Smart or deceiving? Look at this cafe's trick to 'lure' customers in!
- Replies 15
In the bustling streets of Sydney, the hum of traffic is as common as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
One cafe owner stirred up a conversation with a marketing ploy that's turning heads and tapping brakes.
Ahmet Sbaeit, the owner of Macchiato & Co cafe in Regents Park, deployed a tactic that's both clever and controversial to boost his cafe's sales.
He leveraged on local drivers' dread of speed cameras to draw them in for a caffeine fix.
A sign that stood outside Sbaeit's cafe mimicked mobile speed camera signage seen across the country.
With its fluorescent yellow strips and distinctive checkerboard pattern, the sign could be a heart-stopping sight for any motorist.
However, upon closer inspection, it was clarified that it was not going to issue any penalties.
'Your caffeine limit has been checked. Turn left now,' the sign playfully read.
In an interview, Sbaeit revealed that the sign had been a shop fixture for about two months.
The signage consistently 'catches people out' as they drive by.
The initial shock of a speed camera quickly turned into amusement and relief when drivers realised that it was just a marketing tactic.
'Every time someone comes in, the first thing they say is they got a fright,' Sbaiet shared.
'Even my wife falls for it every time she drives here.'
Sbaeit's approach to attracting customers came against a backdrop of increasing road fatalities in Australia.
With 1,324 deaths recorded on Aussie roads between February 2024 and January 2025, speeding has been a more prevalent issue among motorists.
The National Road Safety Strategy highlighted the need for continued vigilance and enforcement to prevent this dangerous behaviour.
Authorities have intensified their efforts to combat reckless driving, particularly in the southwest of Sydney, where Macchiato & Co is located.
New South Wales is not the only state that has prioritised road safety.
New high-tech cameras have been introduced to target noisy vehicles, and popular beach areas like Cronulla have installed cameras to deter reckless driving.
Meanwhile, in Tasmania, speed cameras have captured over 60,000 offences in the last year alone.
Sbaeit's sign was a testament to the creativity of small business owners in attracting customers, all while promoting a safer environment for pedestrians.
It's a reminder that sometimes, a little humour and ingenuity can go a long way.
Have you encountered any such clever marketing tactics in your travels? Do you have a story of your own about a local business using humour to make a statement? We'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
One cafe owner stirred up a conversation with a marketing ploy that's turning heads and tapping brakes.
Ahmet Sbaeit, the owner of Macchiato & Co cafe in Regents Park, deployed a tactic that's both clever and controversial to boost his cafe's sales.
He leveraged on local drivers' dread of speed cameras to draw them in for a caffeine fix.
A sign that stood outside Sbaeit's cafe mimicked mobile speed camera signage seen across the country.
Macchiato & Co is a quaint coffee shop nestled in Regents Park. Image Credit: Google Maps
With its fluorescent yellow strips and distinctive checkerboard pattern, the sign could be a heart-stopping sight for any motorist.
However, upon closer inspection, it was clarified that it was not going to issue any penalties.
'Your caffeine limit has been checked. Turn left now,' the sign playfully read.
In an interview, Sbaeit revealed that the sign had been a shop fixture for about two months.
The signage consistently 'catches people out' as they drive by.
The initial shock of a speed camera quickly turned into amusement and relief when drivers realised that it was just a marketing tactic.
'Every time someone comes in, the first thing they say is they got a fright,' Sbaiet shared.
'Even my wife falls for it every time she drives here.'
Sbaeit's approach to attracting customers came against a backdrop of increasing road fatalities in Australia.
With 1,324 deaths recorded on Aussie roads between February 2024 and January 2025, speeding has been a more prevalent issue among motorists.
The National Road Safety Strategy highlighted the need for continued vigilance and enforcement to prevent this dangerous behaviour.
Authorities have intensified their efforts to combat reckless driving, particularly in the southwest of Sydney, where Macchiato & Co is located.
New South Wales is not the only state that has prioritised road safety.
New high-tech cameras have been introduced to target noisy vehicles, and popular beach areas like Cronulla have installed cameras to deter reckless driving.
Meanwhile, in Tasmania, speed cameras have captured over 60,000 offences in the last year alone.
Sbaeit's sign was a testament to the creativity of small business owners in attracting customers, all while promoting a safer environment for pedestrians.
It's a reminder that sometimes, a little humour and ingenuity can go a long way.
.png){kind=icon}
️
