ASSIGNMENT 1 - VIDEO 1

Summary

In this business competition task, two teams are challenged to sell high-end wedding products, including designer dresses and cakes. Tensions rise as team members struggle with aggressive sales tactics, difficult customers, and team dynamics. Despite some success with dress sales, wedding cakes remain a tough sell. The teams face pressure from their leaders, who must deal with underperformance and team conflicts. As the task concludes, one participant reflects on her inability to work in a team environment, realizing she thrives better independently. In the end, one team is praised for their dress sales, while the other faces criticism for missing key sales opportunities.

Takeaways

• 😀 The competition revolves around teams selling wedding-related items, such as dresses, cakes, and lingerie, with a focus on performance under pressure.
• 😀 Helen’s team struggles with selling high-end wedding dresses and cakes, while Alpha’s team has more success with lower-priced items like designer dresses and lingerie.
• 😀 A significant part of the competition is the pressure to meet sales targets before the deadline, with a particular focus on persuading hesitant customers.
• 😀 Sales tactics vary between team members, with some leaning towards pushy approaches (e.g., offering discounts or pressuring for quick decisions) while others attempt more subtle persuasion.
• 😀 The competition reveals the challenges of working in a team, especially when team members have different sales strategies and personal work preferences.
• 😀 Helen’s leadership is questioned due to her reliance on pressure tactics, which some participants find off-putting and counterproductive.
• 😀 The importance of understanding customer needs is highlighted, particularly in the wedding industry, where emotional connections and timing play a crucial role in decision-making.
• 😀 Alpha’s team leader, Lucinda, exhibits more balanced leadership, while Helen's leadership style is described as overly forceful, leading to internal team tension.
• 😀 Despite struggling with cakes, Helen’s team eventually finds success with dresses, with five dresses sold, though the team’s overall revenue is still lower than Alpha’s.
• 😀 The competition ends with Helen’s team raising £1,925 in total sales, falling short of Alpha’s £5,752, which includes successful lingerie sales and dress sales.
• 😀 The final verdict shows that both teams had successes and failures, but Helen’s more forceful approach ultimately led to a less cohesive team dynamic, contributing to her team’s lower performance.

Q & A

What were the main products the candidates had to sell in this task?

The candidates were tasked with selling wedding dresses, wedding cakes, and bridal accessories like bolero jackets and sparkly underwear.

How did Helen's team perform in the task?

Helen's team, Renaissance, sold five wedding dresses but no cakes, bringing in a total of £1,925. While they had success with dresses, their lack of cake sales ultimately hurt their performance.

What challenge did Helen face as the team leader?

Helen struggled with high-end wedding dresses that were not selling well and had difficulty pushing her team members to make decisions. She also had to deal with team dynamics, as some members were not as motivated or engaged.

What strategies did Lucinda's team use to sell their products?

Lucinda's team, Alpha, focused on pushing sales of spangly underwear, wedding dresses, and giving customers incentives to buy. They used a mix of persistence, discounts, and offering personal service to close sales.

How did Lee contribute to Alpha’s success?

Lee was instrumental in selling spangly underwear, bringing in a significant amount of revenue (£647.24). His ability to read customer preferences and push for immediate purchases was a key factor in Alpha's success.

What was Michael’s struggle during the task?

Michael had difficulty selling wedding cakes. Despite his persistence, he couldn’t close a sale, and this became a major point of concern for the team as time ran out.

Why did the customers find it hard to make a decision on cakes?

The customers were hesitant to make a decision on wedding cakes without consulting their partners. Additionally, the sales tactics used by the team, such as offering a kiss and champagne to close a sale, seemed off-putting to some.

What was the impact of the price on sales for both teams?

Price played a significant role in the sales. For Lucinda's team, the pricing of their products, including the spangly underwear and dresses, was a strong selling point. Helen's team, on the other hand, struggled because their wedding dresses were perceived as too expensive, which affected their sales.

How did the team dynamics affect the overall performance of Helen’s group?

Helen’s team faced internal issues due to poor communication and lack of leadership cohesion. There was a sense of reluctance among some members to fully engage in the sales process, which impacted their ability to close sales effectively.

How did the task end for both teams?

At the end of the task, Alpha made £5,752.99 in total, largely thanks to Lee's underwear sales and the team's overall persistence. Renaissance, led by Helen, only made £1,925 from selling dresses and no cakes, ultimately leading to Helen’s reflection on her leadership style and team struggles.