To build the best possible app for our users, we went straight to the source — visiting multiple stores across Berlin to understand what would actually make someone download a beverage retailer's app. The answer was consistent: measurable discounts.

We spoke with store employees too, whose frontline perspective shaped our understanding of the operational side. From there we built initial concepts, tested prototypes internally, then returned to stores to validate directly with customers.

Research led to some tough prioritization decisions. We made the call to park gamification features for v2 and focus entirely on the discount and coupon mechanic — the one thing research told us would actually drive downloads. It kept the product focused and gave us a clear, testable value proposition for launch.

Discounts take center stage in the app — they're the first thing users see when they open it.

Rather than relying on deep discounts or paid campaigns, I proposed an in-store mechanic inspired by Fnac's member pricing model: every shelf label shows two prices — the regular price and the lower App Price. The FOMO is immediate. The store itself becomes the acquisition channel.

Result: 58k+ organic downloads on Android with zero paid social campaigns launched — the mechanic did all the work.