Free water
There is nothing like an offer of something for nothing to attract a crowd. Today it was the opening of yet another water dispensing station. That brings the number to 5 in our immediate area. For something as simple as water you would think it quite difficult to differentiate your product over competitors. But as anyone in marketing knows, it can be done.
Location: Place your water station on a corner or a thoroughfare.
Presentation: Lots of shiny stainless steel pipes and fancy filters lit violet blue behind clear Perspex windows.
Authenticity: Provide an official looking document with detailed analysis of the water along with some local authority sanctioning the business.
Choice: Offer 3 types of water at 2 different prices
Promotion: Offer free water, balloons and some gimics.
And that is what they hope will differentiate their water from the water 30 metres down the road.
You can offer free dog crap in Taiwan and there will be a crowd. A crowd that won’t line up in a line, but swarm you.
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You are so right Frostfox. Though crowd forming is pretty universal, China and Taiwan are notorious for creating a swarm rather than a queue.
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