On Campus: The Weigh-In

Faculty experts shed light on news that makes us go, “wha?”

The News:

When Buffalo’s first Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchise opened this past December, there were drive-thru lines 25 cars deep for months. Why would people endure such long lines for fast-food chicken?

Popeye's Chicken storefront.

The Expert:

Charles Lindsey, associate professor of marketing in the School of Management

Charles Lindsey.

Charles Lindsey

Print

“Certain consumers eagerly anticipate the arrival of popular businesses or services—a phenomenon called ‘pent-up demand’ (in the case of Popeyes, due to the product being previously inaccessible). I know people who frequented Popeyes when it first opened, because they had tried it elsewhere and craved the offerings—lines or no lines. This type of consumer behavior can create a snowball effect that influences others to see what all the fuss is about.”