BOUTIQUEUES

A queue-theory game
Paused Mon · Day 1 of 6 10:00 Week profit $0
ENTRÉE

    
Monday · Day 1 of 6

Morning ledger

The street expects 6.0 customers/hr. Doors open 10:00–16:00. What’s the play?


Place an advertisement — $100
Word spreads and stays spread: +6 customers/hr, permanently. Yesterday’s adverts are still working for you.
Declare a 10% discount day
The sign in the window draws +6/hr — permanently — but today every sale rings up at 90¢ on the dollar.
3
Assistants on the floor — $200 each/day
Each serves ~9 customers/hr. A fuller floor also reassures the queue: customers will wait 3 deep before storming out.
Expected arrivals
6.0/hr
Service capacity
27/hr
Fixed costs
$600
Monday · close of business

Evening till count

$0
Day profit

Saturday evening · the week’s books

End of week

$0
Week profit