Independent traders are always on the lookout for promotion ideas that will help them attract more customers, especially if there is a demographic of clientele that was previously going completely untapped.
One growing subsection of society are gamers, who love nothing more than spending hours at a time playing games either on their computers at home or via their mobile devices when they are on the go.
In this article we look at the ploys shop keepers can use to entice this new type of customer on an almost daily basis.
Caption: Gamers often have plenty of disposable income, so why shouldn’t independent traders take their share of it?
Using Gamification to Increase Footfall and Regular Spending
So, how exactly can you as a shop keeper go about harnessing this gaming trend, ensuring that the next time an avid gamer steps through your doors they leave with much more than just a stick of gum and a can of Fanta?
The answer to this puzzling question can be found everywhere you look, both online and offline.
McDonalds’ Monopoly promotion, on the side of their drinks and food packaging, was a prime example of gamification in action, encouraging people to collect as many properties as they could with the possibility of winning a prize as a reward.
The same is also done at online and offline casinos, who run loyalty rewards schemes that are shaped in the form of games, meaning that there is just one more exciting game for their customers to join in with as well as all the classic online casino games that people would expect to play on their websites and apps, and at live venues.
Starting your very own gamified loyalty scheme like the ones casinos and McDonalds use is easy enough to do. Simply create a set of loyalty cards with stamps that people must collect each time they visit your shop or spend a certain amount of money.
You will find that if you are generous with the rewards you dole out for their support of your establishment, the love of winning a free prize will bring them back time and again, and word will spread about the great promotion.
Caption: More and more people are gaming these days, so it pays to keep them in mind when you set up your store
Gamers Love to Snack, But Keep Them Healthy
In the midst of a high intensity gaming session it can be very easy to work up a rampant thirst or a case of the munchies, meaning most gamers like to have a constant supply of snacks and liquid refreshment to hand.
The local corner shop is usually the nearest option for a quick raid of a drinks fridge or snack display, but to make sure such gamers come your way you need to know what sort of things they go for, and in this regard times are changing.
Gone are the energy drinks packed with harmful e-numbers and in are smoothies full of super foods, vitamins and minerals. The same goes for solid snacks, with most gamers quite conscious of their fitness and weight these days, meaning things that are high in protein but low in fat are preferred over the classic Mars bar or packet of crisps.Stock Products Made Especially for Gamers
While most independent traders are not about to start stocking video games, there are some products you can buy in to make sure they are catered for.
This can include anything from products endorsed by famous streamers like Ninja or Dr DisRespect, to magazines such as PC Gamer or Edge.
Card games that link into online games such as Pokémon Go are also a great little addition to any shop and should sell like hot cakes.
Serve with a Smile and a Chat
Last but not least, it always pays to try and engage gamers when they enter your shop, because they will appreciate being asked how their day is going or whether they are having a successful day at the gaming tables or in the gaming arena.
