There are countless marketing strategies for retailers to test out, some of which work better than others. Something that businesses could consider is the use of blind boxes and mystery bags, which add an element of intrigue to the shopping experience.
Some of the most successful businesses in the world offer these incentives, including Starbucks and Too Good To Go. However, they may be best offered as limited-time deals to keep up the intrigue with customers.
How do blind boxes and mystery bags work?
The beauty of blind boxes and mystery bags is that they are shrouded in uncertainty, and this creates a sense of anticipation in customers. There’s an element of surprise and thrill added to the shopping experience, and they can act as a great incentive to get people to purchase something or spend a certain amount.
Customers can receive these items as promotions, or they can choose to purchase them. The marketing strategy is similar to opening a gift, except that customers will usually have a vague idea of the type of thing they are likely to receive.
Humans have an innate curiosity, and research has found that we love surprises. This means that retailers can play on these facets with their marketing approaches. However, it could be that it’s best to run these deals randomly and for set periods of time. That has usually been the approach that successful companies have taken.
Real world examples of mystery gifts
There are various businesses around the world that have found success by offering mystery gifts to their customers. Starbucks has sometimes found that the element of surprise associated with this marketing method can help the brand stay fresh for customers and avoid boredom. In the past, the world famous coffee chain has run mystery drink promotions to market their seasonal beverages. Customers could pay a cut price to receive a random free drink, meaning that they could have potentially been given one of a few options.
The online casino industry is another place in which mystery prizes are abundant, and this keeps players coming back for more. Online slots are prime examples of games that have random rewards, with titles like Panda Blitz and Diamond Cascade coming with engaging bonus rounds. The beauty of these is that they could happen at any time, and this keeps players on their toes. Online casinos sometimes mix these mystery rewards in with their bonuses, allowing players to spin wheels to see if they can earn a prize.
Too Good To Go has an innovative way of offering mystery bags. The sustainable company puts surplus food from restaurants and cafes into unlabelled containers and gives customers the chance to enjoy a surprise meal for a low price. At the same time, they are combating food waste, so it’s a win-win situation.
If you’re looking for a new marketing technique that has proven to be successful for other companies in the past, you could look to try out some sort of mystery reward scheme. It can add thrills to the shopping experience and help your business stand out from the competition.
