Available Distribution Types
Fanfare supports six distribution types:| Type | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Queue | Consumers wait in a virtual line, served first-come-first-served | High-demand launches where order matters |
| Draw | Consumers enter a lottery and winners are randomly selected | Fair allocation when demand exceeds supply |
| Auction | Consumers place competitive bids | Unique items, collectibles, price discovery |
| Appointment | Consumers book specific time slots | In-store pickups, consultations, services |
| Timed Release | Instant access at a scheduled time | Flash sales, member perks |
| Waitlist | Captures interest, notifies when available | Pre-launch signup, overflow handling |
How Distributions Work
Every distribution follows a similar pattern:
1. Join
Consumers enter the distribution. Depending on the type, this might mean:- Joining a queue
- Entering a draw
- Placing a bid
- Selecting a time slot
2. Participate
Consumers actively participate according to the distribution method:- Queue: Watch their position move forward
- Draw: Wait for the selection
- Auction: Monitor bids and place new ones
- Appointment: Confirm their booking
3. Get Access
When it’s their turn, consumers receive access to checkout. This includes:- A limited time window to complete their purchase
- Clear instructions on next steps
- Real-time countdown
4. Complete Purchase
Consumers complete their purchase within the access window. If they don’t complete in time, their access expires.Distribution Timing
Each distribution has customer-facing timing derived from its configured window:| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| upcoming | The distribution is scheduled but not active yet. |
| active | Consumers can take the supported action for that distribution. |
| ended | The distribution window or outcome timing has ended. |
drawAt for winner selection, and auctions use settleAt for settlement timing.
Access Windows
When consumers receive access, they get a time-limited window to complete checkout:| Setting | What It Controls |
|---|---|
| Access duration | How long consumers have to complete checkout |
| Expiration behavior | What happens if they don’t complete in time |
- 5-10 minutes for simple checkouts (one item, saved payment)
- 15-30 minutes for complex purchases (multiple items, new payment info)
- Always set an expiration to ensure fair access for waiting consumers
Guest vs. Verified Access
You can control whether consumers need to verify their identity:| Setting | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Allow guests | Low-friction entry, maximize participation |
| Require verification | Higher-value items, prevent abuse, enable notifications |
| Distribution | Guests Usually Allowed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Queue | Yes | Low friction for high-volume |
| Draw | Yes | Maximize entries |
| Auction | No | Need payment capability |
| Appointment | No | Booking accountability |
| Timed Release | Configurable | Controlled by supportsGuest |
| Waitlist | Yes | Lead capture |
Capacity Controls
Different distributions have different capacity options:Queue
- Queue capacity — Maximum people waiting at once
- Admission rate — How many people access checkout per minute
- Total admissions — Maximum total people who can purchase
Draw
- Entry capacity — Maximum entries accepted
- Winner count — How many winners to select
Auction
- Typically single-item (winner is highest bidder)
Appointment
- Slot capacity — How many bookings per time slot
- Time slots — Available booking times
Choosing the Right Distribution
Here’s a decision guide:
Queue
Best for: High-demand product launches where first-come-first-served feels fair Consumer experience: Join the line, watch position update, get access when it’s their turn Example: Sneaker drops, concert tickets, limited edition productsDraw (Lottery)
Best for: Situations where demand far exceeds supply and random selection feels most fair Consumer experience: Enter the draw, wait for selection, winners notified Example: Exclusive collaborations, oversubscribed events, fairness-focused brandsAuction
Best for: Unique items where price discovery is important Consumer experience: Place bids, monitor competition, highest bid wins Example: Art, collectibles, one-of-a-kind itemsAppointment
Best for: Services or pickups that need scheduling Consumer experience: Browse available times, book a slot, receive confirmation Example: Store appointments, consultations, pickup schedulingTimed Release
Best for: Simple access at a specific time without queuing Consumer experience: Countdown to release, instant access when it opens Example: Flash sales, member-exclusive access, promotional windowsWaitlist
Best for: Capturing interest before launch or handling overflow Consumer experience: Sign up, receive notification when available Example: Pre-launch interest, sold-out items that may return, overflow from other distributionsNext Steps
Learn more about each distribution type:- Queue Distribution — First-in-first-out waiting lines
- Draw Distribution — Random lottery selection
- Auction Distribution — Competitive bidding
- Appointment Distribution — Time slot booking
- Timed Release Distribution — Instant access at a time
- Waitlist Distribution — Interest capture