The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, week 11, the interviews
So I guess the biggest question tonight was which, if any, of the interviewers would you want to be interviewed by? Indeed, if their behaviour tonight was representative of their general leadership styles in the workplace which of them would you actually want to work for? But, real or not, representative of their day-to-day style or not, this was prime time TV and they had to make a spectacle of it.... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, part IX
Week 9 and this week the apprentices had to select and sell two baby products per team at the Baby Show in Earls Court. The team who sold the most would win and on the losing team, someone would get the sack. Leading Ben, Debra and Yasmina (Empire) this week was James. Leading Howard and Kate (Ignite) was Lorraine. I’m really not sure who I wanted to lose this week or who I’d like to sack first.... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training hits from the hit TV show, part VIII
Week 8 and an interesting task rebranding Margate from being “a little tired” to being “a cool place to go”. Not many sales training tips this week but an interesting night and a few good tips. Leading the two teams this week were Debra and Yasmina. Yasmina declared that she was suggesting herself for this task as it required a “multitude of skills” and that she had them. Nothing if not... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, part VII
Week 7 and 8 apprentices remained to compete in this week’s task of choosing two products from a selection of 12 and then selling them to dealers in Manchester and Liverpool over a two day period. The winning team, as usual, would be the team which made the most sales. Sir Alan was quick to say that tonight’s task was all about sales and that everybody had to sell and that no-one would escape. So,... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, part VI
So, here we are at week 6 and this week was all about selling… or was it? The task, to sell two identical lots of 10 new and used items for the best possible prices. The team who made the most profit would win. Sales training and business tip: Profit is not the same as sales revenues. When consulting, I often come across salespeople, sales managers and companies fixated on sales. “Sell! Sell!... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, part V
This week on the Sales Apprentice the task was for our two intrepid teams to come up with a brand identity for a new product – Sir Alan’s new breakfast cereal concoction. He wanted them to name it, create a brand, think up an identity and produce an advertisement to pitch it to an agency. The team with the best campaign would be the winner. Leading Ignite this week was marketing consultant Kimberly... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, part IV
Tonight’s task on the sales apprentice was to produce two original and natural body care products and then sell them to the public. The team leaders were selected personally by Sir Alan and were Noorul and Paula… let the battle of the ex public sector employees commence. Paula’s Empire team quickly decided that they were going to produce a shower gel and a soap using seaweed as their natural... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, part III
Week 3, the car, circa 6am and the boys were talking. Ben, he of “to me making money is better than sex”, was pumped up and ready for the third task, “I’m not nervous, whoever is up against me, their arseholes are going to be twitching like rabbits’ noses”. Sir Alan had called the candidates to the new athletic complex at Lee Valley, the elite Olympic training ground East of London, “Here... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, episode II
So, we entered the second show with 14 apprentices left fighting it out for the “top job”. 730am – Sir Alan entered the apartment, “I hope you’re all enjoying this luxury penthouse I’ve got for you” he barked. “Your task today is all about supplying a service to people who work in the City… the task is that you are going to be setting up a catering service… first of... [Read more]
The Sales Apprentice 2009: Sales training tips from the hit TV show, episode I
“For me, making money is better than sex!” And so the first of the “brightest and the best” from all over the UK opened the 2009 UK Apprentice. No wonder our economy is in such a state… Second up, some open necked girl (Anita – see later), with her nose stuck in the air, walking through the tube, “I am outstanding. It’s a given.” Oh dear, why I am watching this compulsive car... [Read more]
