"It's not about what it is, it is about what it can become." -Dr. Seuss
It’s the craze of the century, right behind the touch screen and the Word Wide Web, of course. What began as a children’s show in the early 90s has evolved into a gamer’s daily routine: Wake up, eat breakfast, grab your phone and shoes, catch ’em all! Easy, right? Absolutely. But what is the next step? We are already seeing it.
Businesses everywhere are hosting events now with Pokemon Go as the main attraction. Texas A&M University walk-on kicker, Hitmonlee, made a guest appearance at Kyle Field where the university opened the gates early to allow students and Pokemon fans the opportunity to capture the record-holding kicker. The Brazos Valley Bombers, a Texas Collegiate League summer baseball team, is having a catching contest on July 21 from 6-6:45 pm where the winner receives 15,000 PokeCoins for catching the most Pokemon. Wolf Pen Creek hosted several local businesses during a 4-hour catching bonanza. Even an app for walking dogs has joined forces with Pokemon Go to promote an adventure with man’s (and woman’s) best friend. Funny, right? A children’s show is now at the forefront of several marketing campaigns, but many businesses are missing out. Here are a few marketing ideas that businesses should try.
Shoes
Unless you like walking barefoot for hours catching fictional creatures, you’re gonna need a good pair of shoes. Stores everywhere should be fighting for the logo rights of Pokemon Go. It’s simple, really: pick a shoe, slap the logo on it, and sell it! If people have the app, the shoes are 25% off. Brands like Skechers, Nike, and New Balance, who have memory foam shoes, would bank on the Pokemon Go Hype. eBay has already brgun this endeavor, and the designs look pretty neat. However, the next step is adding memory foam to the shoes to make them more comfortable and fit for long walks anywhere you go.
Portable Phone Chargers
Pokemon Go drains a phone battery. I’ve learned that an hour of Pokemon Go drains 20 percent of my Samsung Galaxy S6 Active battery, which means I can play for 5 hours on a full battery…maybe. Again, slap the logo on a portable phone charger (that’s in the shape of a Pokeball, wink wink) and let trainers everywhere spend more time playing and less time worrying about when their phone will die. You could even make a mophie charger with a Pokemon design on it. I had a friend’s phone die when everyone went on a Scyther hunt…it was hilarious to hear his reaction! Samsung, if you are reading this, you should make the platform charger for a Galaxy S6 and beyond in the Pokeball design. Cha-ching, and you’re welcome!
Backpacks
You know those backpacks where you can store cold water in and drink from a “hose-like straw?” Yeah, slap a logo on that, add a pocket for one’s charger, and let the adventures continue. Pokemon Go made its debut in July, and if you live in Texas, it’s hot. Water is a must have for Texas summer Pokemon Go adventures. Plus, it’ll add to the joy of going on a Pokemon quest since Ash, the main character in the TV show, always had a backpack on his journeys.
These are only a few marketing initiatives businesses can try. There are many ideas out there, and it’s going to be fun to see what comes next for the game, and even for marketing and business.
