I have a question about this flower/gift shop.
It got rejected! I know its a business but It’s a local flower/gift shop where its open to the public. It has plenty of public access via car, bike and or walking as you can see. The 2nd photo shows the sidewalk. If there’s any ideas on how to make this a poke stop let me know.
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I live near a garden supply/plant nursery that also has a gift shop, with many being locally made items; it’s owned by a local family, and has some unique items.
I find locally owned gift shops to be fun places to explore, so I would want to know what you put in for the description and supporting info. The context of the description and supporting info are going to be most important for a place like this.
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Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but the qualities you mentioned about the shop have nothing to with criteria. From Niantic Wayfarer
Must meet at least one of the three eligibility criteria
- A great place for exploration
- A great place for exercise
- A great place to be social with others
If you truly believe that this flower shop meets any of those criteria, explain to the reviewer how it does. @DTrain2002 gave you some great ways that it might.
From my experience with these kinds of stores, you go in, find what you want, and check out. There is no being social or what I would consider exploring, and certainly not exercise happening.
Now, if this store has something that does make it meet criteria, tell that story. Put it in the description as much as you can. And back it up with proof in the supporting section.
If this is them, I don’t really see anything on their website to suggest leaning into: https://www.goldenbowgifts.com/
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could you help me with a good title and a few ideas of a description pretty please. 
I clicked on view shop on that link and it gave me this
About Us
While a generic business is a good choice, for-profit business nominations should be evaluated with skepticism. Given a high level of competition on a busy street, it has it be exceptional way beyond most people’s expectations.
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Titles need to be accurate, so the name of the shop is what you want to go with.
As for the description, you have to give good information about what the shop offers, and why it’s important to the community. We can’t write a description for you, as that is something all of us have to do, and it could be seen as using a third party description.
I will note that I do research any local business before nominating it, both in-person and online. So, being they have a website is going to be helpful when providing more context. You can also include the link to the website in your supporting info text.
After looking at the website and their Facebook page, they are mainly a florist that offers gifts on the side to go with the flowers. I don’t know of many floral shops with Wayspots, so this one could be a tough sell.
I will note that looking at this area, that are places that may be easier to get approved, especially at some of the apartment/condo complexes. Northridge appears to have a picnic shelter on the south end, and some picnic areas and garden boxes near the west end parking lot. The Kuleanas Forest Hills Condos have an outdoor pool, and the North Forest Apartments look to have a tennis court, and none of these have Wayspots. There are also some local restaurantes in this area that don’t have Wayspots yet, and they may be easier sells than a florist, too.
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thank you for your help
are apartment/condo complex signs acceptable?
Sadly these things are not well explained to submitters, especially from within the games. These same questions will keep coming up needing these same explanations until that changes. Thank you for taking the time to continue educating new people.
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While they’re not explicitly ineligible, I don’t see how they would meet criteria (great place to explore, exercise, or socialize). You’d really have to spell it out and sell it in your nomination for me to vote to approve.
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I don’t find apartment/condo signs to meet the socialize/exercise/explore criteria, as they are just typically ads for that building/neighborhood.
However, there are exceptions, such as if there is something else that is part of the sign that makes it eligible. Some examples would include a water fountain, unique art (sculpture/statue), it doubling as a gazebo, etc. I live in a neighborhood full of apartment buildings, each with their own signs, but none are unique and most are just ads with more info about how to rent.
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The photo is dark
The photo itself is very bright, clear and legible. There is nothing wrong with nighttime photos that are well composed.
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That photo is just fine. There is nothing against taking photos at night, as long as you can clearly see the POI, and it is pretty clear. The shop itself if more of a generic business, which may not make it eligible.
I’ve actually submitted some new photos during the edit challenge taken at night, especially of places that are well-lit at night. I’ve even submitted and had approved a picnic pavillion at a visitor’s center that’s lit at night, and there was no issues with the it becoming a Wayspot.
not sure why not apartment/condo signs seeing as I see alot of them popping up alot as pokemon stops.
I keep asking for a clarification on these, but Niantic hasn’t given one. imo, they do not meet any criteria (exploration, exercise, or being social) and I do not generally submit or accept them, with exceptions for historical or artistic merit. And the more of these that go live, the more that tend to be submitted. Use your best judgement.
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Completely agree with @cyndiepooh on apartment/condo signs. They are usually quite indistinct, and typically advertisements for how to rent or buy. Unless there is something else that’s part of the sign that meets criteria, such as a decorative fountain, statue, unique art, even a gazebo, then I’m more inclided to accept it.
I have given this example recently. I got an apartment sign while reviewing lately that I did approve. It’s unique as it’s shaped like a long surfboard and painted with a Hawaiian floral design. The apartment building was called The Oceans, so the unique surfboard sign fit well, and was something I’d certainly want to see for myself.
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The experience of myself and others in my area: ML tends to accept them, human reviewers generally reject in most cases.
Most of the time I don’t see how they meet any criteria (great place to be social, explore or exercise). Some may have other “things” with them that would qualify them – gazebos, fountains, art, historic importance, etc. Many will be on single family private residential property. Sometimes they fail to meet Niantic’s “safe pedestrian access” requirement.
It’s messy. Use your best judgment.
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Messy is right. I just found 2 next to some townhomes that are just ads, nothing special, with Wayspots. There’s a park nearby with Wayspots already, a gazebo at a health clinic, unique grain bin architecture at a local shop, not to mention 2 stops and a gym at the Walmart within walking distance. Ugh…
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