Here’s an interesting story from BBC News about Nintendo predicting a shortage of its Wii’s this Christmas (how do you pronounce the plural of Wii – wheeze or whizz?)

For parents facing the difficult decision between a Wii and a Playstation 3, surely this clears it up: get a Wii – quick.

It’s the same reasoning that makes people join the back of a long queue at a sandwich shop, when there is no queue at another sandwich shop next door.

Sometimes we act as sheep and do what everyone else is doing. You can use this to try and influence behaviour in your marketing.

Incidentally, if this Wii shortage story persists all the way to Christmas, there’s a publicity opportunity for every retailer with a Wii in stock. Turn selling a Wii into an event. Open at 4am and enjoy the publicity of long queues outside your shop. Have a live Wii counter in your window. Offer to buy second hand Wii’s off people to resell.