Coupon use Continues to Rise and Consumers are Reaping the Benefits at CouponMom.com
The free web site now has over 2.6 million members
Coupon redemption in the first half of 2010 increased by 7.9%, and consumers saved nearly $2 billion with coupons during this time frame, a 37% increase over pre-recession levels, according to NCH Marketing Services.
"Consumers have realized that coupons are real money,” said Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com, "By using our strategic shopping strategies, a family of four can save over $6000 in a year, and our members are saving every time they go shopping.“
Nelson has been called the “the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post, and was also recently named one of the “Top 10 Women in Money” by AOL. She has taught millions how to save with coupons on Oprah, The Today Show, and CNN, and in the Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. Her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting your Grocery Bills in Half, stayed on the New York Times’ Bestseller List for five weeks this year and membership on the Coupon Mom web site has jumped from 180,000 in early 2008 to more than 2.6 million members today.
Coupon usage is definitely on the rise and companies are offering great deals to get consumers to buy. Savings are available not just at the grocery store but at all kinds of retail stores.
“A consumer can save money with coupons at the drug store, in restaurants, on pet supplies and in home stores, as well as in craft stores and clothing shops, “ said Nelson, “It’s all about being a smart shopper and planning ahead.“
Nelson says consumers can find coupons several ways - online at CouponMom.com, in newspaper flyers, entertainment books, shopping mall websites, and in catalogs.
A mother of two, Nelson launched CouponMom.com nine years ago to show consumers what weekly sales and savings were available, to save them time, and of course, to save them money.
92% of shoppers have changed their grocery shopping behavior in the last two years according to Deloitte and Harrison Group, due to the uncertain economic climate. Shoppers are now more price-conscious when buying food and other retail goods.
Here are some of the Coupon Mom's favorite ways to "Strategically Shop”:
1. Plan your shopping trip and make a comprehensive shopping list.
2. Compare prices for your common items at a few nearby stores and cherry-pick the deals if necessary.
3. Study the stores' sales circulars and use online resources like ours to find the best sales.
4. Stock up on common items when they are at rock-bottom prices.
5. Maximize your coupon inventory. Buy multiple copies of the Sunday newspaper.
6. Sign up for your stores' loyalty cards.
September is National Coupon Month, since the first handwritten Coca-Cola coupon in 1886, Americans have been using coupons to save on everything from groceries to clothing to entertainment and all categories in between. With coupon distribution and redemption at historically high levels, be sure you take advantage of these savings today.
For more information on Coupon Mom, go to www.couponmom.com. Media inquiries, contact nanette@burkehollowmedia.com or 615-776-4230.
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