Groupons are assisting the lifestyle of Josh Stevens for a year. The Groupon challenge is a dare the online coupon company made earlier this year. Groupon put up $ 100,000 to see if was willing to survive off nothing but Groupon coupons for a year. Stevens went for it. He’s about 25 percent through his year travelling the nation in pursuit of Groupon bargains for life’s necessities as the “Goupawn. The necessities of life can include yoga classes, carriage rides and lots of food in Stevens’ Groupon world.
Groupawn blog chronicles a year on coupons
Stevens, who used to be a corporate auditor, left his cubicle behind and accepted the Groupon challenge in May. He told CNN that he began with one pair of shoes, socks, underwear and a paper suit made of Groupons. Groupon gave him a laptop, camera, internet card and phone.Stevens isn’t allowed to use money, checks or charge cards, but he has all the online coupons a person could possible use. He must travel solo and only five visits from family or friends, lasting no more than a day, are allowed.He shares his experiences within the Groupawn blog as he uses Groupon coupons to barter for sustenance.
Individuals warm to Groupawn guy’s quest
Stevens wins $ 100,000 if he completes the challenge. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talked with Stevens last weekend.He was passing through in pursuit of the next Groupon deal. Stevens told the Sentinel he thought his travels would involve a lot more bartering on the streets. However, he said that once individuals hear about what he’s up to, they want to help.A little more than three months into his Groupons quest, he arrived in Milwaukee after chasing promotions in several other cities including in New York, Philadelphia and Washington D.C..
The Groupon business model – getting in
Daily deals offered by local merchants are sold as Groupons on the company’s site. Groupon sells offers online to about 11 million subscribers in 165 markets from 22 countries. When a certain number of individuals purchase, in the deal becomes valid. If the quota is reached, buyers get links to print out their Groupons. The offer is pulled if the quota isn’t reached. Buyers aren’t charged for trying to cash in.
Groupon promotions can backfire
The Groupon business model has been so successful the Chicago Tribune said more than 500 Groupon clones have emerged online. But Groupon coupons can backfire for a business promoting its products and services . The Tribune reports that a growing list of local merchants have been overwhelmed by the Groupon response. A bagel company in Chicago sold a Groupon coupon for $ 3 good for any item up to $ 8. Local subscribers to Groupon snapped up $ 10,000 coupons. The bagel shop netted about $ 15,000 on food that would have sold at a regular price of about $ 80,000, after splitting the take with Groupon.
Additional reading
CNN
cnn.com
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
jsonline.com
Chicago Tribune
chicagotribune.com
