| My family and I were recently vacationing in | | | | smiley face, rings for their fingers, and more. For |
| northern Michigan. After spending a morning at a | | | | several days after visiting that restaurant we |
| beach along Lake Huron, we decided to try a local | | | | heard them telling us how much they liked that |
| pizza restaurant for lunch. The restaurant was a | | | | restaurant. They didn't like the restaurant because |
| typical pizza place offering both carry-out pizza | | | | of their pizza, it was the pizza dough they got to |
| and dining in their restaurant. We found a table | | | | play with. You can be sure our kids will want to |
| and ordered our lunch. | | | | go back to that restaurant when we are |
| After ordering, we asked the waitress if she had | | | | vacationing there again. |
| any crayons and paper for our kids to color while | | | | Here's the innovation lesson: someone had the |
| waiting for our pizza. She told us that she did not | | | | creative idea of giving kids a unique "toy" to play |
| have crayons, but would bring us something else | | | | with in the restaurant. Yes, crayons and paper are |
| for the kids to play with. There were no other | | | | great, but you find that at almost any restaurant. |
| kids in the restaurant, so we didn't know what | | | | By giving the kids an alternative toy that lets |
| kind of "toy" she might bring. The toy was | | | | them use their creativity, the restaurant is setting |
| uncooked pizza dough. Each of our daughters got | | | | itself apart from its competitors. Both the kids |
| a small plate with some pizza dough and flour (to | | | | and the parents will remember this unique toy and |
| keep the pizza dough from sticking to the plate) | | | | will likely think of the restaurant when they want |
| to play with. | | | | pizza again. |
| Our kids loved playing with the pizza dough and | | | | What kind of simple actions like this can you take |
| made all kinds of things: a snowman, a leaf, a | | | | to boost your own business? |