proposed a bill to outlaw mustache bans (which also applied to domestic servants and priests). The deputy called the restaurants’ mustache rule “grotesque and humiliating.” After 16 days, restaurant owners caved to servers’ mustache demands and implemented a fairer pay structure. The waiters, however, lost their bid for one day off each week. The French have long been famously quick to stage work stoppages. At 112 days on average, the country leads the industrialized West in days lost to strikes each year. The nation’s strike culture is linked to its history of revolt, including the 1789 French Revolution. Withholding one’s labor is a constitutional right in France, whether you are a union member or not.
THE GREAT FRENCH MUSTACHE STRIKE OF 1907
Workers usually go on strike to improve wages and working conditions. Leave it to the French to mount a historic strike for the right to grow a mustache.
And the mustache had long been a mark of status in Europe. Centuries earlier, Germany only permitted soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle to grow mustaches. In France, the military requirement to wear mustaches became so strict that soldiers who couldn’t grow one had to wear a fake mustache.
A full mustache was a prestigious mark of men’s social class in Europe in the early 20th century. Policemen were required to grow them to project authority and masculinity. Waiters rebelled when
restaurant owners forced servers to shave their faces clean as a sign of their lower-class social status. During the dinner hour on April 17, 1907, an estimated 500 servers stopped dishing food, took off their aprons, and walked out, clustering on the street as diners looked on.
No wonder the French waiters took their facial hair so seriously. Being required to shave relegated them to the domestic servant class. As one French newspaper of the time declared, the waiters’ victory secured the right “to finally show that they are men, free men … who can wear at their ease this symbol of the all-powerful male, the mustache. Oh! The beautiful independence!”
The waiters also demanded a share of diners’ tips and the right to take one day off a week. They had support in Parliament, where one socialist deputy
To build a loyal patient base and strengthen your practice’s presence in the community, you must promote your practice locally! Here are five creative and effective ways to attract patients to your dental office. HOST COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS. One of the best ways to connect with potential patients is by hosting local health events, such as free dental screenings or oral health workshops. Partnering with schools, community centers, or health fairs allows you to introduce your team to the community, build trust, and educate the public on the importance of oral health. Consider offering free consultations, distributing branded giveaways, or presenting informational sessions on dental care. LEVERAGE LOCAL SEO AND GOOGLE MY BUSINESS. Optimize your practice’s online presence with local search engine optimization (SEO). Ensure your website includes relevant local keywords and create a Google My Business profile with the correct contact information, hours of operation, and photos of your practice. Encourage satisfied patients to leave positive reviews, as this boosts your visibility on Google and helps build credibility with potential patients searching for local dental services. 5 Creative Ways to Attract Local Patients to Your Dental Practice
BUILD REFERRAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES. Create partnerships with other local businesses to promote each other’s services. For example, partner with nearby family-friendly establishments such as daycare centers, pediatric clinics, or fitness centers. You can offer special promotions for their clients or provide each other with mutual referral incentives. OFFER FREE ‘SMILE MAKEOVER’ CONTESTS. Running a “Smile Makeover” contest on social media can generate buzz and attract local attention. Offer the winner a free or discounted cosmetic treatment and have participants share your posts, tag friends, or visit your practice to enter. This helps expand your social media reach, engage with the local community, and encourage people to visit your practice to learn more about your services. SPONSOR LOCAL SPORTS TEAMS AND EVENTS. Supporting local sports teams, youth leagues, or community events can increase your practice’s visibility. Sponsoring a Little League team, for example, can have your practice name and logo featured on uniforms or event banners. This builds a positive association with your dental office and boosts your brand presence within the community. By applying these creative strategies, your dental practice can enhance its local visibility, foster trust within the community, and attract more patients through genuine, engaging, and community-centered outreach.
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