Business Opportunities in Waiting Time
Many businesses in Japan such as restaurants, banks, railways, hospitals, stores etc. are putting a lot of emphasis on decreasing wait time for their customers despite the many distractions already available to fill these voids. When customers were asked where they were most frustrated with waiting time, the results that stood out the most were the number of frustrated males at restaurants when waiting for their orders and females waiting at public restrooms. Reading magazines, books, or newspapers and checking mail on cell phones were a common activity to pass the time. However, some solutions that were suggested, which would possibly lead to new business ideas, were for restaurants to send a message to customers' cell phones a few minutes before a table is available, place a pay restroom for those who do not want to wait in line, run commercials to distract customers waiting in line at the cash register, or some other non industry specific ideas were placing large screen televisions, put on soothing music, or provide a massage or tea service.
B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Puget Sound in Washington.