Success With... KEEPING YOUR REDEMPTION BUSINESS HOT

By Corrie Pelc

There’s no denying the fact that offering redemption prizes in an arcade can be a significant money-making opportunity for a bowling center or FEC. Whether prizes are won in a claw game, a crane game, or picked out at a redemption counter, having sought-after prizes can ensure guests spend more time and money for the item they want.

Feleesha Corduck, bowling games manager for Ten Pin Fun Center in Turlock, CA, knows this first-hand by offering their guests a mix of licensed, unique, and popular prizes targeted at their specific customer demographic. Along the way, Corduck has learned some tricks of the trade that makes operating a redemption store easier and more profitable for the center.

Know Your Guests

When it comes to having a sought-after redemption area with prizes that entice guests, Corduck says it comes down to keeping in touch with who is coming through your door. “Whether it’s families, little kids, or adults, you can have your prizes accommodate all of them,” she continues. “You don’t want little kiddie prizes if you have mainly adults in your area. You want a little mix of both, and you want to monitor your crowd.”

A Good Redemption Partner Makes Life Easier

Corduck has learned the art of balancing the right merchandise with planning. Keeping track of merchandise and managing a redemption operation can be a time-heavy task. Finding a partner that makes the process easier and more streamlined is a critical part of managing a store. Corduck says the center has worked with Redemption Plus since the center opened in 2019 and finds they help them stay on top of what’s new and trending.

Licensed Prizes for All Ages

Corduck says their guests enjoy the center’s large selection of licensed prizes such as Nerf, Squishmallow, Hasbro, and Barbie.

“We always have to have Nerf guns in — those go super quick,” she details. “Squishmallows are popular, and then Disney and Barbies for all the little girls.”

Corduck notes that many of those licensed products appeal to adult guests just as much as they do to kids. “Adults love all the Disney stuff and Squishmallows,” she continues. “People collect those things. They come here for the big prizes, the big toys, and the licensed products.”

Unique and Specialty Prizes are Hot

In addition to licensed products, Corduck says they have also been successful with Redemption Plus’s unique and specialty items, such as the Belly Buddy Babies, a plush toy featuring both an adult and a baby, and reversible plush toys that can be turned inside-out to show a completely different animal. Corduck says the Belly Buddy Babies are in their giant crane game while the reversible plush toys are located at the redemption counter. “The reversible ones are super popular because they get two different options of plushes at once,” she adds.

Know What’s Trending

To stay competitive with other arcades in their area, Corduck says they try to stay ahead of what is trending to offer exciting prizes no one else has. For example, when there’s a family- or child-friendly movie coming out, they offer related, specialized prizes. “If there’s a Marvel or a Disney movie, we have them in stock,” she adds. Relying on redemption professionals for guidance not only ensures quality products, but ones that are attractive to customers.

How Sweet It Is!

Kids of all ages love candy which is another popular prize at Ten Pins’s redemption counter. Popular brands like Skittles, Airheads, and Nerds always move quickly, but the center offers guests less expensive options as well. Redemption Plus has a wide selection of sweet treats, including generic candies for a lesser price point which is passed on to guests for a lower ticket price.

The right merchandise in a redemption store is a magnet for guests. While games and other attractions draw customers to the building, a good mix of trending prizes keeps them there longer and encourages return visits.

Partnering with redemption professionals will make any operation run more smoothly, earn more profit, and cause fewer headaches for management.

Now that sounds like a big WIN!•