Friday, September 18, 2009

A Lemon-scented dichotomy.


I saw an item in one of those stupid elevator TV screens which noted that Southwest Airlines will no longer serve lemons when they offer drinks. Eliminating lemons will save the airline $100,000.

There are two ways of looking at lemons. In fact, how you see lemons portends, I think, how you feel about advertising and brands.

1. Lemons cost money. We can save money by eliminating them. i.e. service is a cost.
2. Lemons cost money, but they're a small price to pay for making weary travelers feel for a split second that Southwest gives a hoot about them. Lemons (service) are/is good for business.

What do you think of lemons?

6 comments:

Tore Claesson said...

My hobby band is called Lemon.

george tannenbaum said...

After Blind Lemon, or Helmut Krone?

Elle Ecrit said...

Add cucumbers. Now you've got a spa experience. That's value-add.

george tannenbaum said...

Thanks, Elle. For that value add.

Laura said...

I enjoy lemons except when a car is a lemon. Who can resist homemade lemonade? And Elle, it is a such refreshing spa drink.

Teenie said...

What's the cost of making a passenger feel special? Surely an 8¢ lemon slice is worth the feel-good experience, however brief.

What's next - BYOTP?