Windsorites hoping to cash in on Pokemon Go
Summer of Pokemon offering opportunities for entrepreneurial Windsorites
Some entrepreneurial Windsorites are hoping to cash in on the continuing popularity of the Pokemon Go franchise.
The virtual reality app encourages players to go out into the real world and capture elusive Pokemon characters. For some, that means there is a chance to make some extra money.
Derek Schweitzer is using his car to drive people to their meeting points, charging $10 per person per hour for the service.
"It's very nice, I've been able to save up more than I anticipated," Schweitzer said. "Especially with Windsor's job market, as much as it is improving, it's still not where it needs to be."
For Schweitzer, his Pokemon Go driving business is starting to bring in some cash.
"With Pokemon Go I am able to get basically get a full time job [while] working part time and play the game while I'm at it," he said.
Schweitzer said he plans on investing in his business. He's added a wireless network to his car and is looking at buying battery packs for his customers' phones. He said his customers are getting a fair deal with his price point.
Business 'jumped on the bandwagon'
When Pokemon first came out nearly 20 years ago, players would trade cards with each other. Now, users are building their virtual collections and selling them online.
Windsor's Kijiji lists several Pokemon Go accounts for sale. Some are selling access to their accounts for more than $100.
One restaurant, Sir Cedric's Fish and Chips, posted an ad on Facebook showing off the Pokemon available at their location and inviting gamers to stop by.
Kelly Tosti, one of the co-owners of the family business, said she was encouraged to go after Pokemon Go users by her two adult children who are 24 and 27.
"We've got a mature crowd, so we jumped on the bandwagon to try and attract some younger customers," Tosti said.
One tactic is to turn the restaurant into a "lure" — a spot on the video game's map where a large number of Pokemon can be found.
"We throw out lures to bring out players, my kids help me throw them out."
Tosti added poutine as well as a french fry and pop combo to the menu specifically for Pokemon Go players. She said the players tend to be in their early-20s and she's noticed an uptick in business.
"We have a lot of regulars here who we know, so when you see new people coming in, it's pretty cool," Tosti said.