Episode 9 Trade Your Way to the USA

CBBC's search for Britain's Best Young Traders is hotting up!

Welcome to the semifinal of Trade Your Way To The USA!

The heats are over and the toughest trading challenge

is about to get even tougher.

Whoever wins today will be going to the USA for our Grand Final.

And that means it's either the Victores or Team Sterling.

These two semifinalists have fought off

700 other teams to get here.

Team Sterling are old friends Aidan, Isaac and Rachel.

This determined Essex bunch came third

on the leaderboard with £152.50, winning their heat by over £50.

It feels great to be in the semifinals

cos we did really work hard.

# Come on ladies, come on men. #

They had a hiccup in their negotiation.

Our calculations are too high, which I apologise for.

But their teamwork during the sell saw them clean up in the end.

Enjoy. Spread the word, please.

That's how I roll.

Team Sterling!

Team Sterling!

Team Sterling!

But have they met their match in the Victores,

who are best mates Rosie, Maisie and Rachel?

Their name is Latin for winners, and this persuasive trio

came an impressive second on the Trade Your Way leaderboard

with £176.65.

I think the Victores have what it takes to win in the semi final.

We are unique and we are amazing when it comes to selling.

They've certainly got the gift of the gab, all right.

Ah. Ow! Would you like to have it?

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

But with numbers, things don't always go to plan.

What's £3.25 add £2.75?

Though, when they are on top form, they're formidable.

These girls can truly sell, sell, sell.

You better not pop this balloon, or you owe us £1.50!

Victores,

Team Sterling,

I hope you're ready for this!

It's the semifinals. And it's simple.

The team that makes the most money in today's Trade Your Way challenge

will go through to our Grand Final in the USA.

The teams have arrived on the South Coast,

with no idea what their semifinal challenge will be.

What they do know is that they need to win here to get to America.

Good morning, Team Sterling. Good morning, Victores.

Congratulations for making it through

to the semifinals on the beautiful Sussex coast.

You've done extremely well to get to this point.

But only the team that wins this challenge will be going to America.

This weekend, a hundred clowns and hundreds of people

will descend on Bognor Regis for the annual clown convention.

Your task is sell flowers that squirt water, red noses, wigs,

and all sorts of clown props to the people at the clown convention.

You'll get to negotiate the lowest prices and then sell, sell, sell.

Here's your trading fund.

As it's the semifinals, I've given each team £150.

Team Sterling, Victores, are you ready?

ALL: Yes!

Let's go.

Team Sterling and the Victores have £150 to spend on clown accessories.

Buying the right jokes today will see one of them

laugh their way to the USA.

Before you start a business,

you need to understand the product that you're selling.

So I've brought you here to Brighton to meet your expert, Dr Simpo.

Asking the right questions today

will guarantee you a place to the USA.

Here are your books.

-Victores, Team Sterling, are you ready?

-Yes.

Let's go!

Dr Simpo may dress like a clown,

but underneath beats the heart of a ruthless businessman.

The teams have just 15 minutes to learn his tricks of the trade.

And that's almost like magic.

Is there one particular product that sells more than the rest?

'Well done, Rachel.'

The wind-up chattering teeth are always a good one.

The googly-eye glasses.

You can do a bit of a nodding dog with these.

Want to try these on?

What are your top clown items, as in what a clown would wear and do?

Well, a clown wouldn't be complete without a red nose.

A jumbo bow tie.

What do the bow ties retail at?

'Smart question, Isaac.'

The bow tie like this is 450p, which in new money is £4.50.

How do you approach customers?

A great question from Rosie.

Performance is key.

Basically, you want to get someone to buy into what it is

that you're selling.

You want someone to live the experience,

and you can do this with a multitude of different visual aids or gags.

So would you like a nut?

Yes, please.

OK, you can offer everyone a nut.

Whay!

If you're offering a nut, you can do it more nastily, like that.

And that's a little bit more dramatic.

Remember, you're attracting them over.

Dr Simpo is giving them lots of advice.

He's saying they've got to break the ice,

attract the customers to their stall, be bright and funny.

I hope they're listening.

Right, teams, time for questions is up.

Now you have to decide what to buy.

TRUMPET FANFARE

If I was doing this task, I'd bring the essence of Dr Simpo alive.

I'd act like him, talk like him, and even walk like him.

At the end of the day, this is all about having a laugh.

'The negotiation, however, is no joking matter.'

'Let's hope both teams have a serious game plan.'

We want accessories, not full costumes.

Get some of the cheap stuff like chatter teeth and whoopee cushions.

Team Sterling. So, you met Dr Simpo, what do you think about him?

Very strong character!

In terms of your task, what are the key products you're going to go for?

For the smaller stuff like the squirty gun and the squirty wing,

cos people would rather spend £2 as opposed to £4,

which is why we focused more on the smaller items.

What's your role going to be?

To just haggle him down.

How you going to do that?

By maybe a little bit of charm and catchphrases,

just cos he's quite crazy about jokes.

Remember your strengths from last time and improve on your weaknesses.

-See you in the negotiation.

-Thank you.

-Bye.

'So, Team Sterling are going to play it for laughs.'

'How about the Victores?'

What did you think of Dr Simpo?

He demonstrated a lot of the products which gave us a lot of information.

Can you remember some of the things you did last time

which you don't want to repeat this time in the negotiation?

Yeah, I think we got some of the products for prices

that we could have got lower.

So what is your strategy this time?

Start just above half price and work our way up.

-So you're going to haggle harder?

-Yeah.

All right. Well, listen, the negotiation, as you know,

is the most important thing, because you need to get

as many products as you can for your £150.

-Are you feeling confident?

-Yes.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

The Victores believe that by holding their nerve in this negotiation

they will see success.

Team Sterling reckon that by driving a hard bargain

with a few jokes up their sleeve, they will strike the best deals.

But it's down to who can come up smelling of roses

in this negotiation.

Now they've had a crash course in clowning,

both teams have got one chance to get the best price.

First up, Team Sterling.

Isaac, Rachel and Aiden,

who've been working on a negotiation routine to impress Dr Simpo.

So it's no secret you're crazy about jokes,

so hopefully you'll be crazy to give us a great bargain.

Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Here we go.

With the googly eyes...

Wait, wait, wait. I've got a game we can play.

I spy with my googly eye, Mr Simpo giving us an unforgettable price.

£11.60 for half a dozen?

I like the cut of your jib, sir.

I'll give you a dozen at 150 pence each,

which is 35 pence cheaper than what you're asking for

cos I like your little joke.

Yeah, can we take that offer, please? Thank you.

This team have really thought about how to work this negotiation.

They've got little jokes and tricks up their sleeves.

It's a fantastic performance.

Also, could we get the fly in ice cube?

We would like to get...

Wait, wait, wait.

What did the fly say to the ice?

I don't know. What did the fly say to the ice?

-Give Team Sterling this great price.

-A dozen for £10.30.

With a sense of humour like that, this team will go far.

How about £11.50?

What about £11.30?

What about £11.31?

Go on, do 30, we gave you a good joke.

Go, Isaac! Every penny counts.

-Go on, then.

-Thank you.

Little charmer.

With six more deals under their belts,

Team Sterling are playing Dr Simpo at his own game.

After everything we've bought so far it comes to just over £134,

and we're wondering if we could get 10 of the inflatable high 5 hands.

I might not have 10 available,

but I reckon I could at least supply you with eight,

and I'll make the rest up with some other quality products.

I think we should invest in five of them.

Yeah, just get five of them.

Just the five of them. OK, I'll let you do that.

Wow, wow, wow, this negotiation is excellent!

Talking Mr Simpo's language

seems to have got Isaac, Rachel and Aiden the last laugh.

So what gag have you got to go with the fresh milk, sir?

Well, what do cows do on dates?

I'm not sure.

They go to the moooovies.

Very good.

£130, £140, £150.

I shall invest it wisely in lots of fake poo.

Nice doing business with you.

High five.

High 10.

High 15.

Thank you.

And that's £150 in my sky rocket, thank you very much.

For me, that was a textbook negotiation.

'Next up, the Victores.'

'Their strategy is to start at half the retail price

'for each clown trick.'

How will Rosie, Rachel and Maisie do?

Hi. So, we obviously really like your products,

they're really interesting and unique. So let's get started.

Our first product we'd like to buy is the chatty teeth.

OK, let me just take out my eyepad.

We're looking at 20 of those.

We're wondering if you can give them to us for £15 at 75p each.

Rosie has already missed a trick by not starting with a joke.

Tell you what, if you take two dozen cos I sell them in dozens,

which is 24, you can have them at 75 pence each.

OK, thank you.

That's four more chatty teeth than they wanted,

and they could have got a better price.

I want to see a lot more assertive negotiation.

So we're looking at your googly eyes.

The googly eyes?

-The glasses.

-Yes.

And we're looking at around five of them.

Five of those.

At around £2.40 each.

If you take six, you can have them at £2.40 each, or 240 pence.

OK, yeah, thank you.

Small quantities at high prices with little negotiation? Not good.

And they've paid 90 pence more per pair than team Sterling.

We're like to buy three of the flag guns, and you sell them at £4,

and we'll like to buy them at a price of £2.50 each.

You can have six for £2.50.

OK, yes please.

'The girls have let Dr Simpo dictate this negotiation.'

'Now they've only a couple of pounds left.'

We've spent £147.65.

Could we maybe buy another product?

Dr Simpo is running rings around the girls.

What's he going to get them to buy next?

These are original fortune-telling miracle fish.

These are normally 50 pence each but I'll do you 8 for £2.35.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Yes, please.

Come on, Victores.

You've just bought something you didn't even want.

We're 6p over our price.

Tell you what, I'll do you a favour.

Tell me a joke, and if you make me laugh, I'll let you off the 6p.

OK.

What do you call a gorilla with six balaclavas on?

I've no idea, what do you call a gorilla with six balaclavas?

Anything you like, cos he can't hear you.

Oh, dear, that hasn't gone down well.

So you didn't make me laugh with your attempt at a joke,

I will take one fortune-telling fish back, and let you off the 6p.

OK, thank you.

130, 140, £150.

Thank you very much.

For their £150, the Victores got 89 items to make a clown proud.

They bought small amounts of 13 different products, including eight

red noses, six bang guns, six squirty flowers

and three inflatable high fives.

The Victores have a good number of bigger items in their batch,

which can be sold at a higher price.

For their £150, Team Sterling bought 157 items,

nearly double the amount of the Victores.

They got 11 different types of jokes, including 24 chatty teeth,

20 red noses, 17 squirty gums and 12 jumping fingers.

The girls' negotiation let them down today,

which means they'll have to work harder tomorrow.

Tomorrow, one team will be laughing all the way to the USA.

For the other, it's straight back home with some very sad faces.

Today, the Victores will go head-to-head with Team Sterling.

Whichever team triumphs will be on a plane

to the USA to compete in our Grand Final.

The time has come to see who can make the most money

in our semifinal.

Good Morning, Victores. Good Morning, Team Sterling.

The clown convention at Bognor Regis

attracts clowns from all over the world,

and soon the streets will be full of potential customers

who come to watch the parade.

You have just two hours to sell them your clown props.

The team that takes the most money will win themselves

a place in the Grand Final in the USA,

and only they will stand a chance of being crowned

Britain's best young traders.

The stakes are high, so you need to do your very best.

Teams, are you ready?!

ALL: Yes!

Let's set up the stalls.

And bring on the clowns!

Clowning around is what'll see the teams selling well

in this challenge.

And that's what'll get one of them through to the final.

Everything is blue.

Victores, I'm liking the look,

you're getting into the spirit of things.

Let's talk pricing. What are you selling the stuff at?

It's around £2.50, and these are £6.

£6 and everything else is £2.50?

Some of the things are £4. The hands are £4.50.

OK, start clowning around.

Team Sterling, you've got a lot of stock here.

Tell me about your pricing.

The little items are £2.50 each, or 3 for £6.

Are you confident you can get through all this stock?

-Yes.

-Yes, definitely.

And at the end, if we still have a lot over,

we'll just reduce the prices and hopefully it'll still be good then.

The stage is set. Let the competition commence.

Teams, it's the semifinals. Are you ready?

ALL: Yes!

Three, two, one, start selling!

AIR HORN BLOWS

The Victores immediately set about following Dr Simpos's advice,

clowning around with their customers.

I'll go and shake this.

You can take this one out and demonstrate it to them

and I'll demonstrate it here.

Wooo!

They're really tasty nuts when you open it.

Oh!!

-You want to buy the nuts?

-Yeah.

-Would you like to buy two?

-Yeah.

-That's £11.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

A bow tie, please.

OK, that's £5. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

We've sold two of these exploding nuts already just from performing.

Cos we're acting like clowns, that makes them want to buy clown things.

And their big items are moving quickly.

But Team Sterling are struggling to shift

the mountains of stock they have.

Would you like to purchase any clown jokes or props for today?

Even brilliant salesman Isaac is having difficulty.

Any clown props or jokes for today?

You can wear a clown hat and clown mask with glasses,

to look like a clown, no?

Have a look.

There's one. You like that, yeah?

And Aidan's putting in the effort, but with little reward.

I don't think it's going that well, to be honest,

no-one wants to buy anything.

It's quite a tough crowd at the moment,

so hopefully it will get better.

Team Sterling, it's a clown convention, get a nose on.

And you know, you could be doing a lot more to attract your customers.

Top tip. Clown around.

She thought I should dress up a bit more,

even though this nose is not staying on.

'But the girls seem to be staying on track.'

Victores, I'm liking the look.

You're getting into the spirit of things.

I've heard the clowns are coming, this is prime time to sell.

Everyone want to see the clowns, so get on with it!

The crowds will at their biggest as the clowns arrive.

Aaaah!

Both teams must take full advantage

when the clown parade passes their stalls.

The Victores don't need much encouragement.

Are they the ones that have lots of colours in?

Oh, this one? The exploding nuts?

When you open them, all these colourful things fly out.

Wooo!

OK, Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I personally think that this wig would go really great

with your scarf.

As all the clowns walk past,

you could be wearing this really cool wig.

Thank you. You've got 50p change.

In this competition, to have great negotiation skills is an advantage,

but if you can't then sell the product, that's a problem.

'The girls are having a storming day today.

'But Sterling need some expert help.'

You have to be really loud if you want to sell things, don't you?

OK.

Roll up, roll up! Come here, look what I've got here!

Look what I've got here, aaaargh!

Finally, Sterling's sales spring into life.

Thank you, cheers, see ya.

We do like a good whoopee cushion.

A successful sale, mate, well done.

High five!

Carry on, please, carry on, please. Bye!

'There's 20 minutes still to sell, but the clowns have moved on.'

I did say that when the clowns have gone, so will the crowds.

With a place in the final at stake, any potential customer is fair game.

How about a hat for your dog?

We've got a little outfit here, that might suit your dog.

Little hat? Little glasses?

In a situation where you find that you don't have a lot of customers,

what you have to do is slash your prices, do the deals,

and try and sell to every single person that you see.

Everything a pound!

'So the teams go to war over any customer left.'

Them kids!

-Hello!

-Hi! Would you like to buy three practical jokes for a pound?

Come on!

Hi, would you like ten practical jokes for a pound?

And with minutes left to bag a place in the final,

they'll sell anything to anyone for any price.

You can have it all for £2.

Oh my God, thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-Just take what you want.

Take some milk. It's not real, but, you know.

Please, just give us that pound and we can give you all of these.

Just a pound, just a pound.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...

Thank you so much!

..five, four, three, two, one.

Stop selling!

AIR HORN BLOWS

-Is that it?

-Yes, that's it.

Guys, I can't believe we sold all that.

Victores, a group hug there. Can I have your cash tin, please?

Yes.

Thank you.

-CASH RATTLES

-How do you think you've done?

-We've done our best.

-Done OK.

-That's all I want. Good luck.

-Thank you.

Team Sterling, can I have your cash tin?

CASH RATTLES

-Feeling confident?

-Yes.

-Good luck.

-Thank you.

I don't know. I'm really nervous.

I think we've done enough to get to the USA.

Hopefully, anyway.

Yeah. Just have to stay positive.

They've pushed it to the limit, but only one team can win.

Have the Team Sterling taken enough cash today

to be the second team through to our Grand Final?

Or will the Victores prove victorious?

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

and I have to say I've been very impressed with what I've seen.

Over 2,000 young traders applied to be in your shoes,

but only four teams made it through,

and you've made it through to the semifinals.

But only one team can win today's challenge.

And they will be going to the USA to our Grand Final,

and have a real chance of being crowned

Britain's Best Young Traders.

Your challenge was to make as much money as possible

selling clown accessories and props to the crowds

at the clown convention.

The cash has been counted.

Let me tell you, it was very, very close.

Just £10.30 in it.

Team Sterling, you took...

£107.70.

Victores, you took...

£97.40.

Congratulations, Team Sterling! You are in the Grand Final of USA!

We're Team Sterling and we're going to the USA!

We're really happy for the other team

cos they were really nice and I hope they win.

Team Sterling never gave up and are on their way to America.

These firm Essex friends have now got to do it all over again

when they compete in our USA Grand Final.

Oh, my gosh, I still can't believe it, it's so surreal.

Business is a numbers game, and if you've been given a budget,

the key thing is to buy as much product as you can with it,

because when it comes to the sell, it gives you an enormous advantage,

and that's exactly what our winning team did today.

And it's well worth remembering

if you want to Trade Your Way To The USA.

Next time on Trade Your Way To The USA,

it's our Grand Final in Florida!

Would you like to buy a doughnut?

Someone just gave me a dollar. I think it's the accent, really.

-Have a taster.

-That's all yours.

He's just sold tonnes of doughnuts over there!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd