Okay so I'm working at the Juice Bar today. Not alot people in at the moment. So I kinda space out and start thinking about other random things.
So this woman comes in and notices our sign that says "Washroom for customers only". So she asks me if it's okay. Of course I say "Oh sure, go ahead. Only I think there's someone in there, so you might have to wait a moment".
Turns out there was, so she takes a seat and starts looking at the menu. For a minute I thought she might order something. She didn't. But that's besides the point.
Anyways, so I got to thinking what a hugely dumb marketing idea those signs were. If you had to use the washroom, would you really buy something? Of course not, you'd go somewhere else. But at least people are coming in, checking out what you have to offer. If they move on, they move on.
Juicy Lucy's has a lot of dumb marketing ideas like that. Oh well, I'd like to think that if I were running things, we would be alot more successful. Or maybe not. Who knows?
Posts
1 comments:
People are afraid to break rules. They're afraid of doing what they're not supposed to, because of some nebulous consequence if they're bad. The signs are effective in that they play on that instinct.
Part of the reason of putting the signs up too is self-importance. It's generally understood that washrooms are for customers only. I'm not going to walk into the Blue Water Cafe just to use the washroom, but I won't even do it for Subway (though really, I avoid using their washrooms anyway). Most people are the same, and the inconsiderate ones don't care anyway. Still, people say 'I'm going to put up a sign, and then EVERYONE will know how I run my restaurant.
Still, it's mostly the rules thing. Watch how many people, on a Sunday night, will wait for the light to cross an empty street (I did this until I lived in Montréal), or how many people try to squeeze by on the sidewalk on Robson behind the museum, when the streets are completely bare. No one does it because they're not 'supposed to', and they're afraid someone will call them on it.
Of course, even if they do, people will get defensive and rationalize it, even if they knew it was wrong ('It doesn't say customers only!') – so prevention is the best medicine.
Post a Comment