SnipStamp Helps You Be in the Right Place at the Right Time

You've been there, haven't you? You know what I'm talking about. You're out with friends and looking for a great place to hang out. You pick a spot, well reviewed on Yelp, and it's dead… I mean, it's more dead than the crowd at a Michael Richards comedy show. It sucks, right? Well, Gerard Durling is looking to change how we all find the place to be and maximize our fun-seeking efforts with a little product called SnipStamp. Gerard, a rugged-looking Danzig look-a-like, was kind enough to take some time out of his busy day to answer questions from this guy, for our readers.

SnipStamp hasn't officially launched yet and, at this time, they are seeking testers for both their Android and iPhone apps. To be sure, geo-location dating services can be hit or miss. SnipStamp is trying to do something a little different. Keep an eye on their Facebook Page to keep up with what's going on with them.

What primary problem does SnipStamp solve?

Something your readers are going to like is our “Stamped Spots”. Using the “Stamped Spots” feature, SnipStamp users can see where the local single crowd currently is hanging out. The app shows how many men and women have checked-in to your area
venues and how many of those people are single.

Are there other services that SnipStamp utilizes to provide users with more info and, ultimately a richer experience?

Absolutely. SnipStamp is integrated with Google+ Local (formerly Google Places), so users anywhere in the country can instantly check-in to places like bars and restaurants. We’ve also added Facebook and Twitter integration, so you can easily register, find
friends and share your activity with others. We also encourage users to share this information with their friends on Facebook and Twitter by offering additional points towards prize giveaways.

How did this idea come about?

Last summer, while watching WWE’s Monday Night Raw, my then-girlfriend texted saying she “wanted to talk.” After telling her to wait until wrestling was over (maybe a bad move), she ended things. I kind-of realized I needed to get my life together and the
next morning started brainstorming how to drive more business to this website design company I started earlier that year. That’s when QR-codes came into play. I wanted to start utilizing them to track ROI on print advertising as a way to get my foot in the door
with local businesses. After pitching the idea to my friend and current SnipStamp VP Jeremy Romani, we changed the focus to the nightlife experience, and it took off from there.

What can you tell our readers about your rewards program?

Anytime a user interacts with a venue using SnipStamp, they receive points, depending on the type of interaction. These points work like raffle tickets that go towards weekly prize giveaways, so the more points accumulated, the better the chances of winning prizes like gift cards, t-shirts, and really whatever the venue wants to give away.

Checking into a venue earns one point, scanning one of their QR-codes earns two, and leaving a review on their SnipStamp profile page earns three points. With our accrual-based incentive program, users will also earn free stuff from SnipStamp when they reach a certain number of points. Once a user reaches 2000 points, they can expect a t-shirt in the mail from us!

In general, what has the reception been to what you're building? Are people excited and curious? Give it up!

Well, people in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA vicinity have heard enough hype from me that if this thing sucks, I’m definitely going to hear about it! Honestly though, everyone I’ve talked to and shown designs to have been into it, expressing genuine interest and
excitement. This really is going to change the way people go out at night, and can only get better from here.

In addition to connecting people, what would a venue get out of your app? It does seem to be very location-intensive.

Aside from a very intelligent tracking system we’ve created for the venue, they also can instantly connect with their followers through Daily Special posts and Push Notifications. We’re also available to create unlimited customized QR-codes for the venue’s print marketing efforts.

What has been the biggest stumbling block thus far as you develop your service and app?

Well, for example, we recently did a photo shoot for the app at a local venue, and many of my friends were texting to ask about the dress code. This inspired me to add that kind of information to the venue’s profile pages. It’s stuff like having to constantly update
features that have provided not only the most frustrating part of developing this app, but also one of the most exciting.

Any words of wisdom for others out there looking to build their own startup?

Join a gym. It’s an incredible stress reliever and you’re about to be taken to a whole different level of stress and frustration. I’ve gone to the gym every day since this app has gone into development and it’s something I’ve found myself looking forward to. I like going in the morning. It really sets your day up.