CHICAGO—Today Groupon announced Groupon Rewards, a new program allowing consumers to unlock special Groupon deals from their favorite local businesses through repeat visits. Consumers earn rewards at participating merchants simply by paying with the credit or debit card they have on file at Groupon.com. After spending an amount set by the merchant, the consumer unlocks the ability to purchase a special Groupon for that business.
“For consumers, this is the easiest rewards program in the world,” said Jeff Holden, SVP of Product, Groupon. “There’s no cumbersome check in process; just pay with your normal credit or debit card and Rewards works behind the scenes.”
“We love that Groupon Rewards is about increasing customer check-outs instead of the check-in or the added burden of a manual program,” said Derek Miller, Director of Digital Marketing for Lifeway Foods, the parent company of Starfruit Café, which has five locations in Chicago and is participating in the pilot program. “Fraud issues can often accompany check-in and traditional punch card loyalty programs. Groupon Rewards ties rewards to spend, not visits, giving our customers incentives to purchase a larger dessert or a second treat the next time they come in.”
Groupon Rewards joins Groupon’s Daily Deals and Groupon Now! real-time deals to create the first complete suite of marketing services for local businesses, adding a retention solution to the existing customer acquisition and yield management offerings. Merchants need not have offered a Groupon deal in the past to participate, and can apply today. The consumer pilot program will launch in Philadelphia next month, expanding to other cities soon after. To learn more, visit http://www.groupon.com/joinrewards. For merchants interested in learning more about participating, visit http:www.groupon.com/merchants/rewards.
About Groupon
Groupon, launched in November 2008 in Chicago, features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy in 45 countries around the world. Groupon uses collective buying power to offer huge discounts and provide a win-win for business and consumers, delivering more than 1,000 daily deals globally. To subscribe for the best deals in your city, visit http://www.groupon.com. To learn how to become a featured business, visit http://www.grouponworks.com.