For
sure, you already have known about discount coupons
as far as your memory can go back. But, did you ever wonder how the
idea of couponing was born?
If
you are one of those shopping buffs who are also avid grocery
discount card
users, might as well check out how the concept of coupons really
started.
An
Extract Set for Stardom…
Who
would have thought that everything would begin with an extract of a
Peruvian Coca leaf mixed Kola nut and sugar syrup, a drink now widely
known as ‘Coca- Cola’? John Stith Pemberton, the creator of this
now famous beverage, initially had the product distributed as a
‘fountain drink’ following an accidental addition of carbonated
water to the mixture.
In
the effort of spreading the word about the new liquid refreshment way
back 1887, Pemberton with the assistance of his bookkeeper handed out
tickets that offered free sample drinks. However, this strategy
unfortunately gained a very minimal attention from the market.
A
Fateful Sale…
In
1888, Pemberton decided to sell Coca-Cola to a businessman named Asa
Candler. It was Candler who took the ‘free sample ticket’
marketing strategy to what later on would become a phenomenal
advertising technique.
Candler
started giving out thousands of coupons in exchange for a free glass
of Coca-Cola. He called such coupons as ‘couper’, a French word
which means ‘to cut’. He had the coupons sent to homes throughout
the country, had businessmen distribute them on the streets, and had
them inserted in various magazines.
A
Resounding Success…
The
campaign reaped a massive return of 8.5 million coupons redeemed
nationwide between the years 1894 to 1913. Such astounding result
paved way to making ‘coupons’ official household names and
commercial strongholds like they are today.
How
do you find such colorful back story about how discount
cards
came to be? Now, you already know who to thank for the special discounts
that you often enjoy nowadays.
So,
are you up for a family discount? Then start grabbing as many coupons
as you can!
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