Experiences
An Experience is the central container for a product launch, sale event, or access-controlled offering in Fanfare. It brings together your products, timing, and access methods to orchestrate how consumers reach checkout.What is an Experience?
Think of an experience as a campaign for a specific launch or event. When you create an experience, you define:- What — Which products are available
- When — Opening and closing times
- How — The method consumers use to get access (queue, draw, auction, etc.)
- Who — Which consumer groups can participate (optional)
Experience Lifecycle
Experiences go through three phases based on timing:Scheduled
Before the open time, consumers see a countdown. They cannot participate yet but can see what’s coming.Open
Once the experience opens, consumers can participate according to the distribution method you’ve configured (join a queue, enter a draw, place a bid, etc.).Closed
After the close time, no new entries are allowed. Consumers who already have access can still complete their purchases within their time window.Timing Options
You can configure timing in several ways:| Open Time | Close Time | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Set | Set | Opens at the scheduled time, closes at the end time |
| Set | Not set | Opens at the scheduled time, stays open until you manually close it |
| Not set | Set | Open immediately, closes at the end time |
| Not set | Not set | Always open (until you manually close it) |
Access Paths (Sequences)
Within an experience, you can create multiple access paths (called sequences) to give different consumer groups different experiences:How Routing Works
When a consumer enters your experience:- The system checks sequences in priority order (highest first)
- For each sequence, it checks if the consumer qualifies:
- Are they in the required audience? (if set)
- Do they have the access code? (if required)
- The consumer is assigned to the first sequence they qualify for
Common Patterns
VIP Early AccessProducts in Experiences
You can associate one or more products with an experience:Single Product
Most experiences have one product — a product launch, limited edition, or exclusive item.Multiple Products
You can offer several products in one experience — useful for collection drops or bundle sales. Consumers can choose which product they want.Product Selection
You can control how products are selected:- Consumer chooses — Consumers pick their preferred product
- Random assignment — System assigns a product (great for mystery boxes)
Theming and Customization
Each experience can have its own look and feel:- Colors — Match your brand
- Logo — Your company logo
- Background — Custom images or colors
- Language — Customize text and messages
Consumer Journey Phases
When consumers participate in an experience, they move through phases:1. Arriving
Consumer lands on the experience page. They see:- Product information
- When the experience opens (if scheduled)
- What access method is being used
2. Joining
Consumer enters the experience:- May need to provide contact information
- May need an access code
- Gets assigned to the appropriate access path
3. Participating
Consumer participates according to the distribution type:- Waiting in a queue
- Entered in a draw
- Placing bids in an auction
- Booking an appointment
4. Getting Access
When it’s their turn, the consumer receives access to checkout. This typically includes:- A time-limited window to complete their purchase
- Real-time status updates
- Clear next steps
5. Completing
Consumer completes their purchase within the access window.Best Practices
Plan Your Timing
- Set opening times that work for your target audience’s timezone
- Give yourself buffer time before high-profile launches
- Consider closing times based on your operational capacity
Design Access Paths Thoughtfully
- Higher priority paths should have stricter requirements
- Always have a general access path as a fallback
- Test your routing logic before launch
Prepare Products Early
- Associate products before the experience opens
- Ensure inventory is accurate
- Test the checkout flow
Test the Consumer Flow
- Use preview mode to see what consumers will experience
- Test all access paths with different scenarios
- Verify timing displays correctly in different timezones
Next Steps
- Distribution Types — Learn about queues, draws, auctions, and more
- Audiences — Create targeted consumer groups
- Products — Set up your product catalog