Marketing Donut, the essential website for small businesses, says these TV shows do have a role to play.
Bristol, UK, May 06 2009 — As a leading entrepreneur questions the role of shows such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den, Marketing Donut asks whether so-called reality shows about business are actually representative.
Online business guru, Guy Kingston, has ignited a debate about the role of TV shows such as The apprentice and Dragons’ Den, claiming that they do not paint a real picture of what it is like to run a business.
“More than half the country’s gross domestic product comes from small businesses but the popular TV programmes do not help them one bit,” says Kingston.
However, with viewing figures in the millions, it’s clear not everyone agrees. Andy Preston, director of sales performance training company Outstanding Results and expert contributor to Marketing Donut, the essential website for small businesses, says these TV shows do have a role to play. “They are first and foremost entertainment, but they are also quite inspirational and could motivate some people to start their own businesses,” points out Preston.
Preston, who follows both the UK and the US version of The Apprentice, adds: “These programmes are definitely intended to make good TV rather than specifically to help entrepreneurs and they are edited accordingly. I have to say the sales skills of the people in the show often appear to be somewhat lacking.”
When it comes to Dragons’ Den, however, Preston says: “In terms of the presentation and negotiation skills needed to pitch to the dragons, I would say they are the same skills you’d need if you were approaching a business angel or venture capitalist for investment.”
However, Dee Blick, director at The Marketing Gym and expert contributor to Marketing Donut says: “Let’s not kid ourselves, programmes such as the Apprentice and Dragons’ Den do not exist to inspire and motivate would-be entrepreneurs. They’re great at helping us unwind at the end of the day, but do very little to illustrate how a small business is run. We need programmes that present genuine ‘warts and all’ business case studies and that provide stimulating and practical advice if we are to really understand how to make it in business.”
Guy Kingston, who gives advice on the Mind Your Own Business website, says: “The Apprentice really only prepares people for working in a big corporation. It might help you if you are a middle manager looking for the next rung on the executive ladder as it highlights successful strategies for pleasing the boss and undermining colleagues. But if people think it gives them an insight into running a business they are being sadly deluded.”
Kingston is calling on the major broadcasters to provide more programming about running a business in order to help the UK pull out of recession.
“We are in a time of national economic emergency and our small businesses are the ones that will pull us out of that by creating wealth and work,” he says. “The broadcasters need to do their bit by helping these small businesses with inspiration motivation, and above all meaningful advice and information.”
Further information:
Become a Marketing Donut expert by visiting the BHP Information Solutions website www.bhpinfosolutions.co.uk/Who-we-are/Experts.aspx
Register for Marketing Donut here www.marketingdonut.co.uk/user/register?destination=node%2F27
To find out more about Mind Your Own Business visit www.myobpod.com/
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