Marketing 101

There are two types of marketing rules that apply here. One for the wandering Masai people (local tribe - or at least people who dress up and pretend to be local tribe people since we were told there actually aren't any on Zanzibar), and one for the people with a store front. The following are best practices even though we have yet to see anyone purchase anything.

For the Masai

• Say "Jambo" (hello).
• Thurst bag of trinkets in front of tourist as they walk along the beach
• Say "Mambo Poa" (what's up, cool?)
• Thrust bag of trinkets in front of tourist and follow as they try to walk away
• Say "Looking is free"
• Thrust bag of trinkets in front of tourist and continue to follow
• Since they don't appear to be interested in the trinkets, say that you can help arrange a snorkeling excursion
• Follow about five steps behind for at least 50 meters in case they change their mind

For those looking to set up shop

• Check out your buddies store where he is selling typical tourist items (wooden carvings, paintings, t-shirts)
• Rent the space next door to his shop
• Solicit the exact same merchandise - but - realizing that product differentiation is important, change a line or color on a painting here and there. Maybe even put the elephant carvings next to the rhinos instead of next to the hippos
• Recruit customers into your store. Start off by asking if they have climbed Kili or done a safari to get them talking
• Then repeat verbatim the same sales pitch used by your buddy next door. It didn't work for him, or the 10 guys before him, but believe that it will work for you because your merchandise is better than the other guys. You are so confident that you should even attempt to charge a higher price
• If the customer refuses, or keeps walking, try offering some weed.
• If they still refuse, make them promise they'll come back later for a "free look" and that they will buy trinkets from you before anyone else
• Smoke a joint and wait for around for the next group of tourists walking down the beach