Coupon History. History of Coupons - Coupon Month. Coupons have been around the block a time or two. They are not a new idea and have continued to evolve over the last hundred years. The idea of issuing goods for less than market value to build an enthusiastic buying base was revolutionary to consumer psychology. Just who would dream up giving away a free product in exchange for bigger sales? Wouldn't they have to close their doors? A quick survey of those early coupon pioneers reveals that...drumroll please...Coca Cola was among the first to offer free goods!
And how did that strategy work out for the company? 1887 Coke offered the first widespread coupon for free drinks. 1909 C.W. 1930-1940 The biggest financial meltdown in U.S. history, The Great Depression, sends millions into poverty. 1940-1950 Larger supermarket chains grow across the U.S. and continue offering promotional offers via coupons. 1957 An actual coupon company, The Nielsen Coupon Clearing House, is established which spurs the creation of a new industry.
History Of Coupons. Have you ever thought about where coupons came from, or researched the history of coupons and how they relate to national and global commerce? Well, one initial interesting statistic about coupons is that companies have been using coupons to market products to the masses for over 110 years. Each and every day as we open up the newspaper, we are exposed to coupons. You know…the square and rectangular pieces of paper that show us how we can save money on products we normally buy in stores and on the internet. Coupons have an interesting history dating back to the 1800′s. In 1894 the Atlanta businessman and co-owner of Coca-Cola, Asa Chandler, wanted to use an innovative way to market his new drink that was never tried before. With the goal of becoming a household name and selling a ton of product, he created hand written tickets for a free glass of Coca-Cola. This innovative advertising worked as more than eight billion free Coca-Cola drinks were given out for free.
C.W. Sources. A Brief History of Coupons. Drilling Down - Trend of Declining Coupon Use Reversed in 2009. National Coupon Month. History Of Grocery Coupons - Grocery Coupon Guide. Grocery Coupon Facts - Grocery Coupon Guide. In 2003, 77% of people reported that they have used coupons when shopping, saving an average of 11.5% on their grocery bills.
In 2003, manufacturers offered more than $250 billion in coupon savings. The average face value of manufacturer’s coupons offered to consumers increased 4.9% to $.85 — more than double the pace of the Consumer Price Index, which climbed 2.3% in 2003. 68% of people age 18 -24 use coupons. 75% of people age 25 -34 use coupons. 78% of people age 35 -44 use coupons. 79% of people age 45 -54 use coupons. 80% of people age 55 -64 use coupons. 75% of people age 65 or older use coupons.