I was inspired today to write this as I sat in a pub watching my beloved Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea 2 nil. A "potential" customer parked outside the doors of the pub. It has a very small parking lot and anyone with any sense or respect for others would have parked elsewhere if not going into the pub. It was a Sunday and street parking is free. This young couple parked right in front of the doors and large windows of the pub and blatantly walked across the street to another restaurant. The obvious reaction of the waitress was to call to them or get the parking authority to come and issue a ticket. In the same situation, I too would probably call the parking cops. But on second blush, what does that accomplish? 1. The parking authority collects the money for the fine, the business gets nothing. 2. Your staff person might have to show up in court if the person decides to fight the ticket. 3. You end up with an potential customer who will never darken your doors and will tell everyone they know. 4. The spot will still be taken up for other potential customers. All in all a lose lose situation. As well, these people may well have planned to park here and come back later for a drink? unlikely at 10:30 AM, but possible? So what is the best plan? Why not design a small ticket sized brochure that looks like a parking ticket and place it on the windshield of your illegal Parker. Word it in a nice way reflecting that we noticed you parked in our business and didn't come in offer a special or coupon to come in. Record the license make and model on the fake ticket, helping them further understand without threatening that you may have recorded their license for future violations. You have set up the potential of a much happier ending. Nothing short of thousands of dollars of therapy will change people who don't respect others, but this might go a long way in attracting a customer.
Remember the song" Sign Sign everywhere a sign, Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind, Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?" In that simple message was a gem for business owners. How do you feel as a potential customer, when a business restricts where you can park? Lets use Rite Aid as in the picture as an example. I see many of these in strip malls where there are numerous businesses. Lets say Rite Aid is your local pharmacy and you do business there regularly and you need to go to another store in the strip mall and their designated parking is full. Do you park in the Rite Aid spot? most likely. Are you looking over your shoulder? most likely. Is that a comfortable experience? and who made it uncomfortable? Rite Aid. Next time you go out to a pharmacy you might think that Shoppers Drug Mart is in a mall and doesn't restrict your parking, I think I'll go there!
This one is for may dad. One more sign that has the potential to upset potential customers and you can see it above. As my dad puts it "have you ever really had to go?" Nothing will turn my father off a business more than this sign. Restricting potential customers is a sign that you don't need or want their business. Another strategy may be similar to the above parking strategy. This jovial looking coffee shop owner might be better off after a person comes in and asks "can I just use your washroom?" Sure... and here's a 2 for one coupon if you'd like to stay for a coffee or come back another time.
Why put this in an advertising blog? Simply put, NO ADVERTISING is going to make up for bad impressions left with your customers. It's all part of the plan. Image, Service and communicating that through your advertising. Until next time, I'm Larry the Ad Man!
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