WHY RETAILERS SHOULD OFFER COUPONS!!

The COUPON CRAZE is hotter than ever!! And it's not the same as your grandma's clippin' days! More and more people are utilizing coupons - paper and digital. All you need to do is search"coupon" and you will be shocked at the number of resources, online retailers, secret codes, news, etc. on this topic.

Why is clipping coupons so HOT right now? One word - economy!! Many consumers are facing layoffs or job loss (especially in our area), rising mortgage crisis, stimulus confusion and a million other reasons. According to the Federal Trade Commission “Coupons are big business: More than 3,000 manufacturers distribute nearly 330 billion coupons — worth an estimated $280 billion — every year in an effort to help consumers save money. Indeed, it is thought that 77 percent of American households use some eight billion coupons to save $4.7 billion on their grocery bills.” Seventy-seven percent! This is just manufacturers coupons! This does not count the billions of retailers who offer coupons and/or discounts!

In my Basic Training course of Coupon Boot Camp, I teach consumers to check their favorite stores, restaurants and entertainment venues first for coupons before shopping! The eyes light up and the pens whiz taking note of some of the best online locations I share with them that offer fantastic coupons or deals!

Just as important as offering coupons is telling everyone about them! Recently I found out a local business I frequent and dine at occasionally has a coupon campaign they have been utilizing for quite some time. I mentioned this in my next training and a woman who works nearby and eats and shops there very frequently was surprised and excited to learn they offer coupons by just signing up for their monthly newsletter. This retailer is failing to promote their own "promotions".

Small businesses need to stay up with trends and technology in order to compete with larger corporations who are vying for their customers. Case in point, "Out of 100 major retailers, 59 had Facebook accounts in September 2008. That was almost double the number just four months earlier, according to Rosetta, a market research firm based in Princeton", as reported by Candace Choi of the Associated Press. You must read this eye opening article on courierpostonline.com!

As a member of Women 4 Wilmington, this concept is being more than encouraged! So if you are a small business owner and are looking for ways to survive this struggling economy, do yourself a favor and jump on the "Coupon Bandwagon" and ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

P.S. If you are a retailer and offer a coupon, feel free to post your link via a comment below !!