| Role 1 Bob Blowitall: He has gold rings with large stones and jade on all his fingers. His shirt is open wide and you can see a thick gold chain on his hairy chest. Joe doesn’t just buy a little bit here and a little bit there. When he likes you he’ll buy everything in your store. He’s just that sort of guy. He really likes beautiful young girls that smile at him and laugh and giggle and talk to him in a shy but polite way. He also likes polite young men who treat him like a king. Budget: The sky’s the limit, but reasonably 5,000 baht. |
| Role 2 Tina Tightwad: Tina will know what every store has and how much they are selling it for before she decides what to buy and where to buy it. But when she spots a good deal she buy lots of it for gifts and if you don’t have it in stock she’ll insist that you order it. She insists that you tell her exactly what everything is called and what’s special about it. Budget: 75 or maybe just maybe 80 baht per purchase and the most she would buy would be two things so she could spend 160 baht, but she could buy 10 in which case 1,600 baht. |
| Role 3 Nelly Notsure: Nelly is never sure what she wants. She often doesn’t even know where she is or what she is doing. She’ll ask you about something and then not listen to you when you tell her about it. Price doesn’t seem to mean much to her. She likes to buy things that look a little strange, just like her. She is very concerned that the things she buys go with the clothes she wears. She is friendly, but strange. Budget: 0 baht or 1,000 baht depending on her mood. |
| Role 4 Ted Touchyou: Ted is more interested in touching you than buying anything in your store. When you tell him a price or describe something for him he watches your lips and the slower you talk the better. He might even ask you to repeat something so he can watch you say it again. He is interested in everything. You show it to him and he wants to buy it. But he can never make up his mind what exactly it is that he wants. He’s very concerned about what you like and wants you to tell him slowly. He wants to buy you a lot of presents but he wants to make sure that you love him first. He’s starting to irritate you (get on your nerves/annoy you) and you’re trying to find someway to get him to leave your shop. Budget: If he thinks he really likes you 1,000 baht, if not he’ll spend 100 baht so you don’t call him a cheapskate. |
| Role 5 Fred Freelanguagelesson: Fred is learning Thai in Chiangmai and wants to practice speaking with you for hours. He really doesn’t want to buy anything, but he may buy a little something as a sort of tip for the very long language lesson you’re giving him but it seems like it’s going to take all day and other customers seem to avoid your shop when you’re talking to him. He’s very interested in Thai culture so maybe there’s something unique to Thailand you could sell him or perhaps if you teach him the Thai name or northern Thai name for something he might buy it. Budget: 400 Baht at the most or 50 baht an hour. |
| Role 6 Paula Passbyquickly: Paula is like most tourists who walk by your shop quickly, just glancing at what is in it. You have to catch her attention and get her to stay a little while longer. Be friendly and try to say nice things to her like "I like your shirt" or "When is summer vacation over?" (she's over 30) or ask her where she comes from and what it’s like there. This is called small talk. She won’t take up much of your time and she’ll probably buy some small little thing "to remember you by." She might even come back tommorrow and buy something else. Budget: 500 baht. |