It is often said that “waiting in line is the worst.” It is often considered wasted time and tensions always seem to run high as impatient people tap their feet and let out exasperating sighs. GoGosqueeZ.com, the website for the scrumptious leading squeezable 100% fruit in a pouch product that promotes health and happiness for families, has a thoughtful and entertaining blog called live playfully. A post from September 2013 targets people who wait in line, also known as all of us, in an attempt to provide Ways to Stay Happy While Waiting in Line. Their seven recommendations include:
- “Playing with your phone” - They chalked this one up as the most obvious, but also very effective as there are numerous things a person can do with their mobile phones now-a-days. From texting to listening to voicemail, checking email and playing games, your phone is a hand held entertainment center.
- “Clean up and organize your wallet and/or purse” - They considered this task productive.
- “Do something silly” - They gave such suggestions as walking backwards to your next waiting point, hopping on one foot and making strange noises under your breath and then looking around to determine the source.
- “Spark up a conversation with a fellow line-dweller” - You could bond over the mutual hate for the line or potentially meet your new best friend or significant other.
- “Do some line-friendly exercises” - They admit that you may look like a “goofball.”
- “Music” - They suggest putting on your headphones and doing a little dance or just thinking about your favorite song.
- “Read, write or doodle” - Use an eReader or read a book, or use a small notebook to make a to-do list or make a sketch of something within view.
These recommendations are definitely entertaining and could very well do the trick to cure just about anyone’s boredom while waiting in line, but take a look at what you could do to occupy your waiting customers before they have to take such drastic measures as doing jumping jacks or talking to themselves.
Give your customers something to look at
Utilize digital displays to entertain your patrons. From informational videos and commercials to promotions and wacky brainteasers, the possibilities are endless in regards to providing fun and knowledgeable entertainment.
Continue the shopping experience
In-line merchandising plays numerous roles for a business and can be quite lucrative.
- It can entertain and occupy waiting customers
- It lets customers continue shopping so they do not feel like they are wasting time
- It drives impulse sales at the point of service
Get started
Get your customers started on their transaction as soon as possible. Restaurants do this well by providing menus or taking drink orders while customers are waiting to be seated. Retailers can provide shoppers the ability to unload a shopping cart before reaching the point of service signifying that the wait is over.
Financial institutions can provide in-line tables to facilitate filling out required paperwork. There are lots of ways businesses can get customers started with their transactions and get their mind off the wait.
Manage expectations
Present your customers with accurate expected wait times. An unknown wait feels much longer than a known wait. If a person knows they only have to wait five minutes then they may be less likely to dump their purse all over the floor while trying to clean it out.
Although you may always have that customer who wants to rock out in line while listening to his favorite tune, mitigate the need for customers to have to look for things to do while they are waiting in your queue. Engage them first and utilize tactical means such as digital signage and in-line merchandising to occupy time and boost revenue.
