Close Window
Login to your account
Please login
 
 
 

John McGurk's blog

Young Apprentice 4: Know your Customer, follow your Leader and Don't be Taken in by the "Trade"

0 comments


Marketing to the over fifties is big business and this task was all about seperating grey pounds from the gnarled hands of their target audience.  Of course those hands are just as likely to be manicured and would pass for thirty. Over 50s (and I am getting there myself), are as likely to want a surfboard as a shopping trolley even if is the Audi of shopping trolleys. You can forgive the young contestants for the impression you get from watching day time TV. Seeing nothing but stairlifts  suppositories and guilt led funeral insurance adverts is bound to make you think people of a certain age only buy ageing and death.

Yet many over 50s want an amp for their punk era guitars not a ramp for their caravans. Anyway Lewis's wittering inane drivel ensured that the wheels fell off the idea of selling the trolley for Heya's team. She like Lewis was obsessed  by the propensity of pensioners to eat pies. They got that right, but certainly  didn't get the fact that they woundt part with cash for the pie making gadget.

James was a revelation as the other team leader. His approach was genuinely to trust his team and to lead it. His enthusiasm and brio contrasted with Heya's bullish bossiness. For me James was best team leader so far. I like people who make decisions from a place of confidence, and can lead other capable people. Leading Gbemi is a challenge and he rose to it well, getting Zara to sell was a big test he worked well with Harry H which could have been an antler locking contest. Harry H though still my favourite was a bit slack in negotiating discounts but boy did he demonstrate the mini vacuum. Sucking up  sales  which just goes to show if you want to sell to oldies they don't just got for age adapted gizmos.

One thing I would mentor all of them on is to listen and reflect. The birdbox camera  was sold by the crafty salesman as selling 150 at trade shows. Maybe asking about what that means would have helped Harry M. James by contrast very good at generating the enthusiasm he needed but had a hard head  when dealing with suppliers vendors and got the discounts ne needed.

Anyway though Heya was rather high handed in dismissing Harry M on the basis that she was team leader and an expert grandchild  it was Lewis who deserved to go. Unlike the otherrs he was a spectator and when they go to wenbley next week to design a new deodorant in Sir Alan's product development workshop the  rest will continue to sweat it out.

Your comments

0 comments

Post a comment

Registration is not required to post a comment but if you sign in, you will not have to enter your details each time you comment. Registered members also have access to extra features such as a weekly newsletter, access to the community and special interest forums, a personalised website, and their own profile section.
All fields are required to make a comment
Name
Email (Will not be published)
 
To save your details
or
Register
terms and conditions
These comments are moderated. Your comment, if approved, may not appear immediately.
CIPD - Trackbacks
No trackbacks