There’s a new way to save money in Greater Hartford for both retailers and consumers: the online coupon service Groupon.
Local retailers are saying they are pleased with results from the online service that has more than 55,000 subscribers in Greater Hartford, according to company figures.
The way it works is a retailer, say for example Sun and Ski Sport in Avon, offers an online coupon for 51 percent off a $49 bike tune-up – a $25 savings for a customer. Groupon sends an e-mail out to all subscribers (myself among them) and focuses on that business for one day.
Todd Greenwood, general manager of Sun and Ski Sport in Avon, said 100 people purchased the tune-up coupon. It brought in people not familiar with the store (located at the former Ski Market location) that opened on Memorial Day weekend.
“A lot of the customers that came in were not avid cyclists and were in need of a tune-up. This exposed them to other things our store had to offer,” he said.
The customer buys the coupon from Chicago-based Groupon and then presents it the retailer for redemption. The retailer is supplied with a list of purchasers to prevent duplication and checks off each coupon as it is redeemed.
Retailers say the best part is there is no upfront cost for using the program. Groupon keeps 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale and sends the retailer a check for the rest, within a week, according to Eric Pfalzgraff of Max Bibo’s on Main in Hartford, who saw about 325 coupons sold when his deli offered a $12 coupon for $6.
“It seems to do pretty good,” Pfalzgraff said. “I’ve gotten some new customers. The best part is I paid nothing up front. It’s hard advertising because you don’t know what you’re getting but here it is based on results. I’m pretty happy. I have nothing but good things to say.”
Julie Mossler, a Groupon spokesperson, said the company started operations in Hartford on Aug. 9. She said 43 local businesses have been featured to date and more than 15,500 coupons have been sold. Greenwald said that represents more than $610,000 in savings.
For a non-profit retailer like Real Art Ways, which operates a movie theater and art gallery off Park Street in Hartford, the promotion was a success, said Meghan Quinn, its communications director. “We did it to promote Real Art Ways and the independent films we show that have smaller budgets,” said Quinn, adding that 550 people availed themselves of the opportunity to buy two movie tickets for $5.
As other retailers mentioned, Quinn liked that there was no upfront cost to purchase the advertising. Groupon brought in new customers not familiar with the theater’s offerings, as well as old customers who had not been there in a while.
“I think it worked fairly well for us and we’ll do it again,” she said, adding that there’s no real cost to putting additional bodies in the theater’s seats. “The film’s going to go on, no matter what,” she said.
More information about Groupon and its local coupons is available at: http://www.groupon.com/hartford/
Restaurant Week Begins
From Oct. 4 through Saturday, Oct. 10, the Connecticut Restaurant Association and Sysco Connecticut will be sponsoring the third annual Connecticut Restaurant Week. This year, the association is celebrating Connecticut’s 375th anniversary. There are more than 75 restaurants participating, offering various meals and deals for $20.10, $3.75 or $37.50.
“We are very excited to be celebrating our state’s anniversary during restaurant week. Diners might find their favorite restaurant offering appetizers for $3.75, a three-course meal for $20.10, or a two-for-one dinner for $37.50. The possibilities are endless,” said Nicole Griffin, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. A complete list of the participating restaurants is available at http://www.ctrestaurant.org.
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Drive Helps Boys & Girls Club
Through Oct. 16, A.C. Moore stores in Connecticut will hold a fundraising and craft supply drive, and host creativity events for Boys & Girls Club members. A.C. Moore is asking customers to help in their support of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a national network of some 4,000 neighborhood-based clubs serving more than 4.2 million young people annually through membership and community outreach. Customers can add $1 or more to their bill at check out and drop off new or gently-used craft supplies to be donated to local Boys & Girls Clubs. Since its inception in September 2009, A.C. Moore’s “Crafting a Better World” campaign at its 135 stores nationwide has raised more than $250,000 for organizations serving children and families. The company has stores in Plainville, Orange, New London and Manchester.
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Dietician At ShopRite
The recently opened ShopRite store in West Hartford is introducing a unique service — an in-store dietitian to offer customers free nutritional information and guidance that can help influence better food choices. Angela Corcoran will be available for complimentary in-store consultation with customers effective immediately. To make an appointment, customers can call (860) 233-1713 or e-mail angie.corcoran@wakefern.com.
