Coupons Are Building Business Even in a Down Economy

Coupon use has jumped by 37 percent since the recession began, reports the Association of Coupon Progressions.

To assist manufacturers and retailers on using coupons to build sales and increase brand loyalty, ACP will hold three educational seminars, taught by leaders in the field, that can help participants plan a marketing campaign with coupons that maximizes their return on investment.

Participants will learn how to market their business with this time-tested tool, can refresh their knowledge of coupons, or bring themselves up to speed on new technologies. Digital, print-at-home, and traditional paper coupons will be discussed. New technologies like cell phone coupons and click to card (frequent shopper card) coupons will also be explored. The entire redemption cycle of coupons will be discussed at the seminars.

“In a recession, coupons always become very popular – now is the time to learn more about them,” said Val Stark, director of ACP’s education committee. “Marketing with coupons is a critical and time-tested strategy for building business and connecting with customers. Our educational seminars include coupon industry veterans who can bring you up to speed on the basics or introduce you to new technologies.”

Seminar topics include effective coupon strategies, coupon distribution types, coupon design, family code management, redemption cycle, misredemption, managing risk and other areas. Attendees will follow the path of a coupon from the time it is issued through redemption, financial settlement and reporting with a detailed view of all the functions in the process. Transition to the new GS1 Databar will be included.

ACP will hold three regional educational seminars:

- Oct. 6, Doubletree Hotel, Rosemont, Ill.
- Nov. 16, Crowne Plaza, Englewood, N.J.
- March 22, in conjunction with CIC Summit, Hotel Monaco, Alexandria, Va.

For more information, contact John Morgan at (610) 789-9993 or [email protected], or visit www.couponpros.org.