It's A Monkey Thinks About Work

When Does Making a Customer Feel Special Turn into an Issue of Exclusivity?

When you create a combined online shop / social network that requires (a) registration in order to see the products in the shop half of things, and (b) is invite only.

Welcome to Totokaelo.

For Totokaelo, creating this air of exclusivity may be right in line with their business model.  Before walking down this kind of road, however, I would caution that you make sure that it really does match your guiding philosophy and purpose statement; placing a barrier between you and your customers may do nothing but drive them away, and, more worrisome, inspire feelings that can be damaging to the reputation of your brand.