We took over a country cinema which had a bad reputation.
We had the place cleaned and changed the rules the first night.
Drinks only in the foyer, not inside the cinema. No chewing gum.
No feet on seats. No moving seats or noise during the film.
We insisted to our staff that no matter how a patron behaved, the staff had to be polite as well as firm.
If someone didn't want to abide by the rules, we asked them to collect a refund at the box office. Some of them did. We gave the refund politely.
Within weeks, the cinema was filling even with adult patrons.
People were amazed at how well the business did.
Politeness definitely pays.
