Caribbean Smoothie - Derbyshire Trade Your Way to the USA

CBBC is once again on the hunt to find Britain's best young traders.

We've scoured the country

to find the next generation of budding entrepreneurs.

They need to know how to buy, how to sell, and how to close that deal.

Everything must go!

From more than 1,500 applicants,

just 14 teams have made it through to the heats.

Now the battle begins in Trade Your Way To The USA.

They'll each be given £75 cash and a tough trading challenge.

They must decide what to buy...

-Which trick draws the biggest crowd?

-This one.

..negotiate the lowest price...

-What would you say at 20p a nose?

-I'd say absolutely no.

..and then sell, sell, sell.

Come on, boys.

Two pounds, two pounds for these.

-Roll up!

-ALL SHOUT AT ONCE

The team that makes the most money wins the challenge...

60, 70. £70.

..and a place on our all-important leaderboard.

Only the top four teams go through to the semi-finals

and only one of them will be crowned Britain's best young trader...

..in Trade Your Way To The USA.

Please buy!

Trade Your Way To The USA is back and it's tougher than ever.

Today, some of Britain's best young traders will be tested to the max.

Let's meet the two teams who have dared take our challenge.

It's Team Synergy versus Triple Traders.

ALL: We are Triple Traders

and we're going to trade our way to the USA.

Yeah!

They're from Lancashire.

And these best mates mean business.

ALL: We're called the Triple Traders because...

-We're three terrific traders...

-Which makes us a terrific team.

The competition better watch out.

Georgie has a crafty way to turn no-cost garments

into a pretty profit.

I'm an expert at turning clothes like this into cash like this.

I've made £150 by selling them on the internet.

Quasim busts a gut to raise cash for charity.

I once did a sponsored run and I raised 140 quid. That's commitment.

And Helena is already learning the family business.

I earn my pocket money by helping my dad out at his vet's.

I'm learning and I'm earning.

-We're cheerful!

-We're charming!

-And we'll take on any challenge...

ALL: Which makes us champions!

ALL: Hi, we're Team Synergy and we're going to trade our way to the USA.

This group of grafters from Devon are...

Musical maestro Will is a self-styled sales supremo.

Music's like business. You have to be in tune with what people want.

When it comes to the competition, I'll be hitting all the right notes.

Jeweller Dylan is the team's creative chief.

I can turn this into this

and then sell it for this.

And Matt's the team leader and motivator.

During the competition, I'll ensure we're quick on our feet.

I know when to smash the opposition.

ALL: We're Team Synergy and we're going to trade our way to the USA.

So it's Team Synergy versus Triple Traders.

But only the team that makes the most money can win the challenge

and only they have the chance of trading their way to the USA.

Today's teams have arrived in the Derbyshire countryside

with no idea of what their trading challenge will be.

But they know they must win if they want to get to the USA.

Welcome to Alton Towers.

Tomorrow, a thousand visitors are expected for a Caribbean carnival.

Your challenge is to create and sell fruit smoothies.

-ALL: Yeah!

-Wow.

You'll get to choose which fruits to buy, what the mixer will be,

negotiate the lowest prices and then sell, sell, sell.

It's simple. The team that makes the most money wins the challenge.

Here are your trading funds.

Team Synergy, Triple Traders,

I've given you each £75 to trade with. Are you ready?

ALL: Yes!

Let's get buying.

The competition is on. The teams have £75 each.

Now they must become smoothie experts

so they can buy the right products

and stand a chance of trading their way to the USA.

The first rule of buying

is to really understand the product that you're selling.

I've brought you here to meet Jonathan.

If there's one person who knows

how to turn a simple smoothie into a fruitful business, it's him.

He's got all the answers, but you have to ask the right questions.

And that could be the key

between you winning or losing this challenge.

-Is that understood?

-ALL: Yes.

Here are your books. Are you ready?

ALL: Yes!

Let's go.

Jonathan is a smoothie expert.

He's been selling them for over 13 years

and his business makes hundreds of thousands of pounds each year.

The teams have just 15 minutes to find out all they can from him.

Every question counts.

Right, guys, question time.

What smoothies have a really nice aroma?

Smoothies tend not to really have a huge aroma.

Aroma? It's not the first question I was expecting.

I hope it gets better from here.

What would be the retail price of one of the smoothies?

You would look at around about £3 for a smoothie this size.

That's more like it, Quasim, ask about the retail price.

Now they know how much to sell a smoothie for.

Which one's your best seller?

I would say you really need to think about two things -

having a berry-based smoothie, cos that's always very popular.

And the other thing you need is a tropical type of smoothie,

something probably mango/pineapple-based.

Do you have any issues with allergies?

To make a smoothie, you need half a portion of frozen yoghurt.

You do get people who need dairy-free,

so sometimes, putting yoghurt in your smoothie can be an issue,

so you can leave the yoghurt out and put some ice in.

How much fruit could you buy for £75?

That really depends on what fruits you select cos

they all are different prices.

If you want to know the price, just ask.

Would you advise testers?

Absolutely.

Jonathan has just said, "You can ask me the price of anything."

And no-one has taken him up on that.

The teams won't be able to bargain for any products

if they haven't got any prices.

Time for a word of advice.

Can I just point out that Jonathan has just said

if you need to know prices, you need to ask him.

Erm, how much is all the fruit?

'That's more like it.'

OK, I'll go through. This is per kilo.

Banana - £3.10.

Blueberries - £8.20.

Blackberries - £3.60.

They've got the cost of the fruit, well done.

But what about the juice, the yoghurt, the cups and the straws?

Good luck in your negotiations.

Melon - £3.60.

OK, teams, your time for questioning is up.

-Are you confident you asked the right questions?

-Yes.

Now you've got to decide how to spend your £75. Let's go.

Right, this is all we've got. What will we spend our money on?

It is a Caribbean...

-Exotic fruit.

-So we need the pineapple and the melon and the...

Mango.

If I was doing this task, the first thing

I would do is calculate how many smoothies I could sell in two hours.

I've worked out, at a push, I could sell about 100.

The key to winning this task is to know your basic maths.

To make 100 smoothies, what you'll need is ten kilos of fruit,

50 bars of yoghurt,

and 20 litres of juice.

So what is Team Synergy's strategy?

I think we better have different names of them, like just a Classic - strawberry and banana...

OK, guys.

So, Will, in terms of recipes, what ideas have you got?

-Cos it's a Caribbean theme we've got the Reggae Special.

-Hmm.

..Which would be pineapple, mango, banana.

Tell me what you're going to buy.

We were thinking six kilograms of banana.

five kilograms of strawberries,

three kilograms of blueberries,

five kilograms of mango,

three kilograms of raspberries.

'That's enough fruit for around 300 smoothies.'

Yeah, I don't know about that - maybe size it down.

I think you really need to think about quantities.

You're going to go to the negotiation, what's your strategy?

Start really low down, work up but don't go straight up to half,

just go really slowly and try and get as much of everything as we can.

Well, good luck and I'll see you later.

Thanks.

Yeah, we'll need to get rid of fruit and add it up.

Schoolboy error, that was, from us.

So how are Triple Traders doing?

Shall we do that mix and match where they get to choose their own fruit?

Cos that would be quite a good idea.

Yes! How could it be called...?

Create Your Own Fruity Fiesta.

OK, right.

Tell me about your strategy for this smoothie challenge.

Well, what we're going to do is have all the flavours that we've got

on show and then they're going to pick their own flavours

and we'll make the smoothie for them.

You've got your negotiation, are you confident about going into this?

I think we're confident with the quantities but it's just a bit...

Of the prices, what price we're going to...how much we're going

-to knock off...

-When we're haggling.

'Negotiating is tough.

'They need to be confident in asking for discounts

'and hold their nerve.'

-Good luck.

-Thank you!

Team Synergy reckon that their Reggae and Rasta Specials

will help them bring in the cash at the Caribbean Carnival.

Triple Traders believe that by allowing the customers

to create their own smoothies, that will make them the most money.

But that's if they can negotiate the lowest prices

for their preferred fruits and juices.

With their smoothie ingredients selected, it's time to negotiate.

First, Team Synergy.

Let's hope they've worked out how much fruit

they need to make the most of their £75 trading fund.

OK, first of all, we'd like to buy some cups.

We'd like to buy 100 cups.

'Brilliant - buying 100 cups means they hope to sell 100 smoothies.

-'They've done their maths.'

-OK, 100 cups.

-How much would that be?

-£5.88.

How about...do you think you could do it for a quid?

A quid?

£1.

-£1, ha! You think that I should sell you these cups for £1?

-Yeah.

It's greater to go in with a low offer

but every negotiation has to be a win-win situation.

Asking for 80% off, well, I'm not surprised Jonathan's taken aback.

OK, £2?

HE LAUGHS Is this an auction? I can do them for £5.

How about £4?

£4 for 100 cups?

Yep.

-£4.50.

-Yeah, sold.

-Yep, done.

-£4.50.

OK, now on to our yoghurt.

How much is one yoghurt, frozen yoghurt bar?

One bar? 55p.

Do you think you could do 50 bars for £15?

I can do it for £19.

19, sounds perfect.

They've just negotiated 50 bars of yoghurt from £27.50 to £19.

That is fantastic negotiation.

OK, so we're £41 into our budget.

This is what I like to see,

tallying up your totals as you go along.

Great planning, well done.

-We're doing fruit now.

-Fruit.

Yep, and we would want two kilograms of strawberries.

The price I have here is £7.54.

Do you think you could shave £2 off that, make it £5?

-£5.54, is that all right?

-Yeah.

-Yep.

-Two kilograms of banana.

-£6.25.

Or £4, go on.

I can do it for £4.75.

-Yeah.

-Go on then, that's fine.

'Along with pineapple, mango, raspberries, blackberries,

'melon and apple juice, their money is almost spent.'

Maybe we should get little tester cups.

Taster cups, I think they'll come in very handy.

-£2?

-No problem.

-Yeah.

-Thank you.

-12p.

-Anything we can get for 12p?

You can get a smile.

We'll give it to you for that.

Team Synergy were cool, calm and collected

and they negotiated brilliantly.

With their £75,

Triple Traders need to drive a hard bargain to stay in the game.

So we'll start off with the banana.

We would like four kilograms of that.

4 kilos of banana is £12.50.

We were hoping to get that for £10.

I'm happy to do you £10 for four kilos of bananas.

That's £2.50 per kilo of banana that the boys just bought at £1.65.

The mango, we would like three kilograms of that for £10.

-Normally that would be £11.16, and you want it for £10?

-Yes.

-No problem.

OK, pineapple. We would like two kilograms of that for £6.50.

It's normally £7.54 and you want it for £6.50.

Take £1 off, yep, I can do that.

Thank you.

You know, they're not negotiating hard enough,

they're only negotiating 10%, it's not enough.

The problem is they've spent over half their money on fruit,

which leaves just over £30 for juice, ice, cups, lids, straws

and all that yoghurt.

-Can we have 100 of the yoghurts, please?

-£55.

I don't think we should get any yoghurt cos it's really expensive.

-Neither do I.

-OK, so no yoghurt...

And we can just add ice and fruit.

Their strategy is falling apart.

They haven't even negotiated and now they're just going to buy ice.

Should we just get 100 cups and 100 lids at the moment?

Yeah, well how much...OK, let's just get 100 cups and 100 lids.

-£3.60 for the lids and £5.80 for the cups.

-Yeah.

They've taken Jonathan's first price and haven't negotiated at all.

Could we please buy some juice?

For £15.

You would be able to do it for £18.

Would you do £17.50?

-£17.50, done.

-OK.

Guys, thanks very much.

Although Triple Traders bought the right amount of fruit,

they paid too much.

That meant they couldn't afford taster cups or yoghurt,

so are going for ice-based smoothies instead.

I hope they don't end up regretting it.

Team Synergy negotiated hard and got a good price on their fruit so they

could afford all the other items including the all-important yoghurt.

So it's Triple Traders with their ice-based smoothies versus

Team Synergy with their yoghurt-based ones.

Now it's all about tomorrow

and who can sell the most at the Caribbean Carnival.

Today the competition steps up a gear as Triple Traders go

head-to-head with Team Synergy. Both are desperate to win

and get one step closer to our USA grand final.

Only the team that makes the most money will be in with

a chance of being crowned Britain's Best Young Traders.

Good morning, Team Synergy!

Good morning, Triple Traders.

Very shortly the Caribbean Carnival will kick off.

You've got two hours to sell fruit smoothies.

Remember, the team that makes the most money wins the challenge

and only they stand the chance of trading their way to the USA.

2,000 Caribbean Carnival-goers are arriving.

All of them potential customers.

It's time for the battle of the smoothie sellers to begin.

-Teams, are you ready?

-YES!

3, 2, 1, start trading!

Are you ready?

What do you think? I'm proud.

Yes. OK.

'Triple Traders have a smoothie-selling strategy

'they think will bag them the win today.'

I think the secret to our success is going to be the fact

they can choose their own flavours.

It makes it more personal for them.

'With six different types of fruit on offer,

'let's see if team manager Helena has worked out their prices.'

So, Triple Traders, what is your pricing strategy, Helena?

We're going to sell each cup for £2.90.

And then we might lower it or higher it,

depending on how well we're doing throughout the time.

-So £2.90 for one cup.

-Yes.

-I'll see you later.

-OK, brill.

So Triple Traders have a clear plan, but what about Team Synergy?

We've got the Rasta, which is raspberry, melon and banana.

The Sunset, as it's a very sunny part of the world,

which is melon, strawberry and banana.

And the price?

Each smoothie is £3.50.

Triple Traders, who don't have yoghurt in their smoothie,

are charging £2.90,

whereas the boys are charging £3.50.

Yes, please, can I help you?

-I'll have the Rasta one.

-There's your smoothie.

Thank you!

The Sunset, yes, you can.

We've made about ten sales and we've been going for about 15 minutes.

A customer said that they're doing pick and mix over there

and they're not going so fast, cos people have to pick,

so I think we made a good decision doing recipes.

But Triple Traders' lower prices are drawing the crowds.

-And you want?

-Banana for myself, please.

Anybody else like to order anything?

Can I have banana and mango, please?

With a queue forming, the team are feeling the pressure.

Which one's this?

I think it's two of those, raspberry and blackberry as well.

Do we have two? Yes.

All three Triple Traders are in a flap.

What am I doing?

It's really, really stressful!

You never knew it'd be so stressful just making smoothies, but it is.

So many people, so many orders.

My top tip for winning this task is really to keep calm under pressure.

It's quite daunting when a lot of customers come up at once

and want serving, but you've got to keep your cool.

'In business, the most important thing

'is to be professional in front of your customers,

'even when you're feeling the pressure.'

£8...

-No!

-£2.80.

£6!

Oh, my gosh!

-Sorry, it is £2.90...

-£8.70.

-Times three.

-£8.70, please.

-Is that right?

-Yes, it is.

Thank you!

'One hour left. Triple Traders are doing well with their lower prices.

'Ten metres away, sales seem to have dried up,

'but Matt has a new strategy to get those customers.'

I'm making some little testers, and I'll go over there to entice them

from that stall over to our stall.

So that they come and get a taste of our delicious smoothies.

So now they'll want to come over here and get a big one.

Anyone for a little taste of our Sunset Smoothie?

Would you like a free taster of our Sunset Smoothie?

If you like it, there's a big tent there you can buy a full-sized one.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Cheers, thanks.

'Before long, it's paying off, so how are Triple Traders doing?'

Guys, how's it going?

I think it was going well when we first started out.

But there's people coming in,

so I think we'll get more.

The best smoothies in England!

Come and get them. Come on down!

They're healthy, and everything.

Quasim, it's great that you're shouting,

but sometimes that could put customers off.

My tip is, if the customers don't come to you,

take your product to the customers.

'No sooner said than done, Helena organises a new plan of attack.

'She's sending Quasim out to tempt customers

'with pre-made smoothies. Great idea.'

Hopefully, it'll get us a few more customers.

Or at least sell one more smoothie.

Every little, tiny smoothie makes a difference.

Every pound counts.

'I couldn't have put it better myself.'

The great thing about business

is you don't have to stick with one strategy.

If it's not working, try something new.

And that's exactly what Triple Traders are doing.

Hey, everybody!

Come and get smoothies!

£2.90 for smoothies.

Two of your five-a-day.

All right!

'Pointing out what's special about your product

'is a brilliant business strategy.

'Well done, Quasim.'

The yellow one or the red one?

Which one? The red one.

£2.40, please.

Triple Traders' changing tactic is working.

'30 minutes to go,

'and at Team Synergy's stall,

'Dylan's clocked on to a key bit of information to get them more sales.

'Yoghurt.'

I've heard from a couple of people, their smoothies are very watery.

Looking over there,

I don't think they're getting as many customers as us.

We're using yoghurt, they're using ice.

Yoghurt-based smoothies over here, water-based smoothies over there!

Yoghurt beats water every time, ladies and gentlemen!

I've just heard Matt say,

"Yoghurt-based smoothies here, ice-based ones there".

'There's nothing wrong with highlighting

'why you think you have the best product.'

That was two strawberry and banana,

one raspberry, mango and pineapple.

That comes to £10.50, please, mate.

There you go, my friend. Thank you.

'Matt's made a £10.50 sale.'

We still think we can win it.

We have quite a lot of cash in there at the moment.

So we think it's going really well.

'As the teams go head-to-head for the customers,

'it's all to play for.'

Would you like to buy a smoothie?

Yoghurt-based smoothies, not ice!

Two for £4. Make my dream come true, please!

It's war.

There's just five minutes left!

I want you to go out there and sell, sell, sell, sell.

Sell them for £1.50.

Get your smoothies for only £1!

Would you like to buy a smoothie?

We're slashing the prices right down, back to £1.

OK. Thank you.

-'Just one minute left.'

-Every pound makes a difference.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ten, nine,

eight, seven,

six, five,

four, three, two,

one. Stop trading!

HORN BLARES

-Let me have your cash box.

-There you go.

-Good luck.

-Thank you!

-Can I have your cash box?

-There you go.

-Good luck.

-ALL: Thank you.

That was so hard!

A toast. To victory!

'They bought,

'they sold,

'but which team conquered?

'Is it Triple Traders,

'or Team Synergy?

'It's time to find out who's won the challenge,

'and stays in the running for our USA grand final.'

I've been watching both teams for the last two days,

and I have to say I've been very impressed.

Well done.

Remember, the team that makes the most money wins the challenge,

and only they stand a chance of trading their way to the USA.

The cash has been counted.

Team Synergy, you took...

£150.01.

Triple Traders,

you took...

£102.16.

THEY CHEER

'Team Synergy are today's winners,

'and are in with a chance of competing in the USA.'

I can't believe we've beaten the other team by almost £50.

That opportunity to be one step closer to the plane is just amazing.

Anyone who come s up against us will be quaking in their boots.

We would like to say good luck to the other team,

and I hope they do well. I really hope they win.

Congratulations, Team Synergy.

You took the most money in today's challenge,

and it makes you our winners.

It earns you a place on our leaderboard.

But will your £150.01 be enough to put you in the top four?

'Because only those four teams

'will fight it out in the semi-finals.

'Team Synergy's £150.01

'puts them in third place,

'knocking DNA down into fourth,

'and Three Riskateers out of the running.

'Will DNA hold on in the final heat tomorrow?'

In business, you can't afford to rely on just one strength.

You need to be able to negotiate hard, sell well,

and close the deal.

Today's winning team demonstrated those all-round skills,

and they're well worth remembering,

if one day you want to Trade Your Way To The USA.

Next time on Trade Your Way To The USA,

two more teams do battle.

We've knocked it down to £10.75, which is half-price.

This is how it's done.

100 percent cotton. It's a great design!

Oh, you're very good!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd