This was the usual "out of the comfort zone" task involving art and artiness. Lord Sugar likes this one because he can see who sells whilst having a laugh at the ponciness of it all. Anyway Sterling under Adam went off to London and Bristol and searched for edgy daubs. Along the way Adam did his best to be arty by reflecting on what he saw.
Sugar loves sellers. Perhaps if Adam could be put in a time machine, lots of penniless artists would have been living it up rather than starving in garrets. Adam simply connected well with people who looked like they wanted to buy. Laura came up and put them off and Tom though probably able to engage them in a discussion about the artist was too smart-arsed even for the YBA's. (Young British Artists)
Tom blew it when he wound up the artist known as "Pure Evil" with some Pure Ego. When Tom went to see Renault though Adam wasn't there to say "you need that 'Je ne sai qois' " and at least they got a price which shows Tom's calculating efficiency. Unfortunately though Gabrielle's team connected with the gin giants Beefeater who also needed some edgy decor, she failed to elicit a price.
Tom was floundering when his preferred artist gave him the Evil's and showed an incredible lack of self awareness and I thought coldness to others I haven't previously seen in him. Tom's strategy after rejection by Pure Evil was to flounder and fume for a while and then to "throw the dice". The dice said "let's go for a massive James Jessup in lurid colours and flog it for five or ten grand".
Now if your chimney breast is the size of the ones at Battersea power station you could accommodate a Jessup but generally most people thought it was too big...
Like most of the stuff they picked up (aside from the Warhol-esque Pure Evil), most of the art looked, well artless. I have seen better being printed on t shirts in Croydon High Street but I know what I like. Anyway the reckoning came and Tom artfully dodged the bullet but he has blotted his copybook so to speak.
Jade just blustered and I think if she loses again she'll get the taxi. The loser was Laura as I think Sugar felt that flogging wedding dresses was a bit like flogging art which in many respects it is.
Anyway Laura whose proven sales record deserted her went off to make more women's big day and in a way that's a comforting thought.
Maybe if Tom had been fired he would have become a YBA himself and that's a scary thought he definitely does have the sneer for it.
PerformersAdam who was brilliantly clueless but effective where it mattered. Gabrielle who oozed customer engagement and helped to land the big deals. Maybe a future as an art agent for this creative architect who though yet to really impress, is the female front runner.
PloddersStephen just came up with the most ludicrous idea to mimic the Banksy vibe. Something likes ''let's hide the artist out the back". No! Let's not.
Please StopNick who did little except speak in an estuary posh voice which I suppose is an essential skill in an art gallery setting.
(Apart from the sulking) you have to admire Tom for going for the audacious goal - had he sold a Jessop we'd all be saying what a great risk taker he is.
Adam is certainly performing but will he be able to take people with him to the end?
Keep up the analysis, it's great John
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