subject: How To Make Standing In Line Interesting (Hint: It's Not Just About Choosing The Right Stanchions) [print this page] How To Make Standing In Line Interesting (Hint: It's Not Just About Choosing The Right Stanchions)
Nobody likes to stand in line. Whether it's a queue waiting for the movies, or a line waiting for a favorite store to open, people don't like to wait for what they want. Unfortunately, for customers and companies alike, queues are a fact of life. They are something that must exist to ensure proper service for all, or to bring order to an otherwise chaotic system. Most people understand this, leading to a resigned acceptance of the need for lines.
Unfortunately, that acceptance doesn't reduce the boredom factor that invariably accompanies waiting. The longer people must wait, the more bored they become, and the more they begin to resent what they perceive as wasting their time. You often cannot make them reach the front of the line more quickly, but you can do many things to make their time more pleasant.
Use Stanchions Wisely To Direct Traffic And Add Visual Excitement
The first step to keeping the boredom away and interest alive is to look at the way you construct the queue itself. Most companies will require a traditional form of queue made out of a series of stanchions connected with ropes. These stanchions may be permanently attached to the ground, or they might be mobile. There isn't a functional difference between the two in terms of their ability to keep people in their place; individuals will rarely move even mobile stanchions out of their position. Embedding them in the ground simply may be a more efficient choice for businesses that deal with lines every day.
Whether you choose mobile stanchions or stationary options, you should always pick your style with design in mind. Make sure it's something that matches and meshes with your company. This is particularly important with in-ground units, as they're much more difficult to change, and are never going to be used outside of one particular setting. Feel free to make them as specific to that one setting as you can.
Take A Cue From Theme Parks
Have you been to an amusement park recently? They are the masters of interesting waiting because virtually every ride has a line, and often a long wait. If they didn't understand how to keep people standing there, they'd be out of business quickly. One of their most important tricks is to use gimmicks related to the ride in the queue. For instance, they might have a sign holder with a description of the lore behind the ride, or with recent photos. This intensive theme presence is a bit much for most corporate lines, but the spirit of it is a good idea.
A Sign Holder Can Provide Much Needed Intellectual Stimulation
The act of reading stimulates the brain, no matter how basic the words might be. When people are waiting in a line and get bored, any words are a welcome relief from the monotony. They don't want to read a lot, but they do want information generally just as much as a typical sign holder can comfortably fit. Distributing a sign holder here and there along the queue can be a great way to keep waiting people interested, while also teaching them about your company and subtly marketing your products. Don't be overly promotional on any sign holder here, or you risk souring people's impressions. Remember, they're waiting in line because of you, and if you're trying to sell them something in addition, they can easily turn on you.
When properly designed, a waiting area (permanent or temporary) can have a strong branding effect. Well chosen stanchions and a good sign holder or two can transform the area from boring to interesting, benefitting your marketing efforts and your company in the process.
