Thanks for dropping by Richard.

Thanks Antonio - I get it and you are right from an entrepreneurial point of view. The problem is that most of the time, I see this as a desperate attempt at dealing with a wider issue without ever addressing it. Though some restaurants, such as Olivier, could well gain from these types of initiatives, others such as Eleven are clearly misguided as they should own the niche instead of dabbling in it. Too many times we seem to embrace initiatives without truly understanding the issues and in most cases inadequately prepared to reap the rewards, either through effective customer retention or acquisition.

What strategy did these restaurants deploy in customer acquisition? What were their metrics? Was it a success? How defined? Reminds me of mass marketing and brand awareness - usually a poor excuse for a failed or unqualified marketing campaign.

I really liked your site - very sophisticated...

Thanks for your comment - I am allergic to messing with price as it usually has a very short term effect, hence its allure, though it almost always hides the underlying current of problems, barriers or negligence. I believe you should only alter pricing when you REALLY know what's going on and it becomes part of an integrated strategy.

lol - obrigado André por ter sublinhado um aspecto ainda mais perturbador no nosso mercado. Podíamos sugerir à Toyota (que aparentemente está com alguns problemas) que ofereça um carro a cada senhora pois inevitavelmente um stand cheio de mulheres atrai os homens e eles acabam por comprar não um mas dois carros (ou mais). Se oferecerem em Dezembro um carro a todos provavelmente resolve os problemas deles para 2010. É tão simples!

Not at all - consider it done.

Please keep me informed!

I guess the fart machine is far too tempting in the present crisis - alot of hot air if you ask me! Make sure you write to the Guardian and let them know how wrong it is!

Thanks. Well online advertising is a paradox - those with most money to invest in advertising in our country for example are those that have the least interest to the online community. No rules = caos. I believe its the low standards people set and the little work they are prepared to accept in selling the ROI of online advertising - most probably don't know what the benefits are and who will actually gain from it. Online ads are working relatively well in States because they have better clients and better suppliers.

Well there is actually a way - to blog about it and to explain to these companies that if they are hedging their bets on advertising saving their future, they better get it right. I find it difficult to maintain the same level of trust in Technorati when I have a fart machine which takes up have the page. I guess my brain has become formatted in equating farts to, well, farts. The Guardian seems to have reacted rapidly to this and have changed their ads - so this does work. One voice, one corporation and one very rapid response.

Well if that's the case then yes it is indeed sadder than I thought! You know the person who wrote the letter?