What - the name James Kim doesn't ring a bell?
He's the "marketing genius" who everyone was talking about in late July, because he had the great idea to open a chain of cafes and call then Pokestops.
Because, you see, if you call them Pokestops, then smartphone-wielding people will flock to them.
Or, that's what Kim thought in late July.
I was slightly more pessimistic.
So assume that Nintendo et al are extremely happy with the idea of giving Kim a cut of the money, and that the trademarks are approved, and that locations are selected. In a best-case scenario, we'll start seeing these "Pokestops" in...
...well, in 2017 if everything goes perfectly. If things get bogged down with litigation and zoning restrictions (imagine your average city council approving a restaurant that is designed to have a bunch of people milling around), the process could take years.
By which time the Pokémon Go fanaticism may have faded just a little bit.
Faded? Ya think?
Of course, my solution about deploying incense at restaurants wasn't that valuable either, since incense can only be used by the person who deploys it. But at least my other suggestion - the use of lures - would work (provided your establishment is already an official Pokestop, or is very close to one).
Meanwhile, everything has seemingly gone quiet on the James Kim front since August, when there was a "non-final action" on his trademark application.
Kim's probably busy on his Rogue One Restaurant concept.
