At a fair, every marquee competes for the same people, the same hours and the same vibe. Standing out isn't about dropping prices: it's about giving people a reason to come in, stay and come back. El Lerele, a feria marquee, found that reason with an idea as simple as it was effective: put a QR code on every cup.
The idea: every cup, a ticket
The El Lerele team printed QR codes and stuck them straight onto the cups they handed out during the event. That way, every drink became an instant-win ticket already in the customer's hand. No apps, no sign-ups: you scan with your phone camera and instantly find out if you've won.
Prizes that make sense at a fair
The prizes fit the context: cocktails, beers, wine spritzers and free bottles. Immediate, useful rewards that invite you to keep the night going in the same marquee. Winning wasn't a voucher for another day: it was a drink right there, right then.
What happened
The effect was immediate. In the first few hours there were over 1,000 scans. But the number, striking as it is, isn't the most interesting part. What really moved the needle was word of mouth: people showed their phone to whoever was next to them, talked about whether they'd won, and newcomers started turning up just to try it.
The unexpected effect: more time inside
Here's the key for a marquee. Scanning, discovering the prize and going to collect it takes a moment, and that little journey keeps people inside longer. The more people stay, the fuller the marquee looks… and a full marquee pulls in more people. It's the classic "a crowd draws a crowd" effect, but triggered by a mechanic everyone wants to try.
The result: more engagement, more word of mouth and a higher average dwell time — exactly what a business that lives off fair hours needs.
Why it works so well at fairs and marquees
- ·The surface is already in their hand. The cup is the one thing everyone carries around; putting the QR there guarantees they'll see it.
- ·The reward is immediate and local. You win and redeem at the bar, with no friction, which keeps people drinking in the same spot.
- ·It creates social proof. Every prize is a small, visible moment of celebration for those nearby.
- ·It extends the stay. The scan → win → collect journey takes time and keeps the place full.
You don't need anything complicated: an instant-win game, a few printed QR codes and a bar to redeem at.
See it live in your next event
Free to start. No app needed.
Frequently asked questions
How were the QR codes put on the cups?
They were printed as stickers and placed on the cups handed out during the event, so every drink carried its own code to scan.
Did customers need to install anything?
No. You scan with your phone camera and the game opens in the browser. No apps, no sign-ups.
Which prizes work best at a marquee?
The ones consumed on the spot and in the same place: cocktails, beers, wine, bottles… Immediate rewards that make people want to stay.
Why does it increase time spent inside?
Because the journey of scanning, discovering the prize and going to collect it takes a few minutes, and a full marquee attracts more people: the dwell time feeds on itself.
Want to set up something similar at your event? With PrizeQR you create an instant-win game and print your QR codes in minutes. You might also like event gamification and how to gamify a trade fair.