Feature Spotlight: Building Trust Through Play

How do we make putting on Craft Fairs more secure?

How StallSync's Achievement System Will Make Event Booking Safer and More Engaging

The craft fair and market scene in the UK faces a growing challenge - scammers taking advantage of Facebook's unregulated event booking environment. Stories of fake events, fraudulent bookings, and disappearing organizers are becoming all too common. StallSync aims to solve this through an innovative approach that makes building trust not just important, but engaging.

The Current Problem

Facebook groups and marketplace listings have become the default way to book event spaces, but they offer little protection for either stallholders or event hosts. Stallholders risk losing pitch fees to fraudulent events, while legitimate event hosts struggle to prove their credibility. The system relies entirely on blind trust, with no built-in safeguards or verification processes.

Gamification Meets Security

While robust security measures are essential, they don't have to be dull. StallSync is developing an achievement system that transforms the process of building trust into an engaging journey. Think of it like leveling up in a game - except instead of slaying dragons, you're demonstrating professional reliability and building a trusted reputation.

Why Achievements Work

Achievement systems have revolutionized many digital platforms, from fitness apps to learning platforms. They tap into our natural desire for progress, recognition, and accomplishment. By bringing this approach to event booking security, StallSync aims to make trust-building an active and rewarding process.

A craft stall in a park with achievement badges floating above it. Generated with Adobe Illustrator — Achievements and badges that transform the process of building trust into an engaging journey

Planned Trust Features

While the specific details are still being refined, StallSync's trust system will likely include:

Achievement badges for consistent professional behavior
Recognition for successful event participation
Rewards for maintaining high communication standards
Acknowledgment of positive community contributions

These achievements won't just be for show - they'll form part of a comprehensive trust profile, helping users make informed decisions about who they work with.

Secure Payments Through Escrow

Alongside our achievement system, StallSync will implement secure payment processing through Stripe. All pitch fees will be held in escrow until after events are completed, providing peace of mind for all parties. This combines the security of professional payment processing with the transparency of escrow protection.

Progressive Trust Building

Trust isn't built overnight. StallSync's system will recognize this through a tiered approach to verification and achievements. As users participate in more events, maintain professional standards, and contribute positively to the community, they'll unlock new achievements and recognition.

Making Security Engaging

While security features like identity verification and insurance checks will form the foundation of trust on StallSync, the achievement system will make building and maintaining that trust more engaging. We're exploring ways to recognize:

Consistent professional behavior
Community contributions
Successful event participation
Quality communication
Positive feedback

The exact form these recognitions will take is still being developed with input from our early access community.

Community-Driven Trust

StallSync believes that trust is built through community. Our achievement system will reflect this by recognizing not just individual successes, but contributions to the wider StallSync community. We're designing a platform where every positive interaction strengthens the network of trust.

Looking Forward

As we develop StallSync, we're excited to refine and expand our achievement system based on community feedback. We believe that by making trust-building engaging and rewarding, we can create a more secure and enjoyable event booking experience for everyone.

The achievement system represents just one part of StallSync's comprehensive approach to platform security. Combined with robust verification processes, secure payment handling, and clear policies, it will help create an environment where legitimate event hosts and stallholders can connect with confidence.

Want to help shape how StallSync implements these features? Join our waitlist today and be part of building a more secure and engaging future for the UK's craft fair and market scene.

If you have any thoughts or ideas on how we could make StallSync better, please get in touch: ed@stallsync.co.uk