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Remember Bianca Miller who wanted to open a store selling Hoisery for Black Women ...


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Old 26-08-2016, 11:07
radiofan4
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Well she is having the last laugh all the way to the bank. All the naysayers said it would never work, well several big UK Department stores are now stocking her tights including Top Shop

SHE DID IT!
https://www.biancamillerlondon.com/b...h-august-2016/
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Old 26-08-2016, 12:09
nosilauk
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I always thought this was such a good idea - nice touch on her site that she uses foundation colours to match with her hosiery colours.
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Old 26-08-2016, 22:07
Dan R
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Congrats to her.
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Old 27-08-2016, 07:15
JohnStannard
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Congrats to her.
seconded
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Old 26-09-2016, 07:21
kirbyreed
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this was clearly a far better idea than mark's and i cannot understand why she didn't win. i guess lord sugar just didn't understand just how needed they were and bianca had far too many options that were far too expensive to start with. i think if she'd started with maybe three tones with a view to build up more then she would have definitely won.
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Old 26-09-2016, 20:53
Maxatoria
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this was clearly a far better idea than mark's and i cannot understand why she didn't win. i guess lord sugar just didn't understand just how needed they were and bianca had far too many options that were far too expensive to start with. i think if she'd started with maybe three tones with a view to build up more then she would have definitely won.
She wanted to start with loads of colours and when you multiple it by the number of sizing options it soon becomes a logistical nightmare for someone just setting up as you'll need minimum order levels per size and tone meaning even 3-4 tones would need 20-30 different unique items and then there was the price £25 a pair was what she was originally looking for...the mrs almost spat out her drink when she said that as you can get proper stockings for less than that made on traditional machines....no idea but i'll respect the gaffer for knowing the pricing.

Good luck to her all the same
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Old 26-09-2016, 21:21
keeping_it_real
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Nice, good for her.

I see the multiple sizing options are now just S/M and M/L.
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Old 27-09-2016, 09:47
chrono88
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Yass Bianca. BTW how is Mike doing?
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Old 04-10-2016, 02:10
SIOPHIE_FIERCE
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Wanted her to win and liked her idea but she shot herself in the foot by refusing to adapt and consider the opinions of the industry experts and LS. Glad she's doing well though
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Old 07-10-2016, 17:50
Alrightmate
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Well what can you say other than well done? You have to hand it to her.

The problem with Alan Sugar is that can anyone truly imagine him pursuing some of these business ideas?
In Bianca's case I'm not saying it's a bad idea, far from it. I'm just saying can you see Alan Sugar doing this sort of thing?

Already in the first episode we have a two contestants who have food related business plans. One of them is the sausage guy.
Does anyone truly believe that Alan Sugar is going to invest in anything involving food products?
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Old 07-10-2016, 18:42
AntoniaA
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He might. He backed someone in a service industry last year and said he'd never done it before.

It's all about how the candidate makes a presentation and the costs involved.
Bianca's idea appeared to be extremely costly but since the Apprentice, she has obviously worked at her idea and it has now taken off. Good for her!!!

You don't have to win the Apprentice to succeed in business, a lot of runner ups do very well. They learn a lot whilst competing too, which helps them.
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Old 08-10-2016, 10:06
Steve9214
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Well what can you say other than well done? You have to hand it to her.

The problem with Alan Sugar is that can anyone truly imagine him pursuing some of these business ideas?
In Bianca's case I'm not saying it's a bad idea, far from it. I'm just saying can you see Alan Sugar doing this sort of thing?

Already in the first episode we have a two contestants who have food related business plans. One of them is the sausage guy.
Does anyone truly believe that Alan Sugar is going to invest in anything involving food products?
I was once told there are only 4 secure jobs - Midwives , Food workers, Sewage workers and Undertakers, as the only 4 things a human will be guaranteed to do in their lifetime, is be born, eat, excrete and die.
Everything else is optional.

Last year he invested in a plumbing business, so maybe he is thinking setting up more recession-proof types of businesses these days.

Assume this series was filmed before the Brexit vote
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Old 08-10-2016, 10:26
walterwhite
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I'll wait to see her first set of accounts before congratulating her but seems she is doing ok.
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Old 08-10-2016, 14:13
Alrightmate
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I was once told there are only 4 secure jobs - Midwives , Food workers, Sewage workers and Undertakers, as the only 4 things a human will be guaranteed to do in their lifetime, is be born, eat, excrete and die.
Everything else is optional.

Last year he invested in a plumbing business, so maybe he is thinking setting up more recession-proof types of businesses these days.

Assume this series was filmed before the Brexit vote
Maybe. It's possible. But I think I'll have to see it before I can believe the day when Alan Sugars face will be on a packet of sausages or something.
Usually he tends to go for tech related business plans or things which don't involve massive warehouses full of stock which require huge manufacturing and transport overheads. There seem to be some business plans which feel like a very unlikely fit for Alan Sugar.
Like you say though, things may change.
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Old 09-10-2016, 08:43
M@nterik
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Well she is having the last laugh all the way to the bank. All the naysayers said it would never work, well several big UK Department stores are now stocking her tights including Top Shop

SHE DID IT!
https://www.biancamillerlondon.com/b...h-august-2016/
Good for her. I really liked her on the show and it shows if you have a good idea and some determination you can get somewhere.
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Old 09-10-2016, 09:16
John_Clunes
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I think she should have branded her goods as "Minoritights". She missed a trick.
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Old 09-10-2016, 09:53
Jocolah
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I think she should have branded her goods as "Minoritights". She missed a trick.
You serious? Ridiculous name.

Well done to Bianca.
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Old 09-10-2016, 12:14
trollface
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I'm just saying can you see Alan Sugar doing this sort of thing?
I don't see that it's a million miles away from Tom's curved nail file or Susan's cosmetics business, both of which he invested in (making a mockery of there only being one winner that year).
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Old 09-10-2016, 12:44
Maxatoria
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I don't see that it's a million miles away from Tom's curved nail file or Susan's cosmetics business, both of which he invested in (making a mockery of there only being one winner that year).
It was the fact that she was wanting hundreds of colour combinations and sizes and the 25 quid a pair price tag that probably put LS off investing as i doubt even Karen would pay £25 for a pair and she's minted.

She's now only got 32 combinations and a quick look said at £12 a pair means its much more interesting for a retailer to take a punt as it makes the supply chain a lot more efficient compared to having 2-300 different varieties.

She's obviously had some good advice as her basic idea was fine just the execution was rather too much for LS to handle.
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Old 09-10-2016, 15:22
trollface
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It was the fact that she was wanting hundreds of colour combinations and sizes and the 25 quid a pair price tag that probably put LS off investing as i doubt even Karen would pay £25 for a pair and she's minted.

She's now only got 32 combinations and a quick look said at £12 a pair means its much more interesting for a retailer to take a punt as it makes the supply chain a lot more efficient compared to having 2-300 different varieties.

She's obviously had some good advice as her basic idea was fine just the execution was rather too much for LS to handle.
Yes. I was replying directly to the post I quoted.
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Old 09-10-2016, 15:49
inothernews
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I think Lord Sugar was put off by the possibility of a lawsuit.

Didn't a disabled woman allege that she had come up with the exact same idea, and told Bianca who then thought 'That would be a good business for The Apprentice'
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Old 09-10-2016, 20:05
Cats_Eyes
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Wanted her to win and liked her idea but she shot herself in the foot by refusing to adapt and consider the opinions of the industry experts and LS. Glad she's doing well though
That's what they said to James Dyson.

And he is not short of a bob or two now is he ?

Good job he took no notice.
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Old 09-10-2016, 21:44
M@nterik
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I think she should have branded her goods as "Minoritights". She missed a trick.
Brilliant !!!,
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Old 09-10-2016, 22:03
Cats_Eyes
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[quote=Alrightmate;84147080]Well what can you say other than well done? You have to hand it to her.

The problem with Alan Sugar is that can anyone truly imagine him pursuing some of these business ideas?
In Bianca's case I'm not saying it's a bad idea, far from it. I'm just saying can you see Alan Sugar doing this sort of thing?

Already in the first episode we have a two contestants who have food related business plans. One of them is the sausage guy.
Does anyone truly believe that Alan Sugar is going to invest in anything involving food products?[/QUOTE]


Well if that is the case there is no point in the programme
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Old 10-10-2016, 09:18
walterwhite
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I think Lord Sugar was put off by the possibility of a lawsuit.

Didn't a disabled woman allege that she had come up with the exact same idea, and told Bianca who then thought 'That would be a good business for The Apprentice'
Depends whether she protected the idea or not. You can have as many good ideas as you like but if you don't protect them other people will use them.
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