Sell The Unsellable

Event Description

Sell the Unsellable is a sales-pitch competition that challenges participants to sell an ordinary, unusual or seemingly useless object. Participants must turn an object such as a used napkin, a single slipper or a broken umbrella into a product that customers would want to buy.

The competition tests creativity, persuasion, confidence, humour and the ability to think on one's feet.

Event Design

• Team size: 1-2 members
• Preparation Time: 5 minutes to write and organise the sales pitch.
• Presentation Time: 3 minutes per participant.
• Q&A Session: 2 minutes per participant for questions and objections from the judges.
• Materials: Mystery products will be provided to participants at the venue on the day of the event.

Competition Format

Product Selection

• Each participant will randomly pick one object from the mystery box.
• Products cannot be exchanged or replaced.

Preparation Round

• Participants will receive exactly 5 minutes to write and organise their sales pitch.
• They may create a product name, set a price, identify a target customer and invent unique selling points.
• Participants must prepare independently and may not seek external assistance.

Live Sales Pitch

• Each participant will get 3 minutes to present their sales pitch on stage.
• Participants must convince the judges and audience that their assigned product is worth purchasing, regardless of its actual condition or purpose.
• Participants may use humour, storytelling, creative branding and imaginative marketing techniques.
• The pitch should demonstrate their ability to create value and make an otherwise unsellable product desirable.

Q&A Session

• Following the presentation, each participant will have 2 minutes to answer questions from the judges.
• Judges will act as potential customers, negotiate prices, raise objections or challenge the product's usefulness.
• Participants will be evaluated on their ability to think on their feet and respond convincingly.

Rules and Regulations

• Team Size: Each team must consist of strictly 1–2 participants.
• Product Selection: Participants must choose one mystery product from the available boxes. The product selected will be recorded by the OC. Exchanging, swapping or replacing products is strictly prohibited. Any violation will attract consequences as outlined in the General Rules, at the discretion of the OC.
• Preparation Time: The 5-minute preparation period will begin once the participant receives their selected product.
• Independent Preparation: Participants must prepare their pitches independently. Any form of external assistance or prompting is prohibited. Violations will attract consequences as outlined in the General Rules.
• Time Limit: Each participant will receive exactly 5 minutes for preparation, followed by 3 minutes for the presentation and  1minutes for the Q&A session.
• Time Enforcement: Time limits will be strictly enforced. No additional time will be provided, and the pitch will be stopped once the allotted time is over.
• Pitch Creativity: Participants may use humour, storytelling, creative branding and imaginative selling techniques to make their pitches engaging.
• Appropriate Content: All pitches must remain appropriate. Vulgar, obscene, discriminatory, hateful or offensive content is strictly prohibited. Violations will attract consequences as outlined in the General Rules.
• Reporting Time: Participants must report at the time communicated by the OC. Late arrivals or absences may result in forfeiture of their slot.
• Conduct: Participants must maintain decorum and treat judges, organisers, volunteers and fellow participants with respect.
• Rule Violations: The OC may deduct marks or disqualify participants for exceeding time limits, receiving outside assistance, refusing to follow instructions or engaging in misconduct.
• Disruption: Any attempt to disrupt another participant's pitch or improperly influence the judges may result in disqualification.
• Final Decisions: Decisions made by the judges and OC regarding scoring, penalties, ties and results will be final and binding.
• Other Violations: Any other violations will be dealt with at the discretion of the OC, as outlined in the General Rules.

Judging, Results and Prizes

• Each participant will be scored independently by a panel of judges.
• The participant securing the highest score will be declared the winner.
• Ties will be resolved at the discretion of the judges and the OC.

Prizes

- 1st place: ₹10,000 and direct entry to Milky Way.