Pokémon GO launched Wednesday last week in Australia. It is a game played on your phone or tablet that integrates with the real-world in a ground-breaking way. Pokémon GO uses your phone’s GPS and camera to turn the real world into a hunting ground for Pokemon characters. It also transforms local landmarks (yes, here in Australia) and businesses into locations players can physically visit to stock up on free accessories and items.
Click here for a bit of history. Click here for a story in the SMH on the Australian perspective.
There is a business connection with this phenomenon. Forbes published an interesting article from a business perspective.
newsXpress, the newsagency marketing group of which I am a director, has confidentially shared comprehensive information with newsXpress members on what Pokémon GO is how to embrace Pokémon GO and leverage the opportunity for their businesses. newsXpress also shared details with its members on five suppliers with products for the Pokémon GO fan plus specific revenue strategies. Note – these are suppliers who do not usually supply newsagents.
newsXpress has detailed other products ideal for Pokémon GO players. Plus, it has shared traffic driving strategies that can be used to attract Pokémon GO players and through this drive engagement with the business.
The early adoption and embrace of Pokémon GO is another example of the newsXpress difference. newsXpress is the first newsagency marketing group to embrace Pokémon GO.
This is what we have to do in our channel: be early adopters of trends. For some, this means stocking products while for others it means connecting on social media while for others it is about full immersion and playing the game.
This initiative on Pokémon GO is a good example of what newsagency marketing groups need to do for newsagents – to be out there researching new ideas, developing commercial strategies, training newsagents and encouraging their employees to entrance the opportunities of change.
Yes, I have Pokémon GO on my phone and I’m giving it a crack.
We have a Gym outside our store and two pokestops within 100 metres.
A customer caught one outside the shop yesterday, I caught one this morning. They are taking over the world!
I have customers that stay longer in our store as it is right next to a gym. My next move is to take over the gym haha
We have a spot within 6 meters of our front counter. I was wondering what the hell the was going on a couple of times last week until the young bloke who works for me on Saturday told me there was a spot centred on the sculptures on the footpath !
Yes this is massive, an excellent opportunity for local businesses like newsagencies – hence my post.
My question is, are any of these Pokemon Go players actually buying anything off you or are they just blocking the entrance to your stores while they stare at their phones?
Steve, yes, if the business configures itself for the opportunity. What I did not include in the post is the comprehensive advice from newsXpress on products Pokemon GO customers want/need and the licenced products they can also buy to respect and support this brand they are loving. This is a right-now opportunity. hence my reference to marketing groups.
Yep Steve it can. I moved some World of Tanks branded model kits near to the door and sold two to an older couple who were stoped at the Pokemon spot thingy and happened to look up and see them ! $110 sale I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for Pokemon. Most electronic gamers cross over different genres so there is definate opportunity.
Seriosuly thinking of adding the Pokemon game cards now too !
OK, I’m now convinced of the value of getting involved with this ! The young bloke who works for me today has set up a “lure” on the spot outside as a bit of a test ( he’s 14 and telling me how we can use it to draw in more customers – got to love it ! 🙂 ) . I should take a picture but we now have 11 people sitting or standing outside merrily tapping away on their phones with another couple just pulling up their car as I type. Holy crap ! Who would have thought ??