but doesn't he normally say "what's your plan" he did last week to both Jordan & Neil, showing he doesn't know what their plan is,
I don't know what the deal is with Jordan's plan. Either he was unclear about his partner, or else the production thought he'd adjust the plan to get the money, or else they were short of good candidates and thought he'd probably be fired long before the interviews so his plan wouldn't matter, or else they thought dissecting why his plan wasn't acceptable would make good TV, or some other possibility I can't think off right now. |
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#24 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 34,226
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That was Zara, and that is totally wrong. What she said was that at that time, she was only using a camera and a laptop, and while she was doing okay with it, she wanted to expand her business, initially by buying more sophisticated software to make films. The fund is drip-fed, not given in one lump sum, so I imagine that she, and the other winners, get more money when they require it as their business flourishes.
Not sure if the same up to an amount, as needed, principle applies to the apprentice as well. There's a mystery too about the 250k. Does he go for something that will give him a decent return annually on 250k - which might be 10% - or one that could give him a 1000% return with a bit more risk , and, if its got a good return, is he going to pick something where he needs to invest a lot more than 250k? What too if they only need 100k and can give him the same 10% return. Whats he after? |
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#25 |
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: The United Kingdom
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These are not really businesses and dont have to have an 'offline' presence.
LOL. LOL. Where's a laughing smiley when you need one?
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