Do Not Mummify Yourself

You may remember a few months ago, I wrote about a funny sign I saw in the bathroom at a Disney Theme park. Now one of my friends has tipped me off to another unusual sign in the men's changing room at a gym (Ladies, I'm sure there are many fascinating signs to be found in your respective areas... feel free to forward them to me.).

The sign read: Due to the shortage of paper towels, patrons are asked not to use paper towels to dry off after a shower. You have been warned. Violators will be expelled from the gym.

As someone who's run a business, I can understand the frustration at seeing paper products disappear quickly. And yes, little costs can add up. But in the big picture, what does this sign say about the business? To me it reeks of poor management. If I was a customer there, I'd have an expectation of paper towels. I want them there when I need them. I don't want to be involved in the process of stocking or conserving them. That's the owner's responsibility.

To be more proactive, I would buy some towels and put up a sign that says: Forget your towel? Buy one at the front desk. In this instance you've provided a solution to a potential problem.

If there's a specific violator who walks through the gym wrapped like a mummy with paper towels then you have to decide whether you should tolerate the behavior or kick them out of the gym. But don't bore your other customers with the problem. An effective manager takes care of small problems and doesn't share them with the customer base. Save public pronouncements for the really big stuff.