FurnitureFan's New Online Coupon Program Drives Shoppers to Member Stores. Research Shows Leading Web-Based Marketing Company Successfully Motivates Ready-to-Buy Shopper via Delivery of Timely Coupons

Furniture World Magazine

Mitchell Russo, CEO of FurnitureFan, Inc., a web-based marketing services company for the furniture industry, introduced today the company1s new online coupon program for member stores of the popular web directory, FurnitureFan.com. From grocery shopping and vacation planning to the purchase of cars, jewelry or office supplies, coupon use is a popular practice with an average cross-industry redemption rate of 1% (Source: U.S. Department of Commerce). Recent FurnitureFan research indicated their consumers redeem coupons at a much higher rate: 5.5%. This same research also revealed that 50% of these respondents are "ready-to-buy" in the next 90 days. Russo observes, "This elusive shopper is exactly who our member stores want to reach. By providing these savvy shoppers with timely coupons for savings at their favorite store, we make the purchase decision even easier and literally Œdrive1 the consumer to the store." Larry Slovy, owner of Bay Furniture in Illinois, reports, "We have already banked close to $10,000 is sales on the eight coupons redeemed to date." Mark Manders, vice president of marketing for the 40-plus New York-based Raymour & Flanigan Furniture chain, agrees, "In just five days, we realized close to $9,000 in new business as a result of coupon redemption by customers visiting our FurnitureFan web site and then visiting our store!" Stores participating in the value-added coupon program have complete control over their promotion. Whether offering a defined dollar amount discount or a percent range, stores using the FurnitureFan coupon service can create specific programs to drive, for example, the sale of mature inventory. Russo explains, "The FurnitureFan online business model is about power. We have harnessed the best aspects of the web and are able to provide our member stores with a great service at a fraction of the cost were they to foot this bill themselves." Customers access store coupons in a number of easy ways. They can sign up for an email alert whenever a store in their defined radius offers a coupon special or they can conduct a manual search when they log onto the site for currently available coupons. Additionally, users will also see the "coupon" available icon the instant they access the store1s page. Either way, member stores participating in the FurnitureFan coupon program can just sit back and watch their sales increase with just the click of a button.