One of the things I typically do as a retail consultant when I take on a new client is to discontinue discount marketing programs.
In fact, I often raise their prices to help them become profitable.
Before you read on, if you are one of the extreme couponers or use them religiously, this site, this blog and this post are not for you. Continue reading 7 Reasons Coupons Shouldn’t Be Used For Your Marketing »
[This is an excerpt from my new book, Groupon: Why Deep Discounts are Bad for Business]
Why are Groupons and the other online sites so dangerous?
Customer satisfaction is going down.
Shopper satisfaction at retail stores is declining upwards of 15 percent a year, based on ongoing research by Interpublic Group. Customers complain they can’t get good customer service. Gift, furniture and other local stores have closed at record rates by some accounts; just like the big-boxes.
Yet deals/coupons/discount sites have become their own cottage industry. Articles and blogs churn out ways consumers should haggle over everything and “never pay retail again.”
Retailers are seen as the evildoers, ones taking “unfair advantage” of the consumer. They’re raking in all the money with their high prices on the backs of their poor customers. Continue reading Local Business Feed Groupon Shoppers Need To Feel Smart »
[This is an excerpt from my new book, Groupon: Why Deep Discounts are Bad for Business]
In this section, we take aim at one of the most frequently quoted fallacies about using such sites for your local business.
“We couldn’t get that type of publicity” is frequently seen in testimonials by business owners on these online discount sites. It’s the old any publicity is good publicity.
Right. Tell that to BP or Toyota…
No, bad publicity that you didn’t have enough wait staff for the crush of people who came in with their BOGO or enough product you advertised at an unbelievable price or mediocre food gets you nowhere to building your business.
In fact it hurts you… Continue reading Online Coupons For Business: “Getting the word out” Fallacy »
[This is an excerpt from my new book, Groupon: Why Deep Discounts are Bad for Business]
No one’s coming in! That’s why so many restaurants are flocking to Groupon and the rest of their online coupon sites.
So your restaurant is empty one night.
So what? Your restaurant is empty one night. 
Ever seen a Gordon Ramsey business makeover Kitchen Nightmares on BBC? Usually the restaurant is dead too.
Continue reading Groupons: Local Businesses Search For Immediate Rewards »
[This is an excerpt from my new book, Groupon: Why Deep Discounts are Bad for Business]
In the first blog of this series, several people commented it was incumbent on businesses that used the Groupon, Living Social and Restaurant.com, and other online coupon companies to have ways to capture those customers.
And how exactly do you expect that to happen? Continue reading Groupon Review For Business: Fallacy of Converting Users To Profitable Customers »
