Frankston businesses ride wave of popularity for Pokemon Go

Jamie First,
July 16, 2016
Frankston Standard Leader
POKEMON GO is proving to be a game changer for some Frankston businesses.
The global phenomenon is increasing foot traffic to stores and landmarks as players take to the streets to capture their animated characters.
A Frankston gaming retailer on Keys St, Games By The Beach, has seen as many as 100 more people visit their store each day as a result of the geolocation app.
Employer Brendon Byrnes said he wasn’t surprised by how big it had become.
“Since Friday, I would have seen at least 80 people per hour per day walking past the store on their phones,” he said.
The 27-year-old said he had been using the game to his advantage, placing “lures” near the shop.
A “lure” is virtual bait that attracts more Pokemon, but in real life that means extra players flocking to the area where it is placed.
Lasting for 30 minutes and costing $1.50 (or free, if found within the game as a reward), there is no limit on the number of lures used.
Mr Brynes said for a mere $15 his store had been keeping lures up during peak trading — from 6pm on Friday until the same time on Saturday.
He said it was a valuable business opportunity.
A Pokemon captured near the Landmark Building in Frankston.
“We stock Pokemon items (including the trading card game), so as soon as people realise that as they are walking past, they always pop in.
“Even for the people that don’t come through the door, it’s about people realising we’re here and maybe coming back later.”
He said the number of “walk-ins” to the store had almost doubled.
“It has been very busy. It has been good to see.
“From a business perspective, I can’t see any negatives,” he said.
Pokemon have popped up all over Frankston and the peninsula including the pier and at the Avenue of Honour monument on Nepean Highway.
Frankston RSL president Kevin Hillier said he didn’t see a problem with the characters being placed there.
“If they (Pokemon hunters) happen to look up from their phones while they are looking for Pokemon and read the names on the monument, that would be lovely,” Mr Hillier said.
“But I would be more concerned about them getting run over.
“If the young people are aware of the surroundings they are in, it has to be a good thing.”
Bridget De Lange, service officer at Enchanted Adventure Garden in Arthurs Seat, said the team had noticed a difference in people’s activities at the park.
She said there were now a lot more people wandering around on their phones, clearly in search of points.
“There’s Pokemon all over the maze,” Ms De Lange said.