4 ms·

There's risk associated in shunning your existing clientele in hopes of attracting a newer, more premium clientele.

by johnmaguire2013 8y ago

sgc 8y ago
Certainly less risk than just closing up shop.
masklinn 8y ago
If clients have to wait hours for a burger, the existing clientele is gone either way. If you end up folding, the existing clientele is hosed anyway. And as the original commenter noted, you could put coupons in the local newspaper and the library and whatever else, so the locals have access to burgers at the old price.
- kibwen 8y ago
  Or you have someone whose job it is to stand outside and memorize the names and faces of local patrons and turn away any newcomer who can't present an ID with a local address. You can have a second entrance for everyone else, takeout-only, with an hours-long wait, which plenty of food tourists will happily endure.
  - somabc 8y ago
    I see you are familiar with Berlin nightclubs!
- dark567 8y ago
  Lots of bars have "regulars" that they give unadvertised discounts too. This isn't an unsolved problem, you don't even need to go as far as coupons.
lotsofpulp 8y ago
If there's enough demand, then it should be possible to increase capacity.
toofy 8y ago
I think this is the point many people are seemingly missing. Ask any family restaurant/bar owner in a seasonal tourist destination and they’ll explain why locals must be one of the first considerations before you make drastic changes. Particularly if an important reason for opening was a personal preference to serve locals over tourists in the first place. It’s incredibly interesting to see how few people understand that someone may open a business with priorities other than massive growth potential.
- dahauns 8y ago
  >It’s incredibly interesting to see how few people understand that someone may open a business with priorities other than massive growth potential. It really is interesting, but hardly surprising, given the demographics of this forum. :)

There's risk associated in shunning your existing clientele in hopes of attracting a newer, more premium clientele.

sgc 8y ago

Certainly less risk than just closing up shop.

If clients have to wait hours for a burger, the existing clientele is gone either way. If you end up folding, the existing clientele is hosed anyway. And as the original commenter noted, you could put coupons in the local newspaper and the library and whatever else, so the locals have access to burgers at the old price.

kibwen 8y ago
Or you have someone whose job it is to stand outside and memorize the names and faces of local patrons and turn away any newcomer who can't present an ID with a local address. You can have a second entrance for everyone else, takeout-only, with an hours-long wait, which plenty of food tourists will happily endure.
- somabc 8y ago
  I see you are familiar with Berlin nightclubs!
dark567 8y ago
Lots of bars have "regulars" that they give unadvertised discounts too. This isn't an unsolved problem, you don't even need to go as far as coupons.

lotsofpulp 8y ago

If there's enough demand, then it should be possible to increase capacity.

toofy 8y ago

I think this is the point many people are seemingly missing. Ask any family restaurant/bar owner in a seasonal tourist destination and they’ll explain why locals must be one of the first considerations before you make drastic changes. Particularly if an important reason for opening was a personal preference to serve locals over tourists in the first place. It’s incredibly interesting to see how few people understand that someone may open a business with priorities other than massive growth potential.

dahauns 8y ago
>It’s incredibly interesting to see how few people understand that someone may open a business with priorities other than massive growth potential. It really is interesting, but hardly surprising, given the demographics of this forum. :)