Welcome -- No Trespass!

[Mark Wolfe]

The new owner(s) of the Sweet Spot beachfront eatery in Lamai (the fourth owner in less than two years...don't these people learn?), have this sign on the road in front of the place.

The fine print more or less explains that they don't want people walking through the restaurant to get to the beach, but the sign also shows that these people have absolutely no idea of how to manage.

The fact is that there is plenty of room for people to pass through, and were it my place, I'd encourage people to come in -- have a menu on a stand where they have to pass by; have the staff trained to greet them and ask politely if they'd like a cold drink; and have a sign on the toilet that says, instead of something to the effect of, "Pay 10 baht if you're not a customer," "Use of toilet always free, customer or not."

I mean if you have an attractive place, why would you turn away people cutting through to get to the beach? There is no downside to letting them do this and thoughtfully managed, it could be a boon (how many shop owners would love to have people have to pass through their shops on the way to the beach? It's like the gift shops in museums or aquariums -- funnel the people past the goods for sale.).

The fact that this place has changed hands so many times ought to tell you something, and posting a sign that basically puts people off certainly isn't going to help much.

The previous owner had, for some time on the same sign, "Thai style with Dutch management," which always struck me as racist and/or condescending. It said to me, "We have Thai food, but have eliminated the crap service and so on you'd expect from the locals."

As far as marketing strategies go, these are killers....

[loiner100]

Have to agree with you MW...and to go one stage further, why not put sun loungers and tables right outside on the beach and encourage more custom?

[Mark Wolfe]

...why not put sun loungers and tables right outside on the beach and encourage more custom?

They do in fact have these, but I guess the idea is that if you want to have a look at them (to see if you want to sit there) you have to go around to either the public access or cut between buildings next door, or cut through one of the other beachfront restaurants, then double back along the beach.

I shutter the think what happens to the hapless tourist who disregards the sign!

[PhilHarries]

The previous owner had, for some time on the same sign, "Thai style with Dutch management," which always struck me as racist and/or condescending. It said to me, "We have Thai food, but have eliminated the crap service and so on you'd expect from the locals."

As far as marketing strategies go, these are killers....

I have noticed that kind of sign, "Under <insert non-Thai nationality> management", quite often around the country, obviously in the tourist areas. I always felt uncomfortable and, like you, thought them slightly racist but always made a point of avoiding the places.

I don't know the eatery but I can kind of appreciate where they are coming from. It can be annoying to customers and a hinderance to service if there is a steady stream of people going to and from the beach and particularly annoying if they are skimpily dressed. But that's when you have to weigh up the pros and cons and make a business decision on what is the best approach. However they sure as hel_l could put it in rather more conciliatory terms, that would put me off from using the place period.

[siamesekitty]

More like a sour spot, rather.

[BigC]

cut there noses off to spit thier face. maybe the owner just wants to keep the bar for himself and not want customers lol