DroxLA

In our day and age, it seems like a great way to attract customers is via themes that people want to see. Take the case of Disney. Disneyworld’s Epcot Center, located in Florida is the epitome of themes. Circle around the main lagoon and you’ve just traveled the world, being in intricate sets of countries all steps away from each other. Want bratwurst, fried rice, a croque-monsieur, and some kabobs? No problem! Disney’s got you covered.

For those of you a little more adventurous, comes news of the newest theme restaurant, simply called “Buns and Guns – A Sandwich Can Kill you”. Yes, that’s right, this is a TERRORIST themed restaurant in Beirut, Lebanon – one of the most war-torn cities of the last few decades. Want a rocket-propelled grenade? Unfortunately for you if you ARE a terrorist you’re not actually getting one, but just chicken on a skewer. What would possess someone to create such a restaurant? And if you were visiting Beirut, would you drop in to grab a B52 here? I guess only time will tell if this tactic will be successful, but at what point is a theme just completely distasteful? I guess I could think of a few things that would be more offensive, but if this works, more power to the owner! Just showing that no idea is too ridiculous when it comes to business.

Article on BBC

There are some pretty bad marketing tactics out there. It’s always refreshing to see some innovation and forward-thinking that really catches consumers and creates a memorable message. As seen above, Smart Car is the latest in these forward thinkers, creating a faux-vending machine in Japan that dispenses tubes that contain information on their vehicles. Have you ever seen anything so cool? Especially with gas prices approaching $5 a gallon these days, maybe Smart Car should try placing a few of these at hot spot malls this summer here in the States. Would probably make a bigger impact than their Smart Car House that supposedly showcases how a “Smart” individual lives. I know this – if I saw one of these, I’d take a tube and definitely look through the information – if a company is willing to engage its potential customers through fresh and exciting ways, I’m willing to give them a few more minutes of my time. One of these beats seeing 100 banners and posters pasted all over the city

For more on this, visit Trends in Japan