Welcome to the Game! So glad to have you. Patches Passport to the Community™ is excited to provide some tips and tricks, as well as insight for businesses and consumers participating in our community engagement event. Here we discuss five ways to help your store stand out in the game. Every Passport player is on the lookout for fresh, local experiences that spark joy and curiosity. When your store pops—both visually and experientially—you become the “must-visit” destination on their map. These five strategies will help you magnetize foot traffic, ignite social shares, and find lasting customers during the game.
1. Craft an Eye-Catching Display
The Patches team provides some items for your display. Use bold colors and typography with your branding and our Patches Passport theme to make these stand out, bring the eye in, and attract attention. You can also incorporate oversized elements like passport stamps or playful directional decals. These can help carry the theme as well as get customers who are not participating in the game discussing your store. If you can, try rotating the displayed products weekly to keep Patches Passport participants and others snapping and sharing. Encourage sharing on social media while tagging your store to show other Patches Passport players that you are engaged in the community event and ready to make their experience fun. Make sure to ask them to vote for your display on our Facebook poll and on our website!
2. Offer Passport-Exclusive Items
Take advantage of our community engagement to make more sales during the event. Put some products or services on a Patches Passport sale, create a limited-edition product or bundled deal themed or tied to the Patches Passport, have a new discount code to create buzz around participating in the Patches Passport to the Community™ Game. When you do the Patches Passport exclusive items, make sure to label them clearly in-store and online so visitors instantly spot its value and can easily find them when they arrive. When you decide on an exclusive, use a distinct code to track redemptions and measure your ROI (return on investment) of the Patches Passport promotion. We want you to see how much this engagement benefits you and the community!
3. Empower Your Team as Brand Ambassadors
Your staff are your face to the community. They are your best way to sell both your store and the Patches Passport to the Community™ Game. Make sure they understand the Patches Passport game’s goals and your exclusive offer details. Answer questions and define things they do not understand. Equip them with friendly talking points: “Have you tried our Passport-only offer?” “Do you want to know more about our Patches Passport deal?” Also give them the power to encourage spontaneous photo ops—invite guests to snap selfies with your team, your brand, and the Patches Passport display. The more that is shared means more eyes on you. Offer Patches Passport exclusive free photo ops with your display to post and spread word of mouth amongst the Patches Passport players.
4. Give a “Mystery Moment” to Patches Passport Players
People love the thrill of the unexpected. A little mystery creates a memorable interaction and adds an unexpected and fun layer to the visit. You can create this by offering a mini envelope, dice roll, or card draw at checkout. Have a prize list off to the side that says what each result wins. Balance the no wins with the wins so that it is fair for everyone participating. It does not need to be anything major for a win to feel good. Include small perks: a sample, discount, sticker, or a little paper with a joke or a fortune. For example: a dice roll of 1 wins a brand sticker, a 2 wins a discount code, a 3 is a no win, a 4 is a sample, etc. To keep on theme, make it available only to players who show their Patches Passport game card at checkout. Another angle to keep it fresh is to rotate the perks each week to keep the players coming back. They only get one stamp, but that does not mean they can’t come back and show their card again to get another mystery prize. Encourage pictures and tagging your store on social media - this boosts engagement and encourages return visits. If you make each interaction feel personal, it will increase loyalty and word of mouth amongst Patches Passport players.
5. Share Local Secrets and Tips
Do you know the best nature trail near your store? Are you the best local late-night eats? Is there a secret gem near you that no one really sees? Do you know a little-known community tip? Share it with Patches Passport players. Use your local knowledge of secrets and tips to draw more attention. People love getting local scoops and having a piece of knowledge you share. Your store becomes more than just a stop; you become a community hub. Use a sign to highlight a rotating “Tip of the Week.” Or provide mini handouts or QR codes exclusively for Patches Passport players. Keep the momentum going by inviting customers to contribute their own tips and tag your store on social media.
There is lots you can do to take advantage of this community engagement event. Using great displays that tie into your brand and the game will get eyes on your store. Driving urgency with Patches Passport exclusive products, bundles, and codes will help drive sales. Train and empower your staff to spark memorable and shareable moments for customers, and players alike, and can help drive your social media forward. Having a small “Mystery Moment” invites a layer of fun and excitement to players and can curate loyalty and returns to your store. Turning your store into more than just a stop on the Patches Passport to the Community™ Game Card by sharing great tips and local secrets can boost community engagement.
Ready to become the next community hotspot? Reserve your spot on the upcoming Patches Passport to the Community™ Game Card today and watch your customer base grow!