Clipping coupons is so 2000. There used to be a time when all you could is clip coupons in order to save money. If you didn’t clip, you didn’t get to use coupons. Do you remember those days? Well, if you don’t, then you should consider yourself lucky. The process of couponing has completely changed since the explosion of the internet and it’s to the benefit of the consumer. Here are the ways you can coupon in the modern age.
Brief TimeLine for Couponing Modernization
1887- Coca-Cola distributes the first coupon for a free glass of Coke. In exchange for providing the names and addresses of customers, pharmacies were provided free Coke syrup. It was a successful marketing strategy where potential customers received a coupon for a free glass of coke in the mail and pharmacies kept buying more syrup.
1909 – Post distributed the second coupon ever for a penny off it's Grape Nuts cereal.
1957 – The Nielsen Coupon Clearing House creates the first company devoted entirely to coupon redemption and the software to manage the entire redemption process.
1968 – Terry Loebel invents Valpak, the little blue envelope with coupons for businesses in your local neighborhood.
1972 – George Valassis invents the first insert for coupons which today is called the Sunday Circular.
1997 – In September 1997, the U.S. celebrates the first ever National Coupon Month.
2010 –Target becomes the first national chain to put mobile coupons on it's customers' cell phones. Extreme Couponing also premieres in December of 2010 on TLC.
As you can now see, the couponing industry has changed drastically over the last few decades and continues to evolve with technology.
Digital Coupons
With internet access along came the change with coupons. While you can still clip coupons to your heart’s content, most can now get their coupons digitally. Most retailers allow you to print coupons from your computer or even just enter digital coupon codes. It simple and effective, let alone easy! You can also have a store scan your smartphone with a coupon it and save. No paper and no mess.
There are so many shopping/coupon sites out there which provide digital coupons like RetailMeNot, LavishCoupon.com Exclusive Coupon Website, Coupon Sherpa, and ClothingRIC.com For Clothing Coupon Codes.
Shopping Rewards Cards
Who doesn’t have those little shopping rewards cards on their keychain? Most big box and supermarkets have adopted the rewards cards as a way to help consumers save money. Now, don’t think they do this out of the kindness of their hearts. They give you discounts because they collect a lot of purchasing data on you. How else would you get coupons delivered to you that meet your every need?
Email Coupons
Some of us dislike signing up for emails from retailers, but they do provide easy access to coupons this way. Some even give specialty coupons just to those who sign up to get emails. Retailers can deliver printable coupons right to your inbox anytime they want. All you have to do is use them and save!
Social Media Coupons
Along came sites like Facebook and Twitter and it didn’t take retailers a long time to start offering coupons on these sites. Now, these work when you follow or like the retailers page or profile. They send out updates via the platforms and provide those customers with coupons. It’s an easy way to quickly get deals and sales to meet your shopping needs.
No one can deny that couponing changed alongside the internet. People love to use coupons each and every day. It’s up to the retailers to come up with new and innovate ways to deliver them in this modern age.
