Creating the Optimal Coupon Mix for Personalized Marketing
The first ever coupon is believed to have been distributed in 1888 by Coca-Cola — a ticket for a “free cup of Coke” to help promote the drink. It's estimated that by 1913, one in nine Americans had redeemed at least one of the 8.5 million tickets distributed through mail, magazine inserts, sales representatives and company employees.
Historically, coupons were viewed simply as a mass promotion vehicle to drive more sales of a particular product. In the digital age, customer information provides retailers the opportunity to join forces with suppliers to personalize and optimize coupon distribution in a way that serves a multitude of objectives. For example, personalized coupons can support introduction to categories and products, retention of customer revenue, cross-sell strategies, improvement of brand and private-label recognition, and more.