OK this new phenomenon, well, relatively new phenomenon has been interesting to watch. What I mean by reality business shows are when "experts" in a field come to a failing business and "turn it around"
Some prime examples include -- Tabatha's Salon Takeover, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Mary Queen of Shops -- yes, I admit I'm taken in. I'm interested in what is happening in failing businesses. And these industries (salon, food, and retail) are fascinating, because they are so dominated by marketing and truly connecting with customers, in a very raw and in-your-face way.
But what's fascinating is the ugly way that these experts try to "help" these failing establishments. I'm here to help -- but first.. YOU SUCK!!! YOU ARE TOTALLY INCOMPETENT!!! I wonder if there was some sort of psychological study done before starting these shows. Break down the owner's psyche before building them back up.
What also impresses me is how completely DIRTY these businesses are. I don't know if they look for that, because of the visual aspects of the medium or if it's just really common that if your business is failing, one of the first corners you cut is proper cleaning and hygiene or maybe just a loss of things in the sense of the basics.
It also amazes me that folks with so little experience or capability are able to get loans for these sorts of businesses. I mean, what sort of business plan were they able to present to a loan officer if they don't even know the basics. Maybe it's just so alluring to have this sort of business that bankers just want to invest.
But what's really struck me is how these shows have managed to get meaner and meaner to the business owners. It must be a part of the appeal to the viewers to feel that others are incompetent and that you (the viewer) understand something so basic that the business owner didn't get... They must deserve to be denigrated by the expert that's dressing them down on national TV. Actually International TV...
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