Spinning wheel promotional and advertising game in a retail establishment

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for conducting a promotional and advertising game in a retail establishment to create customer excitement, entertainment, participation, and loyalty is disclosed. The game is played at unpredictable time intervals using a gaming system with a spinning wheel. The system awards prizes to participants, who are selected from supermarket patrons present in the supermarket at game time, based on the results of the spinning wheel. Numbered placards are distributed at random intervals throughout the store, and participants are invited to stand on, under, or near any available placard during the first spin of the wheel which is announced to all patrons. The participant on the winning placard spins the wheel the second time to determine the prize, if any, that the participant is awarded. Prizes may include the store proprietor's items, products and services of others, products of manufacturer sponsors, or combinations thereof.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 629,432 filed Nov. 19, 2004, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed to creating a promotional opportunity for venues and other retail establishments for their returning patrons that creates excitement, entertainment and customer loyalty. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the operation of a spinning wheel at random times to disperse prizes to store patrons. [0003] Retail establishments, and more particularly, supermarkets, are persistently seeking novel and creative means by which to attract patrons. Intense competition in pricing and product discounts has become ubiquitous, leading retailers to develop other means by which to distinguish themselves favorably to consumers and to gain competitive advantage over other similarly situated retailers. [000...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0027] One advantage of the present invention is the random intervals that the game is played. Patrons in the store are aware that the game is present and that there is a possibility that it will be played while they are present in the establishment, but there is a degree of uncertainty as to the exact time the game will be played. Since the intervals are random, the store can initiate game play whenever is appropriate. For example, during the operating hours of the store, the amount of patrons present in the store fluctuates and the store or game operator would most likely choose to initiate the game more often when there is the greatest amount of patrons present in the store. The random game play intervals allow the store to maximize the exposure of the game, the prizes, and the sponsors. This flexibility allows the retailers and sponsors who donate prizes for the game to have the satisfaction that their products are getting the most exposure as possible, as the game and attention to the game is occurring when the most possible patrons are present in the establishment. The random game initiation also ensures that the maximum numbers of patrons are receiving the maximum amount of chances to participate in the game as well.

[0028] Another advantage of the present invention is that participation occurs easily without spending money or without making any purchases. While many state gambling laws require that there be a “no purchase necessary” clause on all gaming methods used within their particular state, nonetheless, it is often extremely difficult to participate in the game unless a purchase has been made. The ‘no purchase’ participation often requires cumbersome mailings and other requirements, the present invention's ‘no purchase’ participation is the same as the ‘purchase’ participation. Here, the only requirement for participation is that the patron be present in the store at the time the game is initiated. Purchasers and non-purchasers alike have equal opportunity to participate and have an equal opportunity to select a prize. No deference is given to those who actually purchase an item from the establishment over those who do not.

[0029] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the game creates participant and patron excitement by physical, emotional, visual and audio stimulants. All aspects of the game stimulate the participants, adding to its potential for popularity among patrons and storeowners. Not only do the patrons and participants have the opportunity to watch the game being played when the wheel is spun, view the media panel displaying information, observe, the participants locating gaming placards throughout the store, but the patrons and participants hear the excitement created throughout the store, and they can actively participate if they choose to do so. The combination of the numerous stimulants creates a more memorable and enjoyable experience for patrons, which results in return patronage at the store for repeated participation in the game.

[0030] Another advantage of

Problems solved by technology

Once the patrons enter the retail establishment, the likelihood increases that they will purchase an item, effectively driving up sales revenues in excess of the costs associated with creating and sponsoring the game.

Some drawbacks associated with these various slot machine and sweepstakes games include the need to maintain complicated database systems for customer identification, prize identification, and historical data associated

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