February 2002
Coupons Online
This past holiday season, the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce began another new service for our members - Coupons Online.
If you have not looked at the Chamber's web site lately, please do so. At the top of the front page, we have added buttons that will take the surfing public to new services and quick references. One of these buttons is labeled COUPONS.  The purpose is self evident. The coupons are designed to be printed by your potential customer to use at your store or business. This is a free service for our members only.
The July 2000 issue of the NewsMonth featured an in-depth front page entitled "The Impact of E-Commerce on Main Street." This article centered on the phenomenal impact that online shopping is having on retail sales. The 9th of the ten points outlined stated “Blurring Lines Between E-Tail and Retail - Many traditional retailers are competing with online competitors by integrating their traditional "bricks and mortar" retail operations with on-line e-tail services. "If you order a shirt or a pair of shoes from www.walmart.com and the item doesn't fit, you'll be able to return or replace the item at the nearest Wal-Mart store," said Dr. Judy. "But if you buy a book from www.amazon.com and it is damaged or you receive the wrong order, you have to pack the product back up and drop it off at UPS. Traditional retailers are taking advantage of their bricks and mortar infrastructure to compete with e-tailers. They can offer improved service and convenience to customers through their traditional retail center."
Plymouth Chamber members' coupons online is a variation on this theme and is yet another way to bring the internet shopping population into Plymouth's "bricks and mortar" stores.
During follow up calls to see what kind of coupon responses the members participating over this past holiday season received, we found that three of the ten had customers come into their stores with a coupon in hand. Even so, everyone, realizing that this idea needs time to saturate the buying public, wanted to continue using this service. Many have already developed their new coupon and the rest are in the process of creating.
To take advantage of this service, simply develop your coupon idea, and call the Chamber, (574) 936-2323, when you are ready to have it implemented. Take a look at the coupons on site now to help you with ideas. We can take a picture for you, perhaps of the exterior of your store or a display of your merchandise. If you have a merchandise flyer or picture you want to use, send or drop it off at the Chamber, with the text for the coupon.
www.plymouthcalendar.com
In this January's NewsMonth, one of the inserts was the form for the Plymouth Calendar. We first introduced this new service to you in the March 2001 NewsMonth. This resource is open to our entire community. If you are a member of a service club, church, or any other organization with events being planned that you need exposure for, please let us know so that we may get this event on the calendar. This calendar was developed in response to many calls requesting such a resource that could be used, not only to promote special dates, but also as a planning tool! Check out the possibilities, spread the word and take advantage of this great resource. You may also reach this site from the Chamber's front page, click on "Plymouth Calendar."
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