ReadWrite : Success for Mobile Coupons Begins at the Register

This article by Read Write's Chris Cameron provides a good summary of the challenges still facing mobile coupons. Highlights are:

• "Point of sale redemption is key to mobile vouchers/codes." As he points out, mobile coupons have been a common idea for startups over the last decade, but it hasn't been until now with current smart-phone technology that the idea has seemed relatively viable. The other factor that he says is pushing the mobile voucher market is support from major vendors.

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Axcess News : Online coupons out-clip print

According to Inmar, a coupon processing settlement provider, coupon redemption in the fourth quarter of 2008 grew nearly 10% compared to the fourth quarter of 2007, marking the first jump in redemption since the early 90s. The Winston-Salem NC company credits the uptick in coupon redemption to the economy, yet gains in online coupon redemption has out-clipped newspapers 17-to-1, according to Coupons.com.

"When everyone started hearing reports of record unemployment, drops in consumer confidence and losses on Wall Street, coupon redemption volume started to go up," said Bob Carter, president of Inmar CMS Promotion Services.

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Coupons Inc Launches Surecaster Coupon Targeting Platform

Coupons, Inc., the global leader in interactive coupon solutions, today expanded its digital coupon campaign targeting capabilities with the launch of SureCaster™ for brand marketers. By utilizing SureCaster, marketers can now target unique coupon offers by the behavior clusters consistent with their brand's targeting strategy. Offers are varied based on brand, competitive and category data. SureCaster leverages Coupons, Inc.'s decade of experience to assist brand marketers in creating more effective and efficient coupon programs that deliver better bottom-line results without decreasing distribution volumes.

As experts in digital coupon promotions, Coupons, Inc. has analyzed tens of thousands of campaigns to identify the most effective and efficient methods to enhance results. SureCaster builds upon the regional targeting of digital FSIs, and adds strategic recommendations for placement, coupon value, frequency, expiration period and online media use.

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Market Watch : Coupons.com Saves Consumers More Than $300 Million in 2008

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Mar 02, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- With the economy driving more shoppers to search out savings, interest in online coupons has spiked, helping spur record growth for Coupons.com in 2008. The world leader in digital coupons more than doubled the amount of savings printed from the site and helped more than 38 million consumers print coupons. The Company also drove innovation in the printable coupon market with key product developments and partnerships.

"We believe shoppers will continue to seek out savings everywhere they can find them as the economy further tightens in 2009," said Steven Boal, CEO of Coupons.com. "With local newspapers struggling, many consumers will lose access to their Sunday coupons. As a result, household brand name companies are increasingly looking to deliver savings to those consumers online. Our goal in 2009 is to bring coupons to as many digital platforms as possible so that consumers can readily find savings in these difficult times."

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Brownsville Herald : Coupons use rising, retailers attempt to lure consumers back

"Coupons usually work," Martinez said. "It's actually better than doing advertising on the radio and TV and stuff - you're throwing all that money away and it's not a guarantee."

In-store coupon use at Texas grocery giant H-E-B was up 22.8 percent in 2008 and the redemption rate on manufacturer coupons is the same, according to figures provided by the store.

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Seattle Times : New tactic: Price cuts give way to giveaways

In Davie, Fla., University Dodge dreamed up a "Buy 1 ... Get 2!" deal to attract potential customers and whittle excess inventory, which had spilled onto the lot next door. As of Friday, the dealership has sold 40 vehicles under the promotion, which promises customers a free Dodge Ram, Dodge Caliber or PT Cruiser if they buy a 2008 Ram.

"Most people think we're crazy," sales manager Ali Ahmed said. "More than anything, it's a way to catch the customer's interest than to just offer a percentage or dollar amount off. They've heard that before."

The dealership has advertised its two-for-one car sale online and in newspapers, Ahmed said, and customers have been calling and showing up to see whether the sale is a gag. But it is no joke from Ahmed's point of view: An estimated 900 auto dealerships out of 20,770 nationwide went out of business in 2008, according to industry estimates, and Ahmed said he did not want to join the thousands likely to close this year.

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Setting strategy: Retailers hope to clip a path to success

In a tough retail environment, coupons can be a useful marketing tool.

“Our customers respond to them,” said Elizabeth Jensen, marketing director for Cargo Largo, which sells overstocked and excess inventory through various venues, including a retail store in Independence.

Since joining the company earlier this year, Jensen has made coupons a key part of Cargo Largo’s marketing plan. She has incorporated standard discount coupons as well as scratch-off games, using various distribution channels such as direct mail, e-mail, newspapers and the company’s Web site.

Read entire article at kansascity.com

MediaPost : Study Finds Coupon Usage Is Intensifying

When it comes to money-saving coupons, the highest-earning segments are most active. Coupon penetration is at 69% of all households through the early part of this year, but 46% in households earning less than $25,000--and it jumps to 71% in families earning more than $75,000.

Usage is highest among those working in such white-collar functions as management, finance and administration. Also intriguing: Smaller households use coupons more than larger ones. Two-person households use more coupons than those with three or four people, and those with five or more people are least likely of all to use coupons.

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Bargain Hunters Scour Web for Coupons

Dallas, Texas (WiredPRNews.com) –With past surges in online technologies came a drastic increase in the number of individuals who turn to the Internet for meeting many of their shopping needs. As reported by The New York Times, many are turning to the web even more, to find additional deals on products that can be found on websites dedicated to helping shoppers pay less for the items they need.

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Ad Week : Coupon Related Google Searches Up Significantly

Coupon-related searches on Google are up significantly, McAteer said. This has been a continuing trend at CoolSavings, an online coupon site.

Users have printed an average of nearly 500,000 coupons per month since July, up 33 percent from the first six months of the year. Other savings-related searches that have been popular on Google: buy one, get one free; discounts; and free shipping.

Read entire article at adweek.com