Peachy Pics Alex Polizzi - The Fixer


Peachy Pics

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Transcript


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'I am Alex Polizzi.

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'I cut my teeth inside my family's international hotel empire

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'and now run a multi-million pound food business with my husband.

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'Last year, I battled to save six failing family firms.'

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-I don't know if it's ever going to get better.

-You must see some hope.

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'Now I'm ready for a fresh fight...'

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-Hello!

-Hello, Alex.

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'..to save six more families on the brink of losing it all.'

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-Why has it got so bad?

-Because he won't talk to me.

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I feel like my dream is moving further and further away.

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'But in the midst of a triple-dip recession,

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'thousands of firms are going bust every month.'

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Just in the last three months, you've lost about £3,000.

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-I'm really struggling.

-'The stakes could not be higher.'

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Where is the money coming from?

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'It's not just finance, it's family.'

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What are you walking away for? I can't work with someone like that.

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Everyone keeps saying, "You're the lazy one, you do nothing."

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Something is very, very wrong.

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'This week, a photographic studio that's totally in the dark.'

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-Oh, zooming the wrong way.

-None of us have been trained in marketing.

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I don't even know where to start.

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In the eye of the storm, they're all just sitting there like puddings.

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I'm not saying you can't do it!

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-Will a gaggle of unruly sisters...

-I am, I'm BLEEP off,

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cos I feel like everybody thinks that I haven't got my own mind.

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'..Push their mum over the edge...'

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I feel I'm rubbish as a bloody manager.

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Unless they do their bloody job,

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there is not going to be photographs to take!

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'..before the lights go out for good on her lifelong dream.'

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Only THEY can bring themselves success and unless they're

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prepared to do that, this business is going to go down the tubes.

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I'm heading to Aylesbury in Bucks,

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to visit a start-up photography studio called PeachyPics.net.

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A third of all new businesses go bust within three years,

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so this is going to be quite a challenge.

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Everything that I've seen about the business

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looks incredibly amateurish.

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It's a start-up business, there's no money,

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they've been making no money and, and...

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I can't really see how it could get much worse.

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That's it, good girl.

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OK, I want you to look right up into the lens, that's it.

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Three years ago, Andy Lane recovered from a life-threatening illness,

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so she jacked in her job to pursue her lifelong dream of running

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a photographic studio.

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Oh, look! Oh, darling!

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Hello, Bubba! 'I love it.

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'You know, not everybody has such a fun job.'

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If I could do it for nothing and give the photos away,

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if I was a millionaire, I would.

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She focuses on family portraits, some rather questionable makeovers

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and charges hundreds of pounds for them.

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Just close your eyes. Great.

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But whatever the shoot, Andy just wants to make people smile.

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Hopefully, everybody's happy that comes here.

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How many people can say that?

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But it's not just customers she's trying to please.

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I feel like I'm holding her! I'm like, "Aah!"

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Instead of employing professionals,

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Andy has handed out jobs to her totally inexperienced daughters.

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-Manager Emma...

-We don't know what we're doing, really. We don't.

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-Budding photographer Rachel...

-You're in the way a little bit.

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-Sorry, I'll move.

-Thank you.

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It's just a big mess.

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And Nicky, who doesn't even have a role.

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Generally, I do a bit of everything.

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And a bit of nothing.

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-No one's saying you can't do it!

-Sadly, it's not happy families.

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-Working together often ends in fireworks.

-I'm a massive BLEEP letdown.

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-No, you're not.

-With odd-job Nicky at the centre.

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I'm absolutely sick of being made out like I do BLEEP all here.

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Rather than crack the whip, mum Andy lets it all happen.

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Go and have a break. Go and do some shopping.

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Customers are few and far between and in two years,

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-Andy has never paid herself a penny in wages.

-What have we got on now?

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-Nothing. Nothing at all.

-Nothing?

-No. Nothing.

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I don't know, some people are natural business people. I guess I'm not.

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We're really on the way to having to close the business

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if things go the way they are.

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Andy has invested her life savings in the business,

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but with little money coming in,

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it will go to the wall within six months and she will lose everything.

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I don't want it to fail. I want to carry on.

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I just want them to be able to...

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..work doing something they love, something they're proud of doing.

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PeachyPics is situated in a shopping centre in Aylesbury.

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In this economic crisis, the high street is on its knees,

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but town centre shopping arcades are doing even worse.

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This is an in-town shopping centre

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that has very middle-of-the-road shops.

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So, are people who come here really going to be prepared to

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spend £380 on a family portrait?

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Aylesbury is the least affluent town in the county,

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with the average income below £30,000.

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For a company selling a luxury product,

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being here just doesn't seem to add up.

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Aha! PeachyPics.

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Dearie me.

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Just the rather sad attempt at the bunting is enough to warn me

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of what I'm going to see inside.

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It looks like a little run-down family business

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and it's only been open a couple of years.

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Oh, God.

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OK, I'm now dreading it, properly dreading it.

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-Hello!

-Hello! Nice to meet you.

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-Hello.

-Hello, Alex.

-Andy.

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-Nice to meet you.

-So nice to meet you.

-And you.

-Good.

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-Nicky and Rachel, which is which?

-Nicky.

-Hi, Rachel.

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So nice to meet you, thanks very much.

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Gosh, well this is a very boutique space, isn't it?

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-It is bijou.

-Bijou!

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To say the least.

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'Competition is fierce in this industry, particularly in the south-east,

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'home to a third of Britain's professional photographers.

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'To win customers, you must stand out from the crowd.'

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It's just quite...

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Quite downmarket. There's a bowl of plastic keyrings.

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You know, it's just cheap. It's mass produced.

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What you want someone to feel is that they're coming out of here with something really unique.

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Every single picture on here is kind of framed slightly differently,

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all hung at different heights,

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and they're giving no value to their own work.

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I mean, honestly. That's really embarrassing.

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'Outside isn't any better.

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'The few cheesy poses on display certainly wouldn't entice ME

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'through the doors. And I'm not alone.

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'On average, only four paying customers come in each week.'

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They've got this pale pink and green, very childish font and name.

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I mean, the whole effect is pretty haphazard, thoughtless and,

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you know, if they can't do a window,

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how on earth can they compose a photograph?

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That's what I automatically think.

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It does strike me that you're not selling yourself very well.

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-I think we realise that.

-Well, why haven't you done anything about it?

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-I don't know!

-We don't know HOW to do it, do we?

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I say all the time, I don't know how to market.

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None of us have been trained in marketing.

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-I don't even know where to start.

-OK.

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They've got no get-up-and-go about the business.

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They're all so passive - in the eye of the storm,

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they're all just sitting there like puddings, going,

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"Oh yes, well we know we're not very good at this and that and we've never done that..."

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I just... It makes me despair!

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This business has been here almost two years.

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And they haven't tried anything yet.

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I suppose I'm going to look like a genius.

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PeachyPics looks downright cheap, but with their photo shoot packages

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costing up to a whopping £700,

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let's hope their service is more impressive.

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I want to see how you work together.

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-Have you got anything booked in this afternoon?

-No.

-No clients?

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-Not even one?

-No.

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I thought that this might be the case,

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that you might not be snowed under by customers,

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-so I'm going to go and slip into something incredible elegant...

-Ooh!

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-And then let you talk me through it as if I'm a client.

-OK.

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-Does that sound good?

-Yes, we can do that.

-Yeah?

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'It's time to freshen up,

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'but as the studio doesn't even have a sink, customers are expected

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'to trek to the public toilets on the second floor.'

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What are the loos like here?

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All right, fine.

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Unusual, to have to walk through a shopping centre in...evening wear.

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Right...

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'This is a terrible start to try and sell what should be a luxury experience,

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'but the girls are making it even worse.

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'Forget champagne - there's not even a cup of tea to warm me up!'

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-OK, so put your weight on your back leg, that's it. That's great.

-OK.

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-That's good.

-Now do a hand-on-hip.

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Photographers Rachel and Andy start taking me through

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their repertoire of cheesy poses.

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That's it.

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-I was worried you might give me a feather boa.

-No. No, no!

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-Oh, I wish I'd clicked then!

-Yeah! Oh, you missed it!

-I did!

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I might have dodged the stuffed tiger and antique phone, but it

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remains to be seen whether any of these photos will be half decent.

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-It's a bit girly for me, sitting on the floor.

-That's lovely.

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-I love black and white, it's so forgiving!

-It is good.

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Any effects that we've popped on can be transferred to any of the others.

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I love that one, I think that's really nice. Well, I thought...

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I'm feeling a bit more cheerful than I was this morning.

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-Cheerful or tearful?

-Cheerful!

-Oh, good!

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The basics is, you can take a photo.

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So it's nice to know we've got something to work with.

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You've just got the business sense of dormice(!)

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'The photos are OK, but I don't understand why it takes

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'up to four people standing around to achieve them.

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'And Nicky knows things aren't as they should be.'

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I do find there are times when I can twiddle my thumbs...

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Or I'm sitting there, going, "Is there something for me to do?"

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Which is always filled with, "Well, you can tidy up".

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I don't really want to be a cleaner. I want to have a bit more of a specific role.

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-Yes, but you want it every which way...

-Yes, I do.

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You don't want to be a cleaner, you want more of a specific role,

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but you don't want any of the stresses of thinking about it afterwards,

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you want to be able to stop your job and go home and put an end to it.

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To be honest, I'm probably quite selfish in that respect.

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I think, you know, unfortunately I just don't think the world of work is really like that.

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'PeachyPics is clearly underskilled and overstaffed.'

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Right. 'One look at the books tells me it's killing this business.

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'And that's without Andy even taking a wage.'

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The golden rule in a business is that the rent

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-and the wages must only come to 35% of the sales.

-Right.

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-Yours is 75%.

-I didn't know that golden rule.

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-Basically, darling, you're quite a lot down.

-Yes.

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How have you been funding that?

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My money!

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-And how long can you continue to fund that?

-Not much longer.

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Do the girls have any idea what the situation is?

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I do try to tell them,

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but they always say, "Oh, you're just panicking, Mum. It'll be all right."

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Well, it obviously won't be all right.

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Just in the last three months, you've lost about £3,000.

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Where do they think that's coming from?

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-You haven't paid yourself for two years, sweetheart.

-Oh, I know that.

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Well, I know, but I don't think that that's normal.

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Most photographic studios run on one and a half people.

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And you just don't have the level of trade to allow for this.

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To allow to employ your three family members,

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who all do little bits and bobs...

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And all think that the situation might continue indefinitely,

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it seems to me.

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So does that mean I've got to sack some of them?

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I'm not going to say that to you, because apart from anything else,

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that isn't my role to tell you what to do, that is your business.

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I'm asking you to take responsibility for the situation.

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Andy is facing an incredibly tough choice.

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Sack one of her own daughters, or put her business at serious risk.

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You know, the thought of having to say to any of them...

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..they've got to go, is horrible.

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I don't want to do that, so I'm going to have to work really,

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really hard at making us more profitable.

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It's clear I have to revamp the way they present themselves,

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and find new revenue streams for this business.

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But first, I need the rest of the family to face

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the reality of their frightening financial situation.

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PeachyPics is haemorrhaging money,

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draining any hope Andy has of having any money left for her retirement.

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-Morning.

-Morning.

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'If Andy refuses to sack someone,

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'she will need to almost double her sales to break even.'

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You're not teenagers any more.

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I don't think your mother is doing you any favours with you guys

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being in the dark about the real situation

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and I want her to put it on the table for you.

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And I want to make sure that you listened.

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If you work it all out...

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We actually lost £4,000

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in the last three months.

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-And that money...

-In three months?

-Yes.

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And that money has come out of my savings...

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We need to work harder. You're not on your own now we all know.

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I didn't know it was that bad.

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I just think, you know, your mum said to me,

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do I have to fire one of my daughters, or two of my daughters?

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And I said I'm not going to say that to her.

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That isn't where I'm coming from.

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But the choice is, quite blatantly,

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it's either do that or make sure the sales go through the roof.

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We need to make sure the sales go through the roof then, don't we?

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Trying to almost double your sales overnight is practically

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Mission Impossible for any business, let alone this one,

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where the girls have few real skills.

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I have said it before. We need to pre-plan.

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I bought that planner for us to do that and for us

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to put on there events and everything...

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The next time that you're sitting here, going, "I'm bored,

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"what shall I do?"

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why don't you self-direct yourself to get the bloody planner out of

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the bloody cupboard and start making a stab at putting something on it?

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I mean, if you need someone else to tell you to do it,

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YOU'RE not being effective.

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Well, I don't feel I'm a robot that needs pointing to to do stuff.

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I... Oh!

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-Don't get upset.

-No, I am, I'm BLEEP off!

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Because I feel like everybody thinks that I can't, I haven't

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got my own mind and that I sit there and you need to tell me what to do.

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"Empty the bin, Nicky."

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And that I'm nothing more than, "Just give her a BLEEP job,

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"because she can't actually do anything."

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-That's not true.

-That's how everybody makes me feel.

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-Nobody's having a go at you.

-"You can't do nothing.

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-"You can't think your own ideas."

-It's not that.

-You all take over.

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Nick, you're strong. You can take over as well.

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This is why you never GET anywhere.

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I mean, we're talking about a sodding planner.

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It's the fact of actually taking a step forward rather than

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talking about why it's so difficult to do everything.

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When you're constantly told that you're lazy or you do nothing...

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..it just sort of underlines the fact that...

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Why the hell am I there?

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And that the only reason they keep me there is that I'm family.

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I do feel quite vulnerable.

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I've always felt that way here, and it's not a nice feeling.

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If mum Andy is determined to keep all four family members

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in the studio, then I want every single one of them

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to get off their backsides and prove to me that they can earn their keep.

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Just ten miles down the road is Whipsnade Zoo.

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Filled with families,

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it's got exactly the type of customers they should be targeting.

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I've got some leaflets here with your names on.

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I want you to go round, persuade people to come here

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and have their photos taken by your brilliant photographer mother.

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The reason we've got names on them is because I want to see

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how many people that each of you talk to come back.

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-So I'll see which of you is the most effective salesperson.

-Good luck.

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-Bye!

-Rachel's off!

-Rachel and Emma are off to a flying start.

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Can you help me beat my sisters in this competition to get

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people to have their photo done?

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We've got a pop-up photography studio down by the sea lions.

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And Nicky is putting her gift of the gab to good use for once.

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If I give you one of those, it shows you where it is.

0:18:400:18:42

-Thank you very much.

-See you.

0:18:420:18:46

Hello!

0:18:460:18:47

Give monkey a cuddle!

0:18:490:18:51

Emma and Rachel are neck and neck, but I mean,

0:18:520:18:56

that's on pretty minimal numbers. I'm sorry Nicky hasn't got any yet.

0:18:560:19:00

-I hope she's doing all right.

-He's got the monkey!

0:19:010:19:05

Despite the showers, the studio is starting to fill up,

0:19:060:19:10

but I want the girls to keep dragging in the customers.

0:19:100:19:12

Nine photos have been bought, one of them was yours. The last one.

0:19:160:19:21

-Oh, great.

-It's about even for Rachel and Emma.

0:19:210:19:24

This is a great way to make me feel BLEEP then, isn't it?

0:19:240:19:27

Don't get upset. It's all right. You're doing your best.

0:19:270:19:29

No, it's not, it's to make me look like even more of a BLEEP lazy BLEEP.

0:19:290:19:33

-Oh, no.

-No, it is!

-Don't get stressed, Nick.

0:19:330:19:37

-No, well it's not, isn't it?

-Don't worry, you get knockbacks.

0:19:370:19:40

I haven't had any knock backs! No-one has knocked me back.

0:19:400:19:43

But they haven't come. It's usual, giving out leaflets.

0:19:430:19:46

You get one in ten, you're lucky.

0:19:460:19:49

-Oh, well then, Emma and Rachel are BLEEP brilliant.

-Oh, dear.

0:19:490:19:52

-You know what...

-I can't say anything right.

0:19:520:19:55

No. No, you can't, I'm sorry, you can't.

0:19:550:19:58

I've never seen so much drama in all my bloody life.

0:19:580:20:01

'Nicky's behaviour is totally unprofessional.'

0:20:020:20:05

I'd rather you hadn't have said... Why say...?

0:20:050:20:07

'But I now see that it's Andy who's letting her get away with it,

0:20:070:20:11

'acting as mum, not boss.'

0:20:110:20:13

Great way to make someone feel BLEEP good, isn't it?

0:20:140:20:17

THUNDER RUMBLES

0:20:190:20:21

Today has been a total washout.

0:20:240:20:27

The problems for PeachyPics

0:20:270:20:29

are so much more than just finding customers.

0:20:290:20:32

And to be honest, I'm realising this one is going to be really difficult.

0:20:320:20:36

I'm already finding it incredibly hard to deal with, basically.

0:20:360:20:41

I feel very frustrated.

0:20:410:20:42

Quite bad-tempered with them, which isn't great, considering

0:20:430:20:47

that this is only the beginning of a long and painful journey.

0:20:470:20:50

And slightly feeling, why should I bother to help them

0:20:500:20:53

if they make absolutely no sodding attempts to help themselves?

0:20:530:20:57

This business is in chaos.

0:21:020:21:04

But like so many family firms,

0:21:040:21:06

PeachyPics is not just about making money.

0:21:060:21:09

For Andy, it runs deeper.

0:21:090:21:11

She set up the studio after recovering from cancer.

0:21:120:21:15

When you have cancer, I think it gives you

0:21:180:21:21

a perspective on life that you can't let things go to waste.

0:21:210:21:25

You can't have any what-ifs in your life, you have to just do it.

0:21:250:21:29

If Andy continues to throw good money after bad,

0:21:310:21:34

she could lose her life savings, the business AND her dream.

0:21:340:21:39

It's been great, working with my girls, and...

0:21:400:21:44

Sorry.

0:21:480:21:50

I wouldn't really, I wouldn't want to pack up, I can't.

0:21:530:21:56

I've got to really make it work. I have to make it work.

0:21:560:21:59

A month later, I'm back in Aylesbury.

0:22:090:22:12

I want to help PeachyPics get back on track,

0:22:120:22:14

but for this business to work, it needs a boss.

0:22:140:22:18

So Andy will have to learn to manage the girls.

0:22:180:22:23

I know it's not easy being boss lady sometimes.

0:22:230:22:26

But to keep on track,

0:22:260:22:28

it's absolutely dependent on you kind of squaring your shoulders

0:22:280:22:31

and just telling each of them what they have to do

0:22:310:22:33

-and making sure that they actually do it.

-I agree.

-Good.

0:22:330:22:37

I've just got to get more focused myself on what needs to be done

0:22:370:22:42

and then I can pass that on to them.

0:22:420:22:44

The best way to focus Andy's mind is to start again from scratch.

0:22:460:22:50

Businesses work on a basic calculation of costs and sales,

0:22:520:22:55

but this is where PeachyPics simply doesn't add up.

0:22:550:22:59

I've worked out that you need to take

0:23:000:23:02

approximately 100,000 a year

0:23:020:23:05

for this business to be profitable.

0:23:050:23:07

One way to make 100K a year would be to make sure that ten people

0:23:070:23:11

came through this door every week who are prepared to spend 200 quid.

0:23:110:23:15

It's quite a big ask, isn't it?

0:23:150:23:18

But I want you to face the cold, hard, horrid facts - we have to

0:23:180:23:23

have more customers who are prepared to have a higher average spend.

0:23:230:23:28

-Do you think you can do it?

-Definitely, yes.

-Yeah?

0:23:300:23:35

You're a bit more tentative.

0:23:350:23:37

-Are you scared?

-No.

0:23:380:23:39

I think it's finding the starting point, isn't it?

0:23:410:23:43

Because it's a bit like, right, we know what we've got to do,

0:23:430:23:46

but where do we actually start?

0:23:460:23:48

I want to start them off by teaching them

0:23:500:23:52

how they can present their photos in a way that adds value.

0:23:520:23:56

To successfully drive sales, you need visual impact.

0:23:560:24:00

So, I've brought them to the Getty Images Gallery in London,

0:24:000:24:03

which sells an archive of over 18 million photographs as high-end art.

0:24:030:24:08

Whenever you're curating anything or putting anything together,

0:24:080:24:12

it's got to have an instant wow factor.

0:24:120:24:14

It's a little bit like when you're going for an interview.

0:24:140:24:17

How you walk in through the door, how you shake hands -

0:24:170:24:20

someone has immediately got an impression.

0:24:200:24:22

As well as keeping the overall look clean and crisp,

0:24:220:24:25

gallery director Louise Garczewska puts a huge amount

0:24:250:24:29

of thought into where each photograph is hung,

0:24:290:24:31

to get the best possible impact and generate higher sales.

0:24:310:24:35

Think about how you're putting them on the wall, how they flow.

0:24:370:24:40

I mean, these are all landscape.

0:24:400:24:43

The way that we've actually hung them creates more impact.

0:24:430:24:47

Because they're just not in a line and just not plonked on the wall,

0:24:470:24:50

and it's the precision about what you do.

0:24:500:24:52

I think these sit together very, very nicely.

0:24:520:24:55

It's all about the black-and-white and it's all about the tone.

0:24:550:24:58

Slightly spooky, in a way, and then in comes this cute little chap here.

0:24:580:25:03

I love the way he sits on the end of there,

0:25:030:25:06

-because he sort of surprises you after these, doesn't he?

-Exactly.

0:25:060:25:09

I love how clean it all is and that it's about the images.

0:25:090:25:13

Your eye's not drawn away by anything else.

0:25:130:25:15

Your eye is drawn to the image, there's no...

0:25:150:25:18

There might be a nice pot of flowers there,

0:25:180:25:20

but that's not what you're drawn to.

0:25:200:25:23

I want the girls to practise adding value

0:25:230:25:25

to their photos by displaying them with a lot more punch.

0:25:250:25:30

So I've set them each a challenge - to curate a mini exhibition

0:25:300:25:33

from 60 of their own photos.

0:25:330:25:36

I hope that shows them how important the thought is that they pay

0:25:360:25:41

their images before they show them to their clients.

0:25:410:25:44

Why don't you talk us through what you've put up and why?

0:25:440:25:47

I grouped them into piles of what I thought complimented each other

0:25:470:25:51

and I kept going back to these because I thought they are quite eye-catching.

0:25:510:25:55

This girl, gazing at all the other girls, giving you eye contact as well.

0:25:550:26:00

I think they show a different side to us, that we're more creative,

0:26:000:26:04

that we're not just stuck in this niche of fun, family photography.

0:26:040:26:09

-Yes. Which it does.

-Which is brilliant. It's very well explained.

0:26:090:26:13

I like the combination of the styles.

0:26:130:26:16

As you say, the direction that the imagery is looking

0:26:160:26:19

and I quite like the level that it's pitched at, visually.

0:26:190:26:22

I have to say, thumbs up. 'Nicky has surprised me.

0:26:220:26:27

'Across the gallery, photographer Rachel has tried something similar.'

0:26:270:26:32

I don't want to be overly critical, but for me,

0:26:320:26:34

I think it's slightly weak. Handsome though he is, he's diluting it.

0:26:340:26:38

Cute that they are, it doesn't seem to work.

0:26:380:26:42

So actually, your sister has done something rather like this,

0:26:420:26:46

but more successfully.

0:26:460:26:48

To be brutal.

0:26:480:26:50

While the girls have gone for impact,

0:26:500:26:52

Andy's layout is harder to get excited by.

0:26:520:26:55

-This is my least favourite board.

-I thought it might be.

0:26:550:26:58

This is my pitch to maybe a hotel or a restaurant.

0:26:580:27:02

They can have a lovely photograph of the building and maybe

0:27:020:27:06

if they do weddings there, how it could look.

0:27:060:27:09

Yes, but what you failed at is giving us some beautiful images!

0:27:090:27:12

-They're not the best images, are they?

-Mmmm.

0:27:120:27:16

I could have picked out some gorgeous portraits... I wish I had, now.

0:27:160:27:21

I am so disappointed, because I feel I've failed.

0:27:210:27:24

I think the point is, it does illustrate how strong every

0:27:240:27:27

image needs to be in order to tell a story.

0:27:270:27:30

I hope Andy has finally learned the lesson of how important

0:27:310:27:35

presentation is to sales.

0:27:350:27:36

But Nicky has proved she might have some talent.

0:27:380:27:40

If I can get her motivated, she may yet make a saleswoman.

0:27:400:27:45

Lots to take home from today. It's been a good experience.

0:27:450:27:49

Yes, lots of positive feedback, so I'm really pleased.

0:27:490:27:53

Presentation is also a problem with their brand image.

0:28:000:28:03

Unless you're in nursery school, I think the name PeachyPics.net

0:28:030:28:07

AND the colours are a real turn-off.

0:28:070:28:09

-Hello, Alex Polizzi.

-'Hi!'

0:28:100:28:12

Thanks.

0:28:120:28:14

So I've brought them to meet Lee Scott at brand agency Firedog.

0:28:140:28:18

He's run international campaigns for hundreds of clients,

0:28:180:28:21

including Sony Ericsson and Clinique.

0:28:210:28:25

-Hopefully, he can set them straight.

-PeachyPics.net.

0:28:250:28:29

It sounds like a small kiosk within a supermarket

0:28:290:28:32

where you'd get pictures developed.

0:28:320:28:34

It doesn't shout out that you're a creative photographic studio.

0:28:340:28:39

The fun, childlike font does make the brand look quite juvenile

0:28:390:28:43

and that's sort of reinforced by the kind of bright, neon colours.

0:28:430:28:46

The least thing it does say is quality and a professional service -

0:28:460:28:49

it says the complete opposite, unfortunately.

0:28:490:28:52

-I'm starting to hate the name PeachyPics now!

-Good!

0:28:520:28:57

Then I can call this afternoon a complete success!

0:28:570:28:59

'To rebrand, Lee thinks they need to start again, from scratch.'

0:29:010:29:06

The .net is the biggest issue.

0:29:070:29:09

It looks like you're an online brand,

0:29:090:29:11

not that you're a physical space that you go to have imagery taken.

0:29:110:29:16

So we're left with PeachyPics.

0:29:160:29:17

Now, we know that Peachy comes from Andy's maiden name.

0:29:170:29:21

It isn't indicative of the family unit at the moment -

0:29:210:29:23

you're all Lane. So maybe we should flip that one out.

0:29:230:29:27

You have the term "pics" in there.

0:29:280:29:30

It's quite a budget, kind of low-end word. It sounds quite throwaway.

0:29:300:29:34

There's maybe another word there we can use which adds to

0:29:340:29:38

the sophistication and professionalism of the business.

0:29:380:29:41

And you're left with something like Lane Studios.

0:29:410:29:45

-So how do you guys feel about that name?

-I don't know.

0:29:450:29:48

I just don't really like it.

0:29:480:29:50

-I think it's kind of boring.

-I love it.

0:29:500:29:54

Although Peach is your maiden name, it doesn't feel anything about me,

0:29:540:29:58

do you know what I mean?

0:29:580:29:59

Where is this feels more like us.

0:29:590:30:02

This is, again, just supposed to start you thinking down that track.

0:30:020:30:07

I'm excited so far. I think it's really good.

0:30:070:30:10

I hate, hate, hate and always have hated our PeachyPics.net

0:30:100:30:14

and the way it's been written.

0:30:140:30:15

I'm incredibly enthusiastic about the transformation of Nicky.

0:30:150:30:18

She appeared to be quite lazy, quite uncommitted.

0:30:180:30:21

That impression has definitely been dissipated today.

0:30:210:30:25

She has been enthusiastic, and somehow a real drive for change,

0:30:250:30:30

so I'm starting to enjoy working with her.

0:30:300:30:33

With Nicky at the fore, there have been some very tentative

0:30:350:30:37

and surprising steps forward.

0:30:370:30:40

But to double their trade, this business needs giant leaps.

0:30:400:30:43

They need to find more customers and fast.

0:30:430:30:46

But rather than focusing on my fix,

0:30:510:30:53

Andy has become obsessed with looking for new premises...

0:30:530:30:56

-High ceilings.

-..which could risk even more of her dwindling life savings.

0:30:560:31:00

-Nice, bright room.

-We're having a rethink now.

0:31:000:31:04

I think we've outgrown the studio where we are.

0:31:040:31:08

It doesn't take her long to find somewhere in the neighbouring

0:31:080:31:11

town of Wendover, but I'm worried it's another enormous gamble,

0:31:110:31:14

so two weeks later, I join them,

0:31:140:31:16

to assess whether Andy is making a good or a bad decision.

0:31:160:31:21

So far, I must say I'm very impressed with the town.

0:31:210:31:24

-It's lovely.

-Is this it?

-Yes.

0:31:240:31:27

-In all its glory.

-Gosh. Well, it's a nice, big, solid building, isn't it?

0:31:270:31:32

'With ten rooms over two floors, it could have potential.'

0:31:330:31:38

A loo!

0:31:380:31:39

We are moving up in the world!

0:31:390:31:42

'But every inch of this property is in need of dramatic work.'

0:31:420:31:46

To make a bit more room,

0:31:460:31:48

we're going to have an archway built through here.

0:31:480:31:51

'I'm worried it's a money pit Andy can ill afford.'

0:31:510:31:54

There's a lot to do.

0:31:570:31:59

Yes.

0:32:000:32:02

'Taking out a three-year lease here is a massive risk,

0:32:020:32:04

'when PeachyPics has never even made a profit.

0:32:040:32:08

'Worse, I can see a huge drawback with these premises -

0:32:090:32:12

'it's not on the high street,

0:32:120:32:14

'so they won't be able to rely on footfall to bring in the punters.'

0:32:140:32:17

It's very easy to get excited about a new premises.

0:32:190:32:23

The colour of the walls, the makeover,

0:32:230:32:25

and it's quite easy to ignore the elephant in the room,

0:32:250:32:29

which is how you're going to get people here to make the money.

0:32:290:32:33

They are now locked into a three-year contract

0:32:330:32:36

and they have got to make every minute of that work for them.

0:32:360:32:40

On the plus side, Wendover is a much more affluent town,

0:32:410:32:44

so every customer they DO get through the door could spend

0:32:440:32:47

significantly more than their current average of £150.

0:32:470:32:52

But hitting my target of ten customers a week in this spot

0:32:520:32:55

will be hard, so we'll really need to blow them away

0:32:550:32:58

with what's on offer.

0:32:580:33:00

They're slightly lacking in creativity.

0:33:000:33:02

I see them do the same poses again and again and again.

0:33:020:33:06

And although they can take a good picture,

0:33:060:33:08

it would be interesting to see them push themselves that much further.

0:33:080:33:12

I've brought Andy and Rachel to meet Daniel Kennedy...

0:33:120:33:14

Nice to meet you, ladies.

0:33:140:33:16

..one of the leading snappers in the business,

0:33:160:33:19

he makes stars like Keira Knightley look good.

0:33:190:33:22

It might be quite good if your arms are through them... Yes, exactly.

0:33:220:33:25

So the leg comes down a little bit - lovely.

0:33:250:33:28

And today, he's let us in on a promo shoot

0:33:280:33:31

with TV starlet Jessica-Jane Clement.

0:33:310:33:33

Love it. Can you see I've gone landscape now,

0:33:340:33:37

so I'm moving all the time,

0:33:370:33:38

my brain is yelling me to do different things.

0:33:380:33:41

Just over my head now, Jess. Lovely. Really nice.

0:33:410:33:46

Can you see there's this wow factor a little bit to the whole

0:33:470:33:50

setup of the shot?

0:33:500:33:52

That's only gone on as a result of us thinking - two days ago,

0:33:520:33:55

we were thinking, what colour wig shall we get? I was like, blue.

0:33:550:33:58

This might not be a look that will take off in Aylesbury,

0:33:580:34:00

but all Dan's shoots have a unique idea at their hearts which is

0:34:000:34:04

meticulously planned days before he snaps a single frame.

0:34:040:34:07

I've got a whole folder here, it's called the download folder

0:34:070:34:10

and it's got about 500 images - things that I've seen that I like.

0:34:100:34:15

If you got a redhead booked in next Wednesday,

0:34:150:34:18

start to think how about you go out

0:34:180:34:20

and get a sack full of autumn leaves and throw those up

0:34:200:34:22

in the background with a hairdryer on and suddenly, her red hair...

0:34:220:34:26

She'll be like, "Oh, my God, I got these amazing pictures of me".

0:34:260:34:29

Dan is not just planning for the next shoot he has,

0:34:290:34:33

he's planning for every next shoot he's ever going to do.

0:34:330:34:36

Also, this is not a shot that you've ever replicated with anyone else?

0:34:360:34:39

No.

0:34:390:34:41

That's what's impressive, darling, to constantly come up

0:34:410:34:43

with something that hasn't been done before, but is very specific.

0:34:430:34:47

A lot of our stuff, we feel we're a little bit limited,

0:34:470:34:51

but it's not like they've spent loads of money on this set.

0:34:510:34:54

The concept of it, it's doing something different,

0:34:540:34:57

that's what everyone wants.

0:34:570:34:59

They don't want, hopefully, to look like everyone else.

0:34:590:35:02

High-end portrait photographers charge hundreds of pounds

0:35:040:35:07

an hour for bespoke shoots with the public.

0:35:070:35:09

And the prints can cost thousands on top.

0:35:090:35:12

But can Andy raise her game to anywhere near this level?

0:35:120:35:15

-Great, it's over to you.

-Thank you.

-Just have a go. Fill your boots.

0:35:160:35:21

Thank you. Just look... Oh! Zooming the wrong way!

0:35:210:35:24

-Just look straight at me.

-The pressure is on.

0:35:240:35:27

That's good.

0:35:300:35:31

-But Andy looks shaken.

-OK, look straight at me.

0:35:330:35:37

Can you look over this way a little bit?

0:35:370:35:39

-And seems to be running out of ideas.

-Could you bring this...

0:35:390:35:43

Your left arm up like this? That's it, lovely.

0:35:440:35:47

Oh, I've got the wrong button again.

0:35:500:35:52

That's lovely. Have I got the right button, hold on?

0:35:520:35:56

Do the hands-in-the-hair shot, like on the mood board, he had...

0:35:560:35:59

Can you do one hand like that and then the other hand low, like that?

0:35:590:36:02

-That's it.

-That's lovely. Thank you, Rachel.

0:36:020:36:05

Fortunately, Rachel proves to be the perfect support for her mum.

0:36:050:36:10

If I can actually get this to go. That's it. I was very nervous, yes.

0:36:100:36:14

But I got through it.

0:36:140:36:16

If I actually get used to the different camera,

0:36:160:36:18

it would have been even better.

0:36:180:36:20

Lovely.

0:36:200:36:21

I tell you what you notice when you see Dan and you see Rachel

0:36:210:36:24

and Andy together, is Dan is a very high-energy person,

0:36:240:36:28

just from the way he talks and the way he expresses himself

0:36:280:36:30

and that's something that I really feel that the Lane girls

0:36:300:36:34

are missing.

0:36:340:36:35

Andy is not getting the best out of Jessica.

0:36:350:36:39

So Dan has an idea to help her nerves and guarantees some

0:36:390:36:41

really expressive shots -

0:36:410:36:43

using a series of comedy props.

0:36:430:36:47

It's not about the lighting or what she's wearing.

0:36:470:36:49

They'll scream, they'll laugh,

0:36:490:36:51

they'll blow a big bubble, they're going to cover one eye,

0:36:510:36:54

I think just shout things out at her, anything.

0:36:540:36:57

-Let's get some great shots.

-OK, right.

-Can you cover one eye?

0:36:570:37:01

Look through your fingers.

0:37:010:37:03

Can you like, mess up your hair, loads, like crazy?

0:37:030:37:07

Bring it all in your face, like that?

0:37:070:37:08

LAUGHTER

0:37:080:37:10

Um, I thought Andy and Rachel were first of all lovely girls,

0:37:150:37:18

you want to be comfortable in front of someone.

0:37:180:37:20

Towards the end of the day, they got more of an idea about me,

0:37:200:37:23

they were like, "Throw your arms up, do this, do that",

0:37:230:37:26

and it was all coming together really well.

0:37:260:37:28

So I think they did brilliantly.

0:37:280:37:29

Stick your tongue out.

0:37:290:37:31

Yeah, that's good!

0:37:320:37:33

Yes, really got into that last shoot, really in the zone,

0:37:330:37:36

cos it was quick and there was lots happening.

0:37:360:37:39

I think they did a really good job.

0:37:390:37:40

This is a different way of working to the one that they're used to.

0:37:400:37:44

Hopefully, now, they've been shown the way...

0:37:440:37:47

-they'll be able to follow it on their own.

-Wahey!

0:37:470:37:50

LAUGHTER

0:37:510:37:54

With a little bit more energy and fun,

0:37:540:37:56

the girls have taken some great photos.

0:37:560:37:59

I look at these immediately

0:37:590:38:01

and think I would probably join four or five

0:38:010:38:02

that I think really work,

0:38:020:38:04

almost like a comic book, really, you know, so you've got a series

0:38:040:38:07

of five of these great expressions that you've managed to capture.

0:38:070:38:10

Once they've laid them down, the results are pretty striking.

0:38:110:38:15

So there are your five - I think they're absolutely brilliant.

0:38:150:38:19

I could never do what she did, but looking at something like this,

0:38:190:38:22

it's the kind of thing that I'd love to give my mum. You know what I mean? For Christmas.

0:38:220:38:25

A whole series of photos of me looking like a twit!

0:38:250:38:29

LAUGHTER

0:38:290:38:31

You know?! It's really appealing.

0:38:310:38:34

I'm really hoping that it's hammered home to Andy

0:38:340:38:37

and Rachel just how much more you get out of a situation,

0:38:370:38:41

a photographic situation like this, the more preparation

0:38:410:38:44

and inspiration you put into it beforehand.

0:38:440:38:48

Now, drop this shoulder right down, that's it.

0:38:510:38:54

This may have helped improve their portrait work,

0:38:540:38:57

but we're still a long way off a successful business model.

0:38:570:39:01

And...go!

0:39:010:39:03

They can't rely on just one revenue stream to get

0:39:030:39:05

to my £100,000 a year target. Successful photographers diversify.

0:39:050:39:10

Industry figures suggest 40% of sales should

0:39:100:39:13

come from non-portrait work.

0:39:130:39:15

I don't think many photographers have the luxury of saying,

0:39:150:39:18

"I only do portraits".

0:39:180:39:21

And THEY are certainly not on the David Bailey level.

0:39:210:39:25

Commercial photography has grown to become the second biggest

0:39:280:39:31

sector in the industry.

0:39:310:39:34

'Every business from high-end chains to your local takeaway now need

0:39:340:39:37

'good pictures to sell their wares online.'

0:39:370:39:41

-Hi.

-Hello.

0:39:410:39:43

Nice to see you.

0:39:430:39:44

'The girls should get a slice of the action,

0:39:440:39:47

'so I want Nicky and Emma to learn to pitch for business.'

0:39:470:39:50

You two are going to be the sales team.

0:39:500:39:52

You have to be, because the other two are the photographers.

0:39:520:39:56

The main aim of this afternoon is to get you used to pitching

0:39:560:39:59

yourself as potential photographers for commercial businesses.

0:39:590:40:04

I've lined up a couple of businesses who

0:40:040:40:06

I know are interested in getting photographs done for their ventures.

0:40:060:40:11

After honing their portfolio, I give the girls half an hour to

0:40:120:40:15

research their potential clients - a hair salon and a butcher.

0:40:150:40:20

I'm a bit worried about pricing, because obviously it's

0:40:200:40:22

something we've never done before, so we don't know really...

0:40:220:40:26

At the end of the day,

0:40:260:40:27

we can just find out what their budget is. We need to get it right.

0:40:270:40:31

They won't succeed unless they put themselves out there.

0:40:310:40:34

Time to try and win some real business.

0:40:340:40:36

Hello, nice to meet you.

0:40:380:40:40

I understand that you're interested in some photography.

0:40:400:40:43

Are you looking just for website or do you want website

0:40:430:40:46

-and stuff that you can use for advertising?

-Both.

-Okey-dokey.

0:40:460:40:50

Did you have a budget in mind?

0:40:500:40:53

I hadn't looked at how much things have cost,

0:40:530:40:55

but nothing is cheap any more, so...

0:40:550:40:58

-No, sadly nothing is cheap!

-I would hope 200 or 300, or £400.

0:40:580:41:02

We're currently doing a rate of £200 an hour.

0:41:020:41:05

We offer a minimum of two hours at that price.

0:41:050:41:09

That includes all your images, so you don't have to pay anything extra on top of that.

0:41:090:41:12

And I get the use of the images or whatever?

0:41:120:41:15

-You get the use of the images for your website...

-And whenever I want?

-Yes.

0:41:150:41:19

A good lead, but Nicky's pitch wasn't as confident as I'd like.

0:41:190:41:23

You need to think through the mechanics of it,

0:41:230:41:25

because you really want a shop list, don't you, when you're doing something like this?

0:41:250:41:29

Can she do better at the salon?

0:41:290:41:31

I'm looking for some leading-edge shots that reflect

0:41:310:41:35

what our salon is about and we want to create an atmosphere that is

0:41:350:41:38

actually not intimidating, that people feel welcome

0:41:380:41:42

-whenever they come into the salon.

-OK.

0:41:420:41:44

We've got a little bit of a portfolio that we can show you.

0:41:440:41:47

Obviously these are sort of an idea - we do staff shots

0:41:470:41:51

and we do product shots as well.

0:41:510:41:53

Again, an interior of a beauty salon that we did before.

0:41:530:41:57

-So you have experience of working in this type of environment?

-Yes.

0:41:570:42:00

Do you have a budget in mind? Do you know?

0:42:000:42:05

As little as possible.

0:42:050:42:06

As little as possible?

0:42:060:42:08

We want to provide you with good photos.

0:42:080:42:11

We want other people to be able to look at them

0:42:110:42:13

and ask you, "Where did you get them done?" and that kind of thing.

0:42:130:42:16

We're quite happy to sit down and have a...

0:42:160:42:18

-So you're happy to negotiate?

-We're happy to negotiate, yes.

0:42:180:42:22

-Sounds like you've got yourself a deal, then.

-Yes? Lovely, thank you.

0:42:220:42:25

-Thank you.

-A much more confident and assertive pitch.

0:42:250:42:29

I thought the girls were absolutely professional.

0:42:300:42:33

They were photographers who looked at what we need, what we wanted

0:42:330:42:38

and that came across very much in the pitch.

0:42:380:42:41

I feel really quite confident about it. We're going to follow it up.

0:42:410:42:46

Even where we are now, there's still loads of independent shops there,

0:42:460:42:52

so we'll get in touch with them and see.

0:42:520:42:54

They can only say yes or no at the end of the day.

0:42:540:42:57

Relatively speaking, I think they've done pretty well.

0:42:570:43:01

It's just whether they can now take this initial impetus

0:43:010:43:04

and use it as a launchpad to create another string to their business.

0:43:040:43:09

If they can build on this, they will have a fighting chance to

0:43:110:43:14

achieve their 100 grand sales target.

0:43:140:43:17

But so far, any progress has only been made when I've pushed them.

0:43:170:43:21

And so needless to say, three weeks later,

0:43:240:43:27

the diary is looking as empty as it did when I arrived.

0:43:270:43:31

It's been really quiet this week.

0:43:310:43:33

Really, really quiet.

0:43:340:43:35

That's next week.

0:43:370:43:38

And the week after.

0:43:410:43:43

It SHOULD pick up, but...

0:43:440:43:46

The girls are back to dawdling -

0:43:480:43:51

incapable of drumming up any fresh business.

0:43:510:43:54

-We do have things to do, so... Yeah.

-What have I got to do?

0:43:540:44:01

I don't know.

0:44:030:44:04

A bit of panic stations going on.

0:44:060:44:09

If this is the girls panicking, we're in serious trouble.

0:44:120:44:16

-What's it for, again?

-It's for a Visa.

0:44:160:44:18

They do at least get a walk-in,

0:44:180:44:19

but it's just a couple of passport photos

0:44:190:44:22

that will earn them the grand total of £20.

0:44:220:44:25

They're all done, yes.

0:44:250:44:26

I'm disgusted that the girls' laziness is putting their

0:44:290:44:32

mum's life savings at risk.

0:44:320:44:33

No-one has even contacted the butcher or hair salon

0:44:340:44:37

since the last time we met.

0:44:370:44:40

All their earlier progress seems like a mirage.

0:44:400:44:42

Their success or failure lies in their hands.

0:44:430:44:46

I'm not going to bring them success.

0:44:460:44:49

Only THEY can bring themselves success and it means getting

0:44:490:44:52

off their bottoms and touting for business, dragging people in.

0:44:520:44:57

Unless they're prepared to do that, this business is going to

0:44:570:44:59

go down the tubes.

0:44:590:45:01

But Andy is supposed to be the boss of this business,

0:45:010:45:04

and it's about time she acted like it.

0:45:040:45:07

It is not acceptable that I've given them,

0:45:070:45:10

and I put myself out to give them

0:45:100:45:13

introductions to two businesses that said they would like to use them...

0:45:130:45:17

-Yes.

-..and that they've never contacted them.

0:45:170:45:20

Even if only to say, politely, thank you so much for your time.

0:45:200:45:23

I feel very frustrated because I feel like there isn't any

0:45:230:45:27

fire in their bellies and you are letting them.

0:45:270:45:30

They would not survive in a business that wasn't owned by you.

0:45:300:45:34

-You need to be tough with them.

-OK.

-Tough love.

0:45:340:45:37

-What do you think?

-Well, I agree with you.

0:45:390:45:42

So why are you letting them get away with it?

0:45:420:45:44

I'm desperate for this to work, but apart from showing the way,

0:45:470:45:52

I cannot make them passionate about doing it.

0:45:520:45:55

I can't enthuse them.

0:45:550:45:57

You're just saying what I think inside.

0:45:570:46:00

I do say to the girls, "Oh, you've got to...do this".

0:46:000:46:05

I think... I'm...just not strong enough, or something. I don't know.

0:46:050:46:10

I don't want this to fail, darling.

0:46:110:46:14

You've made a big business decision, which is to move the studio,

0:46:140:46:18

but I don't know if it was the right decision.

0:46:180:46:20

We have to get those people through the door

0:46:200:46:22

and that is up to the two of you who do not take photographs.

0:46:220:46:26

Unless they do their bloody job,

0:46:260:46:28

there is not going to be photographs to take.

0:46:280:46:31

If you really think,

0:46:310:46:33

after you've committed yourself to three years in another studio,

0:46:330:46:36

then you have got to find a way to kick their arses in gear.

0:46:360:46:40

I feel I'm rubbish as a bloody manager, boss.

0:46:450:46:47

I'm really struggling.

0:46:520:46:55

I can't be horrible to them.

0:46:550:46:57

This business will stand or fall on Andy's ability to step up

0:47:040:47:08

to the plate.

0:47:080:47:10

But with daughters not pulling their weight and the huge refit to tackle

0:47:100:47:13

with limited funds, she has a massive challenge on her hands.

0:47:130:47:17

From one minute to the next,

0:47:190:47:22

I'm really excited about the business and then I'm really scared.

0:47:220:47:26

I'm worried it won't work, that we won't get enough business in.

0:47:280:47:31

With so much on her shoulders,

0:47:330:47:34

it's more important than ever the girls put the effort in.

0:47:340:47:38

Big mother's here, come to see what you've been doing.

0:47:380:47:41

And Andy is forcing herself to crack the whip.

0:47:410:47:44

I've spoken to ten businesses.

0:47:440:47:46

I think you need to step it up a bit,

0:47:460:47:48

because Alex said you need to contact 20 people a day.

0:47:480:47:52

But we can't... We don't physically have the time.

0:47:520:47:55

-We've got customers coming in and out.

-Well, that's just excuses.

0:47:550:47:58

They don't like it, because they think I'm turning into Alex now!

0:48:000:48:04

They'll get used to it, they'll have to, won't they?

0:48:040:48:07

Andy is now also keeping tabs on each of her daughters'

0:48:070:48:11

-sales performance.

-Nick, four! Some more on there, well done.

0:48:110:48:17

-What's that, this morning?

-Yep.

-OK, well done.

0:48:170:48:20

She's not...

0:48:200:48:22

so backwards in coming forward any more.

0:48:220:48:25

There have been times when she's...

0:48:250:48:27

..given in to us a little bit when we've said we'll do it later.

0:48:280:48:31

Now she's like, "No, I want you to do it now",

0:48:310:48:33

which I think is brilliant, to be fair,

0:48:330:48:35

because we can take advantage of each other a little bit.

0:48:350:48:38

Hello, can I speak to the manager?

0:48:380:48:40

It's been a long road, and running a family business is no easy street,

0:48:400:48:44

but the penny seems to have finally dropped - at least for now.

0:48:440:48:48

It's my last day with PeachyPics

0:49:000:49:02

and I'm longing to see the new studio in action.

0:49:020:49:05

But there's bad news -

0:49:050:49:06

and my final meeting with Andy is back at the shopping centre. Hi!

0:49:060:49:11

-Hello.

-How are you?

-I'm good, thank you. How are you?

0:49:110:49:16

Really well. I'm surprised that you're still here.

0:49:160:49:20

I know, so are we.

0:49:200:49:21

There was a few problems with the place that we want to move into.

0:49:210:49:26

There's a problem with the chimney, it's got a crack in it. It's got dangerous electrics.

0:49:260:49:30

I don't want to move in when there's problems with it.

0:49:300:49:33

I want them fixed, or at least a promise to get them fixed,

0:49:330:49:36

-before I move in.

-You still think it's going to happen, then?

0:49:360:49:39

Yes, yes.

0:49:390:49:41

I do. I hope so, because we're out of here in about six weeks.

0:49:410:49:45

Well, I'm sorry that you're not in your studio for me

0:49:450:49:48

to be able to applaud loudly at the massive change.

0:49:480:49:51

You can't wait for all the stars to be aligned.

0:49:510:49:54

It is about you making your own fortune.

0:49:540:49:57

With no contract between her and the landlord yet signed,

0:49:580:50:01

I think there's still every chance that the move could fall through.

0:50:010:50:05

I'm not sure that the landlord is prepared to do all

0:50:050:50:09

the changes that she's expecting.

0:50:090:50:11

He might decide to sell the building

0:50:110:50:12

and not be bothered to do anything to it

0:50:120:50:15

and that would leave her both out of pocket and out of studio space.

0:50:150:50:20

But if they are to hit the £100,000 annual turnover,

0:50:220:50:26

it's vital that we hold an event to let people know

0:50:260:50:28

about the revitalised business and increase their customer numbers.

0:50:280:50:32

So I've hired a shop in Wendover to set up a temporary exhibition

0:50:340:50:37

of their improved photos, which they will launch in four hours.

0:50:370:50:41

Lease or no lease,

0:50:420:50:43

Wendover is a far better place to target wealthy clients,

0:50:430:50:47

and if all goes well,

0:50:470:50:49

means people will know who they are when they move to the new premises.

0:50:490:50:54

This exhibition is a massive deal for us. It's the first time

0:50:540:50:57

we've tried to showcase all our work that we've done.

0:50:570:51:00

We have had stuff on our website,

0:51:000:51:03

but we really want to show off what we can do today.

0:51:030:51:07

If we get the babies over here...

0:51:070:51:09

-Gosh, that's gorgeous! Is that Jessica?

-Yes.

0:51:110:51:14

Darling, that's lovely!

0:51:140:51:16

'As well as the striking portraits,

0:51:180:51:20

'I'm thrilled to see that there's been a push for commercial shoots.'

0:51:200:51:25

A big part of the exhibition is going to be our commercial stuff.

0:51:270:51:31

It's not been the biggest part of our business,

0:51:310:51:34

and it still isn't, but we want it to be as big as the portrait.

0:51:340:51:38

-Darling, these are really good.

-Thank you. I loved doing it.

0:51:380:51:43

-I really loved doing it and I didn't expect to.

-I'm impressed.

0:51:430:51:48

And this is such a good source of income.

0:51:480:51:51

The gallery space really grabs the attention.

0:51:530:51:56

They've clearly learnt the lesson that showcasing their photos

0:51:560:51:59

in simple themed displays shows their work off to great effect.

0:51:590:52:03

It's a world apart from the old PeachyPics.net

0:52:050:52:07

and they've even taken the branding agency's advice

0:52:070:52:11

and chosen a new name that is much more fitting to a professional

0:52:110:52:14

photographic business - Peach Lane Studios.

0:52:140:52:18

Darling, you come quite a long way from PeachyPics to Peach Lane.

0:52:180:52:21

-It looks very chic, the name.

-Yes, it looks better.

0:52:210:52:25

It looks very smart, very professional.

0:52:250:52:28

Sadly, not all the family will be here to promote it

0:52:280:52:31

for the first time. Nicky can't make it. Her young son is ill.

0:52:310:52:36

-How are you feeling about tonight?

-A little bit nervous.

0:52:360:52:40

Upset that Nicky can't be here, but hopefully it will be OK in the end.

0:52:400:52:44

Darling, all I can say is roll on the mulled wine!

0:52:440:52:48

-You can't have vodka in mulled wine, can you?

-No, no.

0:52:480:52:51

If you could, I would!

0:52:510:52:52

They've got some lovely images in there.

0:52:530:52:55

But they haven't had a huge presence in Wendover.

0:52:550:52:58

This afternoon, this evening, is all about getting names and

0:52:580:53:01

contacts and making sure that their name is out there in the community.

0:53:010:53:07

Mix 96, Bucks' best mix of music, morning, it's Gareth here.

0:53:070:53:11

If your Facebook photo makes you look like Sloth from the Goonies,

0:53:110:53:14

Peach Lane Studios are going to be in Wendover

0:53:140:53:16

with a pop-up exhibition - go and check it out.

0:53:160:53:19

Hello, can I give you guys a leaflet, please?

0:53:190:53:22

Having targeted the local schools and businesses, Rachel has taken on

0:53:220:53:26

Nicky's marketing role and is leafleting up until the last minute.

0:53:260:53:31

Thank you very much.

0:53:310:53:32

But will it be enough to get people through the doors

0:53:320:53:34

for Peach Lane Studio's inaugural exhibition?

0:53:340:53:37

Hi, very nice to meet you.

0:53:420:53:44

She's so gorgeous, she had the tiniest little bum.

0:53:440:53:47

Comparing this to their studio in Aylesbury, it's...

0:53:470:53:51

There IS no comparison, this is wonderful.

0:53:510:53:54

I think they're amazing, really stunning photos.

0:53:540:53:57

The large prints look really amazing.

0:53:570:53:59

I think it's wonderful.

0:53:590:54:01

It's great to see it here and there was a buzz about the arrival.

0:54:010:54:06

Clearly this afternoon, it seems to have had a very warm welcome.

0:54:060:54:09

Some of their commercial clients have come too,

0:54:090:54:12

and I'm keen to hear what impression the girls made on them.

0:54:120:54:15

-You own this restaurant?

-I do own a restaurant down the road, yes.

0:54:150:54:19

-Were you happy with the photos?

-Fantastic, they came up very well.

0:54:190:54:22

-Good.

-They came in and they were very professional,

0:54:220:54:24

then they enjoyed all the food afterwards, as well!

0:54:240:54:27

The girls have set up a quick-fire photo booth to show off their new,

0:54:290:54:32

fun way of working, which is a clever marketing strategy.

0:54:320:54:36

-Quick, quick! Heads together!

-It's a real hit with the kids.

0:54:360:54:40

Even the big ones(!)

0:54:420:54:43

Raar!

0:54:460:54:47

Oh, lovely! That's it! Your time is up.

0:54:530:54:56

That's the best one.

0:54:560:54:57

What a twit I look! Brilliant, it's brilliant.

0:54:590:55:03

So I've seen lots of people having fun and actually,

0:55:030:55:07

it's nice to see how many people have come and supported them.

0:55:070:55:09

I've been really pleased how many people have turned up.

0:55:090:55:12

I was busy taking photos and turned around and suddenly,

0:55:120:55:17

there was loads of people, it's packed.

0:55:170:55:21

The turnout has been impressive

0:55:210:55:22

and I'm thrilled that the girls are now savvy enough to get contacts

0:55:220:55:26

for every person here, so they can chase up bookings at a later date.

0:55:260:55:30

I think since we first met Alex, we have moved on quite a bit.

0:55:310:55:35

I really love the new name. It looks so much better.

0:55:350:55:38

We've always known what we've wanted to do,

0:55:380:55:41

but never done it, so this has been such an eye-opener,

0:55:410:55:44

so I can't wait to start again, really.

0:55:440:55:47

The most important advice Alex has given me

0:55:480:55:51

is to be more proactive and to be stronger with the girls.

0:55:510:55:55

Be the boss and not just Mum.

0:55:550:55:58

One day, I'm going to retire, so they'll have to carry it on.

0:55:580:56:01

-To Peach Lane Studios.

-Cheers.

0:56:010:56:04

United, I think there is real possibility.

0:56:040:56:07

Don't be passive, don't wait for business to come to you.

0:56:070:56:10

That way, failure lies.

0:56:100:56:12

You just have got to go out and really get them by the scruff

0:56:120:56:15

of the neck and shake them

0:56:150:56:16

till their money drops out of their pockets.

0:56:160:56:19

I must say, I'm really pleased with how it's worked out -

0:56:210:56:24

I never thought they would do as well.

0:56:240:56:27

They're getting people out on such a miserable night.

0:56:270:56:29

Certainly, they've taken at least some of the advice I've given them.

0:56:290:56:33

They're thinking much more commercially, they're thinking

0:56:330:56:36

much more practically, they're keeping an eye on their finances.

0:56:360:56:39

Tonight has given me

0:56:390:56:41

enough confidence to think that maybe they've turned the corner.

0:56:410:56:45

Eight weeks later, time is up on the girls' studio space

0:56:510:56:54

in the shopping centre, so what's next for Peach Lane Studios?

0:56:540:56:58

Well, we've signed the lease at last!

0:56:590:57:02

There's loads to do, but what we're going to do is the bit that the

0:57:020:57:06

customers are going to see first.

0:57:060:57:08

How long all together, do you think?

0:57:080:57:10

-Mmm... Two weeks.

-I'm going to hold you to that.

0:57:100:57:14

And impressively,

0:57:140:57:15

Andy has more than managed to calm my fears about the building.

0:57:150:57:19

She has negotiated the first nine months rent-free

0:57:190:57:21

and after that, it will still be a lower rate than the Aylesbury

0:57:210:57:25

premises - saving her £8,000 a year.

0:57:250:57:28

We got a little bit of leeway, but now we're in here,

0:57:280:57:31

I want to get it done as quickly as possible.

0:57:310:57:34

I can't wait!

0:57:340:57:35

Bring it down a bit, so it's pointing... That's it.

0:57:380:57:40

Rachel is also busy in Wendover.

0:57:400:57:42

She's pushing the commercial shoots.

0:57:420:57:45

This time, she's doing a tryout for a high street boutique.

0:57:450:57:48

I've done half a dozen commercial photo shoots

0:57:480:57:52

since Alex has been with us to try and build up my portfolio.

0:57:520:57:56

That's great, that's really great, actually.

0:57:560:57:58

But turning test shoots into real contracts has not been plain sailing.

0:57:580:58:02

We're just going to have to keep on pushing to get new customers.

0:58:020:58:05

We can't sit back and wait for them to come through the door,

0:58:050:58:08

like we used to. We're fully aware of that now.

0:58:080:58:11

The average shoot takings are up by almost 90% and it

0:58:110:58:14

looks like they stand a good chance of keeping the family firm intact.

0:58:140:58:17

I was never going to sack one of my daughters, I couldn't do that.

0:58:170:58:21

We're all working together now.

0:58:230:58:25

The girls are all getting on OK and things are looking good.

0:58:250:58:29

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