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Wireless

by Mike Masnick

Tue, Aug 3rd 2004 12:44pm





Free WiFi Good For Business... But... It Ain't Everything

from the still-gotta-sell-the-food dept

Popular bread maker Panera is making some noise today talking about how wonderful their free WiFi offering is going, saying that it has improved business. They've found that it keeps customers in the stores longer -- especially during off-peak hours. Oddly, they don't say if it actually increased sales, which is the key. Panera's claims sound pretty similar to what Schlotzsky's Deli had been saying about their free WiFi. Of course, some of Schlotzsky's numbers seemed a tad overhyped, such as the claim that 40% of customers choose Schlotzsky's because of the WiFi. The only way that really makes sense is if very few people are going to Schlotzsky's at all... and, oops, that might just be the case. Today the chain declared bankruptcy. So, while free WiFi may be good for bringing in business, it's certainly not the be all, end all of being in business. You still need to sell some food and make some money.

3 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Aug 4th, 2004 @ 12:56pm

    Panera bread ROCKS !

    I absolutely LOVE my local Panera for their friendly employees, excellent reasonably priced food & the WiFi access.
    Yes, I do spend more money @ Panera specifically because they have WiFi & I can enjoy sitting by their fireplace eating lunch & surfing the net or taking the relaxed opportunity to VPN into my office and get work done.

    I will choose Panera 9 out of 10 times not only for the WiFi but because they are a restaurant that treats people with excellent customer service.

    So speaking just for me, I can say that having WiFi does increase my purchases.

    http://www.panerabread.com/wifi.aspx

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Kate, Jan 19th, 2006 @ 8:54am

    Why I eat at Panera

    I didn't used to care much for Panera, but the free wifi made me particularly happy. It urks me to pay for wifi outside my home when I already pay enough there for my internet. Thus I am more likely to stay home than go out on my own on weekends and evenings if there isn't convenient, free wifi.
    What is funny, though, is that now I don't necessarily even use the wifi at Panera specifically, but it made me think positively of the place. I know go fairly regularly, all because of the free wifi.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Mar 12th, 2008 @ 2:38pm

    ANYONE ELSE NOTICING YOU GET KICKED OFF PANERA WIFI EVERY 45 MINS OR SO ? THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING HERE IN COLORADO SPRINGS PANERA ... IM WONDERING IF THE ISP IS DOING THIS TO PREVENT DOWNLOADING ...? IF SO ITS ILLEGAL TO DO THAT...AS IT INTERRUPTS A PAID FOR RADIO SERVICE ..THATS AN FCC VIOLATION ... ANY INPUT FROM OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WOULD BE APPRECIATED, IF YOU EXPERIENCE THIS OR NOT... I HAVE NOTIFIED THE MANAGER HERE ABOUT IT, HE IS CHECKING WITH THE ISP ... IF THIS IS GOING ON WE NEED TO PUT A STOP TO IT...

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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