Tom primarily attracted desperate customers, individuals who were in severe financial distress and had exhausted other avenues for financial assistance.
Tom's Clientele: The Desperate
Upon agreeing to the terms that allowed him to acquire wealth, Tom Walker became a usurer, a money-lender who charged excessively high rates of interest. This profession inherently drew a specific type of clientele, reflecting their dire circumstances.
Tom's customer base can be summarized by the following traits:
| Customer Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Financial Distress | Clients were experiencing extreme economic hardship, often on the verge of bankruptcy or ruin, making them highly vulnerable. |
| Urgent Need | They required immediate funds and had been turned away by traditional lenders, compelling them to accept Tom's unfavorable terms. |
| Limited Alternatives | Due to their lack of options, these customers were forced to enter into disadvantageous loan agreements, highlighting their overwhelming desperation rather than sound financial judgment. |
Tom's business thrived by exploiting the urgent, critical needs and vulnerabilities of these individuals, solidifying "the desperate" as the core characteristic of his customer base.
