Though we all love using coupons most of us just don’t get excited at using them anymore.  Retailers aren’t having as much success with coupons because they’re not attaching enough value to the coupons or they aren’t interesting enough for the consumer.

Remember when you were little and you got a box of cereal just because of the free toy?  They created a sense of excitement and urgency and need for that item that we didn’t even know we wanted until we saw it next to a leprechaun or bunny.  In a sense, those breakfasts gurus were preparing us for the use of coupons and our favorite word – deal.  We want our coupons to entice and empower us again.  So here are some suggestions for five coupons we would die to have.

1. Date With Your Favorite Celebrity

A date with a famous celebrity is really a to-die for coupon, especially among the female population.  This could easily be a great daily deal too. Half off a date with [insert favorite celeb here].  Who wouldn’t love to get this coupon in the mail or see it online?   We all know exactly who we would pick if given a choice of celebrities.

1. Free Item of Their Choice

Walking into any store and buying that one item you need for FREE? I’d be willing to bet the car industry would see many of these coupons redeemed. Next would probably be the furniture or appliances stores. Marketers could offer customers a free hand in choosing a particular premium item of their choice.  This has been done with other products before and customers would really appreciate the purchase more because they got something for free that is extremely useful to them.

1. Free for All Coupon

Consumers would have a field day storming malls, shops, and stores redeeming their coupons with products of their choice.  We usually call this madness Black Friday or Cyber Monday. But wouldn’t it be great if you were the only one who had this coupon or could use it any time of the year and not just for one day?

1. Coupon for Tuition

Education is important, thus, this type of coupon may work well for consumers who have a hard time finding other means to earn and pay for their children’s education. It is a great coupon and companies would earn the respect of the whole community because they found a way to really help consumers earn a quality education.  It is an excellent social responsibility effort for manufacturers and retailers.

1. Interest Bearing Coupon

This type of coupon will teach consumers not only to save but to invest as well.  Manufacturers and retailers can build more loyal customers if they can build a coupon as a savings bond.  Customers could exchange their coupon for the interest after so long of a period which could be specified on the coupon. Instead of loading homes with useless free items and products, enticing them to a lifestyle which they cannot maintain, why not encourage them to become active owners of an interest bearing voucher?  People tend to value something more if it offers ownership with it.

Marketers should explore more creative ways to enhance their coupons for more effective selling and brand campaign management.  It should always address what customers really want instead of what they want to sell at the moment.

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