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. Living life as the “Groupawn,” he’s about a quarter of the way through his year of travelling the country chasing Groupon deals for his basic needs. In Stevens’ Groupon lifestyle, life’s basic needs have incorporated carriage rides, yoga classes and plenty of food.
A year on coupons tracked in Groupawn blog
Stevens accepted the Groupon challenge in May and left his job as a corporate auditor behind. CNN reports that he embarked on his quest with nothing but the shoes, socks and underwear he wore, covered by a paper suit made of Groupons. A laptop, camera, internet card and phone were also supplied by Groupon.Stevens isn’t allowed to use money, checks or credit cards, but he has all the online coupons an individual could possible use. He has to go it alone, while family and friends are allowed only five visits lasting less than a day. He tracks his exploits in the Groupawn Blog as he barters using Groupon coupons for a place to crash, a ride or plane ticket.
Groupon guy gains notoriety
If Stevens completes the challenge, he wins $ 100,000. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel caught up with the Groupawn guy last weekend.He was passing through in pursuit of the next Groupon deal. The Sentinel said Stevens thought a lot more bartering on the street would be required as he traveled. But when he talks about what he’s doing individuals want to become part of it.He showed up in Milwaukee after pursuing Groupon offers for a little more than 3 months in several U.S. cities including Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York.
Getting into the Groupon business model
Groupons are daily deals offered by local merchants sold on the company’s website. The site offers Groupon deals in more than 165 markets in 22 countries to 11 million subscribers. The deal does not become valid until a certain number of individuals purchase the offer. If the quota is reached, buyers get links to print out their Groupons. If the sales quota falls short, the offer is pulled. Buyers aren’t charged for cancelled offers.
Caught off guard by Groupons
The riches produced by the Groupon business model are so tempting that more than 500 imitators have sprouted up online. But selling Groupon coupons can go haywire for an unprepared business . The Tribune reports that a growing list of local merchants have been overwhelmed by the Groupon response. A Groupon promotion launched by a Chicago bagel company sold an $ 8 voucher for any menu item for $ 3. Local subscribers to Groupon snapped up $ 10,000 coupons. After splitting 50 percent of the revenue with Groupon, the standard deal for most businesses, the bagel shop netted about $ 15,000 for giving up $ 80,000 worth of food.
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CNN
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Chicago Tribune
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