Under New Management – We’ve Fixed All the Things the Last Guy Broke, Please Come Back

When you see the sign “Under New Management” plastered all over a businesses signage what do you think?

Do you think: “Good! The last guy that managed the place was a real bastard, I’m glad he’s gone, I will go back there now!”

Do you think: “Damn! Jack and Jill were awesome, I will miss them very much, I wonder if the new guy is as friendly or shall I try Bill and Bev down the road?”?

What are the new owners trying to achieve with this message? And what is the actual effect?

Maybe it’s just an excuse to put the word “New” somewhere. Most people are attracted to the word “New”.

Maybe it’s a challenge to old customers and new customers: “Expect some changes here, assume they are for the better, come in and give us a chance to impress you”.

Do you have an idea for a better sign?

Here are some of mine:

4 pretty boring ones to start with:

1. New Store Layout
2. See Our New Changes Instore Now
3. 3 Improvements Made This Week
4. New and Improved Formula

3 much more interesting versions I dare you to put up:

1. The Last Guys Really Screwed Up, We Won’t, We Promise
2. We’ve Fixed All the Things the Last Guy Broke, Please Come Back
3. We’ve Made Cutbacks, But We’re Cheap so don’t complain