The fourth series of The Apprentice has reached its dramatic conclusion and it was not without its hiccups for the would-be entrepreneurs.
In the final episode the contestants were asked to invent a new fragrance for men. Favourite to win Claire teamed up with eventual victor Lee, to put together a gloriously grotesque homage to gambling, sex and James Bond.
Meanwhile, 24 year-old Alex and Northern rock Helene came up with a rather more sophisticated product, which had a detachable spray bottle for the modern man on the move. A clear winner, but for one rather large snag. An eagle-eyed retailer noted the costs involved in making the complex bottle would far outweigh any sales margin. It raises an interesting point for purchasers.
To help avoid mistakes like Alex and Helene’s, should buyers be able to use their knowledge in a creative context more often?
How would you have struck a business balance between inventing something appealing, but cheap to make?