45 - The plastic aubergine
Language to use in an 'elevator pitch'
Anna's about to pitch her plastic vegetable idea to Paul, but will she have the chance to speak to him? The only opportunity may be very short - Anna will need to get her elevator pitch perfect if she's going to be successful!
Intermediate · 170510 · 2017-05-10
Anna's about to pitch her plastic vegetable idea to Paul, but will she have the chance to speak to him? The only opportunity may be very short - Anna will need to get her elevator pitch perfect if she's going to be successful! Language to use in an 'elevator pitch' This episode focuses on what to say when you have limited time to pitch a new idea, perhaps in a lift or elevator.
1. We've come up with an exciting new product.
BBC UK: We've come up with an exciting new product.
2. This fantastic product will be a great addition to table decorations in the cafe and restaurant market.
BBC UK: This fantastic product will be a great addition to table decorations in the cafe and restaurant market.
3. We can increase efficiency but maintain quality.
BBC UK: We can increase efficiency but maintain quality.
4. By my calculations, we can increase profits by 20%.
BBC UK: By my calculations, we can increase profits by 20%.
5. I'm confident this new product will be a huge success.
BBC UK: I'm confident this new product will be a huge success.
1. Narrator
Hello and welcome to English at Work. The company's computer system has been fixed and Anna seems to have found a new friend in Dave, the IT support man. But her main concern now is pitching her new idea for a plastic aubergine, to Paul the boss.
BBC UK: Hello and welcome to English at Work. The company's computer system has been fixed and Anna seems to have found a new friend in Dave, the IT support man. But her main concern now is pitching her new idea for a plastic aubergine, to Paul the boss.
2. Tom
So Anna, that guy didn't really know what he was doing did he?
BBC UK: So Anna, that guy didn't really know what he was doing did he?
3. Anna
You mean Dave?
BBC UK: You mean Dave?
4. Tom
Dave - was that his name? He had a really bad smell.
BBC UK: Dave – was that his name? He had a really bad smell.
5. Anna
No he didn't. He's done a great job. Look everything is working so, if you don't mind, I think we should get this pitch for Paul finished.
BBC UK: No he didn't. He's done a great job. Look everything is working so, if you don't mind, I think we should get this pitch for Paul finished.
6. Denise
You'd better hurry up. Paul's taking the afternoon off to go to his cookie lovers’ convention.
BBC UK: You'd better hurry up. Paul's taking the afternoon off to go to his biscuit lovers’ convention.
7. Tom
Oh right. Well, we might as well leave it until tomorrow then Anna.
BBC UK: Oh right. Well, we might as well leave it until tomorrow then Anna.
8. Anna
No Tom. There’s no time like the present - I heard someone say that once - we've got to get our idea to Paul as soon as possible. Then we might have time for a drink, or shall I ask Dave?!
BBC UK: No Tom. There’s no time like the present – I heard someone say that once – we've got to get our idea to Paul as soon as possible. Then we might have time for a drink, or shall I ask Dave?!
9. Tom
No, no, you're right. Look, I'll design some pictures of the aubergine and you get the results of our survey together, yeah?
BBC UK: No, no, you're right. Look, I'll design some pictures of the aubergine and you get the results of our survey together, yeah?
10. Anna
Great.
BBC UK: Great.
11. Narrator
Well done Anna. Remember to make your pitch clear and exciting. Really sell it with words like 'exceptional!', 'fantastic!', 'quality', 'profit', 'efficiency', and 'value for money'.
BBC UK: Well done Anna. Remember to make your pitch clear and exciting. Really sell it with words like 'exceptional!', 'fantastic!', 'quality', 'profit', 'efficiency', and 'value for money'.
12. Anna
OK, I've got all that. I'm just adding some of the facts and figures from our customer survey.
BBC UK: OK, I've got all that. I'm just adding some of the facts and figures from our customer survey.
13. Tom
Anna, I've got the designs, they're coming off the printer now.
BBC UK: Anna, I've got the designs, they're coming off the printer now.
14. Paul
Denise, I’m off now. Can’t wait any longer for my garibaldis!
BBC UK: Denise, I’m off now. Can’t wait any longer for my garibaldis!
15. Anna
Wait Paul! I need to tell you about our new product idea.
BBC UK: Wait Paul! I need to tell you about our new product idea.
16. Paul
Well, I, I, have to go. Can you tell me about it in the lift?
BBC UK: Well, I, I, have to go. Can you tell me about it in the lift?
17. Anna
In the lift? Do I have to?
BBC UK: In the lift? Do I have to?
18. Paul
Sorry Anna, but that's the only time I’ve got.
BBC UK: Sorry Anna, but that's the only time I’ve got.
19. Narrator
Right Anna. It's time for your 'elevator pitch' - an elevator is an American word for lift. You’ll need to pitch your idea quickly and concisely. You need to tell Paul what the product is and who your market is. Then talk about how you hope it will make money for the company. Talk about the evidence you have that it will be successful and convince him it will really benefit the business.
BBC UK: Right Anna. It's time for your 'elevator pitch' – an elevator is an American word for lift. You’ll need to pitch your idea quickly and concisely. You need to tell Paul what the product is and who your market is. Then talk about how you hope it will make money for the company. Talk about the evidence you have that it will be successful and convince him it will really benefit the business.
20. Anna
Phew, there's a lot to say in a short time but here goes.
BBC UK: Phew, there's a lot to say in a short time but here goes.
21. Paul
Anna, could you just press the 0 button there, thanks.
BBC UK: Anna, could you just press the 0 button there, thanks.
22. Anna
Now Paul. Tom and I have come up with a new exciting product - the plastic aubergine.
BBC UK: Now Paul. Tom and I have come up with a new exciting product – the plastic aubergine.
23. Paul
Oh yes?
BBC UK: Oh yes?
24. Anna
Yes. This fantastic product will be a great addition to table decorations in the café and restaurant market.
BBC UK: Yes. This fantastic product will be a great addition to table decorations in the café and restaurant market.
25. Paul
Will it now? Do you really think it will be a profitable addition to our plastic portfolio?
BBC UK: Will it now? Do you really think it will be a profitable addition to our plastic portfolio?
26. Anna
Oh yes. Using the same plastics as our fruits, we can easily re-mould our bananas and change the color. We can increase efficiency but maintain quality.
BBC UK: Oh yes. Using the same plastics as our fruits, we can easily re-mould our bananas and change the colour. We can increase efficiency but maintain quality.
27. Paul
And profits?
BBC UK: And profits?
28. Anna
By my calculations, we can increase profits by 20%. That's based on selling the same quantity that we now sell of Imperial Lemons.
BBC UK: By my calculations, we can increase profits by 20%. That's based on selling the same quantity that we now sell of Imperial Lemons.
29. Paul
Hmm, 20%, really? But do you know who’s going to buy this product?
BBC UK: Hmm, 20%, really? But do you know who’s going to buy this product?
30. Anna
I do. We've conducted a survey and already found 10 new companies who would buy this and 27 existing customers who have shown an interest in it...
BBC UK: I do. We've conducted a survey and already found 10 new companies who would buy this and 27 existing customers who have shown an interest in it…
31. Anna
...and I'm confident this new product will be a huge success.
BBC UK: …and I'm confident this new product will be a huge success.
32. Paul
Very impressive. You've certainly done your homework. Look, let me chew it over - probably on a custard cream - and I'll get back to you.
BBC UK: Very impressive. You've certainly done your homework. Look, let me chew it over – probably on a custard cream – and I'll get back to you.
33. Anna
Thanks. Paul, Paul... you've forgotten your bag.
BBC UK: Thanks. Paul, Paul… you've forgotten your bag.
34. Paul
Oh yes, I'll need that. Thanks.
BBC UK: Oh yes, I'll need that. Thanks.
35. Narrator
Great work Anna! You convinced me but have you convinced Paul? So Anna's done her first 'elevator pitch' and kept to the facts. Here's a reminder of some of the things she said: We've come up with an exciting new product. This fantastic product will be a great addition to table decorations in the café and restaurant market. We can increase efficiency but maintain quality. By my calculations, we can increase profits by 20%. I'm confident this new product will be a huge success.
BBC UK: Great work Anna! You convinced me but have you convinced Paul? So Anna's done her first 'elevator pitch' and kept to the facts. Here's a reminder of some of the things she said: We've come up with an exciting new product. This fantastic product will be a great addition to table decorations in the café and restaurant market. We can increase efficiency but maintain quality. By my calculations, we can increase profits by 20%. I'm confident this new product will be a huge success.
36. Tom
So, how did it go Anna?
BBC UK: So, how did it go Anna?
37. Anna
I'm not sure. I told Paul as much as I could and I think he listened.
BBC UK: I'm not sure. I told Paul as much as I could and I think he listened.
38. Tom
Good, good. So, what are you doing now?
BBC UK: Good, good. So, what are you doing now?
39. Anna
I've got to meet someone.
BBC UK: I've got to meet someone.
40. Tom
Anyone I know?
BBC UK: Anyone I know?
41. Anna
No, not really.
BBC UK: No, not really.
42. Tom
It's Dave from IT isn't it? What does she see in him?
BBC UK: It's Dave from IT isn't it? What does she see in him?
43. Narrator
Do you want me to answer that Tom?! Anna may have fallen for the charms of Dave but let's hope she keeps her mind on her plastic aubergines. Join us again next time on English at Work.
BBC UK: Do you want me to answer that Tom?! Anna may have fallen for the charms of Dave but let's hope she keeps her mind on her plastic aubergines. Join us again next time on English at Work.
Question
How much does Anna hope her new product will increase profits by?
Answer
20%.