Apprentice 2011: Paris selling task

Worst team player ever!!!!

Apprentice episode 8 was exceptionally aggravating today. We have all become desensitized by the constant back stabbing and blatant lying but Melody Hossaini, introduced the ugliest and most undesirable employability key skill to the programme.

Melody basically sabotaged the entire team. The fact that no other team member spoke French gave her the leeway to divide an conqueror. As a woman with so many accolades, I was on the verge of looking up to her but I now consider her the scum of the earth (Pinch of salt) as she is only interested in her welfare.

The 8th task was simple, sell British products to the French market. The candidates had to pick two item from a vast strange of innovative inventions; booster-seat/backpack, teapot lights, universal grips, espresso makers, bean bag bed, pop-up post cards aka cress cards

Team Logic, led by Tom picked the teapot light and the water cress pop-up post cards.

Team Venture, led by Susan picked the booster-seat backpack and the Universal Grip.

Though the task was simple it required teamwork, research and French language skill. Both teams agreed the research was important; Tom tasked his French speaker to conduct market research on the streets of Paris and Susan decided to ask rhetorical questions (at least I hope they were.)

Susan's idea of market research: Are the French Eco-friendly?; so they like their children?; do a lot of people drive?

Don't worry, she pulled it back in the boardroom. She meant to ask whether or not French people prefer spending money on child-seats or electronics.

There is always a point to asking question - its called market research. Tom knew this and directed Melody to ask about the store Alan had lined up for them as well as the products; Car Seat and teapot light.

She decided to ask solely about the product because she did not like the idea of the car-seat. As a child welfare campaigner, I thought she would have been more sympathetic but she obviously doesn't understand. 

To justify her dislike of the product, she asked 4 people if they would buy the car seat and they all said: no. She did not ask if these people owned cars, lived in the centre of Paris, had children or any logical questions to balance out her skewed results. Leon stood with her like a lemon repeating his key phrase "I can't speak French"

With her biased 'market research' she was able to convince Tom to ditch the car-seat in favour of the watercress postcard.Therefore Susan's team was free to have the car seat and beat logic buy a whooping 214,000 euro.

It was an embarrassing defeat for Tom's first time as Project Manager. The sole reason that Tom's team lost to Venture was, Melody's lack of team work.

Tom explicitly asked for her to research the pitch Lord Sugar had arranged but she chose to ignore him. The consequence of her actions; Tom stated during the pitch that a minimum purchase of 10 would be acceptable. To be fair, Tom should have used some common sense but he is not a sales person - if he had his research he would have been able to shield his ignorance and sell more of the lamps.

The second instance of Melody's tampering was the prearranged business meetings. Initially the teams were divided into 2; One group to pick products and the other to research in Paris. As the only French speaker she arranged 8 appointments, all on her own but on day two refused to share them with the second half of the team. By contrast, Jim arranged appointments and split them among the entire team; therefore everyone had sales in their books.

Tom and Natasha, were left with the Pitch lined up by Lord Sugar and a single scrap from Melody's treasure trove. Be aware that the scrap was only bequeathed when Melody realised she would not be able to attend the appointment (damn traffic)

In my opinion, Melody is playing a cruel cruel game and she is willing to step on anyone to win.

Who got fired in episode 8?

Leon was fired. He has had a few goo weeks, none of which was he ever Project manager. As you can tell, I thought Melody should have been fired but he also deserved to go for being so captivated by Melody's linguistic skills.

Leon was so captivated that he practically became her pet monkey. In the boardroom he stated that Tom's leadership was weak and that he felt Melody was more of a team leader.

Now that Leon is gone, Melody will have to find herself a new monkey.


Lets hope Melody gets fired before she find a new Monkey, Bwah ha ha ha ha!

P.S if you want the Universal grip from the apprentice it is available on Amazon