The Apprentice crowns season 17’s winner in tight head-to-head
The Apprentice spoilers follow.
It was time for investment in The Apprentice finale as Lord Sugar announced who would become his next business partner.
Tonight's (March 23) episode saw the two finalists, Marnie Swindells and Rochelle Anthony, pitted against one another to convince industry experts their dreams were worth investing in. Both were tasked with creating a new branding for their businesses, including a digital billboard, a TV advert and an interactive demo.
Marnie's boxing gym bested Rochelle's hair salon, with the court advocate with a passion for boxing ultimately bagging the £250,000 investment.
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Aided by eliminated candidates Sohail, Simba, Megan and Brad, Marnie wanted to convey the message that a boxing gym can be a feel-good, emotion-focused place. She, however, opted for a double fist bump logo with the word "Grit" and "Glory" written across the knuckles which, according to her teammates, was too reminiscent of a martial arts gym.
As for Rochelle, she asked colleagues Dani, Victoria, Avi and Joe to support her vision for a London salon and academy aimed to cater to all hair types. Expanding on her Milton Keynes salon, the businesswoman chose a simple name (By Rochelle) and a round logo.
Later on, the teams picked the brains of passers-by about the digital billboards. Marnie's logo generated some confusion, with potential customers thinking it promoted a regular gym rather than one focused on boxing. As for Rochelle, some didn't think that her logo and advert were up to standard to become a nationwide brand.
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After digesting some tough feedback, the two candidates were ready for the pitching session. Business rookie Marnie went for an emotional pitch, pouring her love of boxing into her presentation and answering questions with confidence.
Rochelle, on the other hand, failed to explain what would make her business truly unique when experts pointed out that inclusive hair salons are now, luckily, much more common.
In the final boardroom, Lord Sugar consulted with Karren Brady and Tim Campbell before making his decision. Describing himself as a "gambler," he took a chance on Marnie's boxing gym and invested in her idea.
The Apprentice airs on BBC One, with spin-off series You're Fired airing immediately afterwards on BBC Two.
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