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A ‘SHUCKING’ SHOPPING TRIP
The next task on the UK’s BBC The Apprentice was one of my favourites — a shopping trip in an area for items which are unusual, quirky and might have local significance to that area. Armed with paper maps, no Google searches and only your own ingenuity to buy them in a set time period for the best possible price.
For me, it sounds like an exercise in planning, time management, organisation and the ability to ask questions of local people — and perhaps a little bit of talking to people on the phone. Shocker.
The candidates were sent to Jersey with a task of buying nine items in a day which were correct for the lowest possible price. Every incorrect item, missed item or every delay would cost and would add money to the final tally. These items included Jersey Wonders (no idea but found out it some kind of doughnut), Jersey Royals (potatoes), shucked oysters (oysters out of their shells) and more.
For one team, Jack from Bristol took the lead with Amina as sub team leader. On the other team, Raj took the project manager role and off they went. Both project managers had realised that price was key here but both told their team mates to try to get 50 per cent (Raj) or 75 per cent (Jack) off the retail price of any item. It was crazy behaviour and also really insulting to independent business owners. I wonder how Raj and Jack would feel if we went to…
