Pokeball truffles, Pokestops and more! St. John's businesses cash in on Pokemon Go
Across St. John's, there's a rash of people roaming the streets while aggressively swiping at their smartphones.
They're not refreshing Twitter, or waiting to see what their friends posted last night on Instagram.
They're still playing Pokemon Go, and two weeks after the craze hit the city, businesses downtown are scrambling to capitalize on the phenomenon.
One of the first businesses to try and target Pokemon Go players was the Newfoundland Chocolate Company on Duckworth Street, where one young employee said he was surprised to discover the mural and mermaid statue outside the business were both Pokestops.
In Pokemon Go lingo, Pokestops are where players go to stock up on Pokeballs (to catch Pokemon) and eggs (to hatch after walking a certain distance).
"One day when I was off work there was a bunch of people [outside the store] in their cars just on their phone playing, or even just sitting on the benches outside playing this app," said Noah Dove-Smith.
"Then I realized… this could be great to introduce something like a Pokemon truffle to get people in here and it would be a great business opportunity as well."
He said that in the week since the chocolate shop first launched the Pokeball truffle, business has been booming, and they've barely been able to keep up with demand.
Other businesses trying to cash in
It's a burst of luck that has neighbouring businesses batting their eyes with a tiny bit of jealousy.
Mark Denine, a co-owner of Escape Quest (a live-action adventure game company), said he's been trying to figure out the best way to entice the growing crowd of gamers at the National War Memorial down to his store at 156 Duckworth St.
"You see all of these people that weren't there before and they're all there playing Pokemon," he said
"I've occasionally wandered down and I've dropped a few random free passes to people because I know they're probably my people and they might enjoy what I do."
Denine figures his next best bet is to apply to make his business a Pokestop of its own.
At the other end of the downtown, the Gaze Seed Company on Buchanan Street, has already applied.
They've begun offering special promotions for Pokemon Go players that purchase an item at the store.
To apply for a Pokestop, prospective businesses must contact the developer of Pokemon Go and submit an application.
"I think it would be great," said Denine.
"I have all sorts of random people popping in front of the storefront who I can then talk to and say 'Hey, you should try out this awesome other adventure while you're hunting your Pokemon.'"
On Water Street, Mochanopoly Board Game Cafe co-owner Leon Chung said he's also planning to apply to become a Pokestop.
He said Mochanopoly shares a demographic with many Pokemon Go players, and he's already seen plenty of people play the game in his shop.
"We've had a couple of Pokemon sightings actually in the cafe. A couple of people have come in here and tried to catch a Dragonite or a Clefairy," he said.
"I'm hoping that when we make this place into a Pokestop ... one or two days a week, we're going to put a Pokemon lure here."
A Pokemon lure attracts a large amount of Pokemon to an area and the hope is that when the Pokemon come, the customers will follow.
"From four to five o'clock, people can have 10 per cent off most drinks here," said Chung.
"The motto is replenish your trainer and replenish your Pokemon here."
