Is Checking Email at the Table Rude?
It’s funny to think how far we have come since the first Nokia 5110 cell phones. Remember all the sweet face plates and bad arse hip accessories? The Nokia had a battery life of around 3.5 weeks! Not to mention they were basically indestructible. I remember nicknaming my Nokia phone “The Brick.” Two reasons:
1. The size and weight slightly resembled a brick
2. It could smash through glass if thrown hard enough
In my eyes, the Nokia was the first widespread personal cell phone that people actually carried. Who imagined cell phones would become necessity? Now, it’s a way of life. Cell phones have connected us in ways never before imagined! If your restaurant hasn’t already, invest in a smart phone.
So, what’s all this cell phone talk about anyways? There is a current trend I notice. When people (especially younger generations) sit down to dinner, where do their cell phones sit?
On the table!
I am guilty of this habit, I admit it. But it brings about interesting questions. Why must our phones be in front of us? Are we that worried about missing calls? Why should restaurants care?
Behavior Shifts = Culture Shifts
Pay attention. These little changes in our behavior actually amount to huge opportunities. Gary Vaynerchuk does a good job at explaining this phenomenon here. He talks about people littering on highways. Years ago it was common practice to toss trash out of the car window. Now you are tarred, feathered, and fined for even considering littering. Smoking in public is another culture shift. Entire cities are non-smoking now. That’s a HUGE shift in the way our culture works. Ever see Mad Men?
Remember when Match.com was first introduced? I specifically remember people saying “You must be a loser if you can’t meet someone in real life.” Do you know how many normal people are on Match.com today? It is no longer considered taboo, and is a viable platform for dating someone. That’s a cultural shift, and these are trends worth recognizing. They help us predict the future so we are in the best position to take advantage.
Why Should Restaurants Care?
The cell phone on the table behavior reminds us how connected we are becoming. Through this little device, we can communicate on a mass scale. People are online. People are connected. If your restaurant fails to see the trend, the culture shift, you’re going to fail.
I think it’s a sign of things to come. People will begin meeting friends online, and then meeting up at restaurants/bars to hang out. Tweet-ups are a great example of this. Meetup.com also promotes social groups to meet online and physically meet up.
This is KILLER for restaurants. Our entire connectivity is becoming transparent. We used to be scared to give out personal info online. Now, it’s not a big deal. Match.com is no longer taboo, and all of your friends are on Facebook. We are no longer scared to meet online. Pay attention to cultural shifts like cell phones and put your restaurant in a position to win.
This culture shift means your customers are online. Are you in a position to take advantage? Have any of you guys already noticed other trends? Leave your comments below!
Tags: nokia, outdated cell phones, restaurants, social media, Trends