---
title: "Not as cheap…"
url: https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2007/12/29/not-as-cheap/
description: "Consultant and fractional COO for scale-up businesses. I help founders, leaders and investors in scaling businesses create sustainably high performing organisations."
published: 2007-12-29T00:14:10+00:00
modified: 2026-04-11T16:25:11+00:00
author: Simon Wakeman
---
# Not as cheap…

## Not as cheap…

Spotted this on my travels earlier this week in [Faversham](http://www.faversham.org):

![Railway Hotel sign](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/27122007005.jpg)

I think the banner proclaiming “we’re not as cheap as Wetherspoons” is great.

All too often marketers can get stuck in the discounting trap, seeing price as the most effective part of the marketing mix to attract customers.

The [Railway Hotel](http://www.railwayhotelfaversham.co.uk/) is turning price competition from the nearby [Wetherspoons](http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubs/pub-details.php?PubNumber=498) pub on its head by shouting that they’re not as cheap.

The implication, of course, is that by not being as cheap the Railway Hotel is in fact better.

Even in a market driven by price, there’s always a different angle for differentiation that will attract new customer. It’s the marketers job to find it.

I didn’t actually make it into either hostelry, so can’t comment on the accuracy of either claim, although the menu outside the Railway Hotel did look pretty good!