Northfield Chamber Embraces Pokemon Go

Northfield's Chamber of Commerce has joined the latest Pokemon Go craze, encouraging city businesses to make the most of the app's exploding popularity.

The Nintendo-owned franchise, which made its comeback with the app earlier this month, has taken the virtual world by storm, surpassing even Tinder and possibly Twitter, according to Business Insider. Pokemon Go uses your phone's GPS and camera to detect where a user is, and the game makes Pokemon "appear." The app is free to download, and the purpose is to "capture" all of the different types of Pokemon that come out of hiding as you explore your area.

According to an email from Lindsay Reddy with the Northfield Chamber, the game sets PokeStops, where players can go to stock up on accessories, and Pokemon Gyms, where players go to train their Pokemon and battle other teams. These features tend to be landmarks or points of interest and were established by the creators using Google Maps and some crazy algorithms.

An important piece of the game, according to Reddy's email, is a Pokemon Lure. Players can “cast a Lure” at any PokéStop to attract additional Pokémon ripe for the catching for 30 minutes. Reddy said in the email that she has read online that businesses are casting Lures during slow times to attract more people to their business.

Reddy said the app shows more than a dozen PokéStops and Pokémon Gyms around Northfield's downtown area, leaving it open for everyone to be able take advantage of this trend. She encourages businesses to offer PokéSpecials, PokéDiscounts and Poké-themed food and drink items to help bring in nearby Pokemon Go traffic.