A Short History

Promotional offers have probably been around as long as items have been bought, sold or bartered for. Store deals are certainly a way of life for any retail outlet, whether on-line or offline.

The first coupon, ever, is said to have originated in 1894, when Asa Candler, the druggist who bought the formula for Coca-Cola for $2,300, dreamed up a simple promotional offer and gave out hand-written tickets for a free glass of his fountain drink. Talk about a great in-store deal! Little did he know where that simple promotional offer would lead…

One year later, the first grocery store coupon arrived from C.W. Post, offering one cent off his newest health cereal: Grape Nuts. And promotional offers had arrived…but coupons didn’t really become a way of life in America until the 1930s. The Depression meant in-store deals were more important than ever; saving a penny or two on one purchase made a tangible difference for folks trying to get food on the table. For struggling retailers, having the best promotional offers meant getting the customers they needed to stay in business.

Today, coupons, promotional offers and store deals are part of almost every shopping trip. And for good reason! Clipping coupons and taking advantage of promotional offers can save you big money. While not everyone is inclined to examine the weekend paper and cut out scraps of paper for savings of 10 or 25 cents (though these do add up; don’t underestimate the wisdom of the perpetual coupon clipper!), there are bigger savings to be had. Knowing where to find out about promotional offers and when to shop to best take advantage of store deals are easily developed habits.

Promotional offers are no longer just found in the newspaper, paper flyers or magazines. Consumers can find out about store deals online, by signing up for alerts, newsletters, or weekly e-flyers. Coupons are also available for thousands of retailers here at DealSharks - just search for your favorite retailer or or browse the product categories.

Recent statistics say 89 per cent of consumers use coupons of some sort; shoppers in the United States alone saved over $2.6 billion last year by taking advantage of these sorts of promotional deals. In uncertain economic times, people are counting their dollars and cents once again. As long as consumers consume, promotional offers and store deals are not going away. So get in the habit of watching for and pouncing on the savings you want when your favorite stores launch promotional offers.

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