Don't just tell me what to do, give me the tools to do the job

Counter at The Village Baker

"Please drink you Coffee in a Mug" sign at The Village Baker

This is a great idea. Encourage customers to use a mug, rather than a paper cup. Is there a problem with this idea? No, it is a great idea. But as with so many ideas, the problem is with the execution.

There should be a bunch of mugs next to the sign. (And after my suggestion, the owner had his staff stack a bunch of mugs next to the sign.)

This is like so many ideas in retail. You need to look at the idea from the customer's perspective and ask the questions that they would ask. Questions such as, "Where are the mugs?