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And The Winner Is…
Niamh McDonald and Michelle Massey went head to head in the final of The Apprentice last night. Both candidates had been strong since the very start with 23 year old Niamh a firm favourite to take the €100,000 job with Bill Cullen.
We took the girls in separate cars to their final task briefing in the new Aviva Stadium in Lansdowne Road. Here the girls were given three Irish businesses each to showcase at an experiential marketing event in the stadium. We were delighted to see some of the unsuccessful apprentices back to help out on the final task.
Michelle won first choice when picking teams and shocked us all by requesting Tara as her first choice! Also on her team were Jamie, Dave and Panos (although for such good friends Michelle hesitated on her last choice between Panos and Niamh Humphreys).
Niamh was happy with her team that included Will, Barry, Kieran and Niamh Humphreys.
Each team visited their three designated businesses to get a background and find the unique selling points of each company. Michelle had Senator Windows, Wellington Eye Clinic and Coral Leisure. Niamh had Connaught Gold, Dublin Business School and Tile Style. The teams then spent time brainstorming the most impressive and innovative ways to give a sensory display highlighting the best points about the products.
We were sure that Niamh would win as people enjoyed the interactive quiz for Dublin Business School and the caricature artist who used Tile Style tiles for portraits of guests. The Connaught Gold display was not as successful as it was seen to be on the way into the event as opposed to a main section of the event. Niamh also gave a fantastic presentation highlighting each company to her gathered guests.
Michelle had problems dressing her venue but had some good ideas. To explain the daily difficulty of having bad sight, they hired a golf simulator and people were given glasses to blur their vision as they took a swing of the club on the course. Jamie came up with the idea of using a thermal sensor to show how the Senator Windows keep the head in. We felt the Coral Leisure idea using cardboard cut outs of fit looking people could have been stronger.
Bill was very impressed with both and found it very difficult to make a decision on which person to take on as his apprentice. He told the girls that they were the two best candidates he had met since the programme began. Finally Bill decided to make Michelle his apprentice for 2011. Michelle will focus on ecommerce for the company. Niamh was disappointed as she was driven away in our car for the last time but we are sure the job offers will be flooding following her great performance. Well done Michelle! Both Michelle and Niamh received brand new Renault Coupes as presents from Bill for their stellar performances. Watch out for them on the roads and in business too!
Luxury At It’s Finest At Merlin!
Luxury At It’s Finest At Merlin! Looking For Something Extra Special This Christmas, Choose One Of These:
2008 Porsche Cayman S 3.4 Petrol, Black
2005 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, 5.9 Petrol
2005 Bentley Continental GT Coupe, 6.0 Petrol
Don’t Miss Merlins BIG One From 11am This Saturday. Over 500 Vehicles & Bicycles For Auction at Ireland’s Only All Day Auction! BIG Selection Of Vehicles To Include Ex-Finance, Prestige, No Reserve, GIMME 5, Vans Large & Small, Jeeps, MPVs, Commercials plus many more
SIMI welcomes continuation of Scrappage
SIMI welcomes continuation of Scrappage and says scheme could net close to €40million next year
SIMI today welcomes the continuation of Scrappage following its announcement in today’s Budget.
The scheme will run until 30th June 2011. Motorists will receive a €1,250 government discount off the price of their new car under the scheme.
Alan Nolan, SIMI’s Director General says, “the continuation of the Government Scrappage Scheme for the peak buying season for next year will guarantee increased Government revenues and safeguard the increased level of employment in the sector. As a direct result of Scrappage we have seen an additional 3,200 jobs created this year and the Industry is also engaged in a national program aimed at recruiting an extra 150 new apprentices over the coming weeks.”
Nolan continues, “The impact of the Government Scrappage scheme this year exceeded our expectations. We predicted that in total, 70,000 new cars would be sold this year. Today, the figure stands at 88,095 and we expect to finish up the year around the 88,500 mark. But it is not just about new cars. Scrappage also stimulates activity in used car sales and also positively impacts on servicing and repairs.”
To date (end of November) 16,468 Scrappage Scheme cars have been sold, representing a government tax take of €57.6 million. If 10,000 Scrappage Scheme cars are sold next year, this will net the Government between €35 and €40 million.
President of SIMI and MD & Chairman of Ford, Eddie Murphy says, “An increase in consumer confidence and spending will no doubt transfer to other sectors of the economy. Scrappage scheme cars only represent around one fifth of total new car sales, which shows that the main benefit of the scheme has been the knock on effect to the overall sector. Manufacturers and dealers have added further discount to the Government’s this year and that will no doubt continue into next year.”
And Then There Were Two
Four apprentices faced four tough interviews in the penultimate episode of The Apprentice last night. Will, Panos, Niamh and Michelle took time to prepare for the interview making themselves look pretty before being taken in four separate Merlin cars to the interview venue. We can tell you that those four cars were quite tense as each candidate spent their last few minutes of preparation before facing into the grilling of their lives.
Independent HR consultant Sheena Clohessy was asked to probe each candidate’s personalities. Media mogul Gavin Duffy was asked to dig deep into their pasts and to grill them. Mairead Fleming, Deputy Managing Director of Brightwater was asked to evaluate their CVs while David Bloch, Managing Director of Brightwater gave his recruitment expertise. Each candidate had a harrowing four hours of interviews with these guys and unlike regular interviews they were asked very personal questions.
Niamh was deemed “unflappable” but Gavin did his very best to flap her by berating her as “bland” and “boring”. She was also seen not to be a risk taker. Sheena did not like her interview answers leaving Niamh to insist she never prepares answers for interviews which Sheena refused to believe. This really seemed to be nitpicking to the Merlin team!
Poor Will was given a difficult time on all sides. He was told that he says “you know” too much by Gavin and went on to use it again not even realising that he was still saying it! Mairead told him that his was one of the worst CVs she had seen in a very long time. She then became frustrated when Will referred to what Bill would do in answer to her questions. Will was also asked about his background. He went out to work at the age of 17 to support his family and has worked hard ever since. What a nice guy.
Panos was asked by Mairead about a gap in his CV which was his time in the Greek Army where he was a sergeant commanding 250 troops. We all know by now that Panos is an emotional guy and it didn’t take long for him to get upset thinking back on being a gay man in the army and how difficult it was to win respect from his troops. Gavin spoke to him about his fear of tools and was highly amused by his “traumatic childhood incident” where his father almost, but did not, lose 2 fingers after using a power tool! David saw red when he saw Panos’ response to what he would do if he could get away with it. Panos had written that he would use someone else’s credit card for a month long holiday in the Maldives and didn’t seem to realise why David was disturbed by this answer.
Michelle had spelling errors in her CV and Mairead pointed out that she obviously did not have great attention to detail. As she was grilled on her past Michelle divulged that she left home pretending to be going for a weekend away at the age of 15 and never went back. When asked why, she revealed that her family were Jehova’s Witnesses which she didn’t agree with. The worst came when Gavin told her that he had done some digging and was worried that her modelling and dancing in her past may affect Bill’s reputation if she were to get the job. He repeatedly asked her for anything in her past that could damage Bill until she finally admitted that she had entered a competition to be a Playboy Bunny TV presenter.
Will and Panos were both seen as very likeable people with some great strengths. However, Panos’ “laziness” and lack of commitment in previous tasks coupled with his emotional side led the panel to rule him out as a valid candidate. Will’s hardworking attitude and loyal personality were recognised but the team felt that this was not the job for him.. yet.
Will seemed as loyal to Bill as ever when he took his last trip in a Merlin car bringing him back to see his family for the first time in 12 weeks. He said that he hopes to meet Bill some other time and eventually to work for him.
Panos was upset at being fired but held no grudges as he admitted in the back of his car that the two remaining girls were the best candidates and deserved to win.
All will be revealed next week as we find out who will be hired!
Government Scrappage Scheme continues to support recovery
SIMI today released the official registration statistics for November 2010:
- 87,988 new cars sold so far this year
- 54% increase on last year
- 195% increase on last November
- 16,468 Scrappage Scheme cars sold*
- 10,420 New Light Commercial Vehicle Sales so far this year
- 15% increase on last year
*Many Scrappage Scheme cars sold in November will not be processed until end of December
Commenting on the figures, Director General of SIMI, Alan Nolan said, “No matter what happens in the Budget, the Motor Industry is very grateful for the positive impact of Scrappage during 2010. This has fuelled the recovery in new car sales and in business overall, including an increase of over 3,200 employees over last year but this recovery is clearly fragile as we have seen from some recent business failures. We believe that the benefits of extending Scrappage are very clear.”
For a full breakdown of statistics visit: http://www.beepbeep.ie/stats …the official statistics of the Irish Motor Industry
“Merlin’s Big One”
“Merlin’s Big One” Cars, Bicycles and Miscellaneous Items Including Garda Auction in End of Year Auction Extravaganza
Are you on the lookout for some great Christmas presents at reasonable prices? Why not come along to Merlin Car Auctions in Naas on Saturday, 11th December for our all day Christmas extravaganza auction catering for all tastes and budgets with bicycles, cars and Garda miscellaneous items.
Ireland’s only all day auction will herald the end of 2010 with a spectacular 500 vehicle and bicycle auction featuring ex-finance, commercial vehicles, exceptional value Gimme 5 cars and a selection of very special Prestige cars. This will be followed by one of the highlights of the auction calendar, the famous Bike and Miscellaneous auction on behalf of An Garda Siochana. The popular auction features recovered and unclaimed items and bikes that are auctioned off with a no reserve price selling to the highest bidder. You can pick up bikes for all the family for less than €50 each!
Other miscellaneous items include cosmetic sets, watches and cameras, all great stocking fillers!
For those of you in the market for a car, perhaps as a Christmas present for a loved one or yourself, there will be a fantastic selection of cars to cater for every buyer. Ex-finance cars, multi purpose vehicles and passenger jeeps (to get you and the family through the Christmas snow) will be first off the mark at the 11am auction. Business owners may be interested in the commercial jeeps, small and large vans going for auction at 11.45am. Those looking for a luxury car perhaps as an impressive Christmas present won’t want to miss the Prestige auction at 12.30pm. Anyone looking for a great deal should not miss the 1pm Gimme 5 cars which must go for less than €5,000 and that’s including all fees!
Bring along the kids to meet Santa Merlin who will arrive with special Christmas treats at 1.30pm. Next up at 2pm is a special selection of no reserve vehicles, followed by non runner vehicles at 2.30pm.
Timetable, Saturday 11th December 2010
11.00am Selection of ex-finance cars, MPVs and passenger jeeps
11.45am Commercial jeeps, small vans and large vans
12.30pm Selection of prestige vehicles
1.00pm Selection of GIMME 5 Cars. Buy any car at auction for less than €5,000 including all auction and registration fees.
1.30pm Santa Merlin will be arriving with special Christmas treats
2.00pm Selection of No reserve vehicles
2.30pm Selection of non runner vehicles to include vans, cars, jeeps
3.00pm Bicycle and miscellaneous items auction on behalf of an Garda Siochana
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