You Trader!

Coupons have long been in circulation for basic marketing purposes for over 120 years. Historically, the Coca-Cola Company in 1887, incorporated with Asa Candler as a partner, is credited with significantly changing the business with his unique advertising methods. Complimentary coupons for Coca-Cola were mailed and distributed in magazines giving away a phenomenal 8.5 million free drinks between 1894 to 1913. By 1895 through this marketing method, every state in the US was serving Coca-Cola.

In 1909 C.W. Post used coupons to aid in the sale of his breakfast cereal, a penny coupon per box. Within the US today, about 3 billion dollars in transactions are made because of coupons. [a]

With the birth of the Internet, coupon availability and access has grown. Online coupon codes, printable coupons and access to manufacturer addresses for requesting coupons, have become much simpler.

So how does one collect coupons? Coupons can be found in grocery store aisles hanging from coupon pads, a fridge or freezer magnet may hold a pad of coupons in some sections of the store, laying on top of display shelves, a point of sale cardboard display in the middle an aisle, at the checkout, in a flyer, store promotion calender, counter display (like a pamphlet holder with a coupon in the pamphlet) and directly on merchandise. Coupon clipping from magazines and newspapers became very popular during the Great Depression, in order to save as much money as possible. "By 1957, the first-ever clearing house devoted entire to the redemption of coupons was created (it was called the Nielsen Coupon Clearing House at the time and then it’s name was eventually changed to the Manufacturers Coupon Control Center or MC3). This marked the beginning of the era of the coupon as a crucial part of the world of business. By 1965, more than half of the people in the United States reported that they were coupon clippers."[b]

Where do trades for coupons take place? Trading for coupons has become quite fun with the Internet being a major source of coupon~users coming together online. In person trading and local groups, also make coupon trades more personal and interesting to meet other people. An exceptional website is one which allows members to access several options for finding a variety of resources and methods of obtaining coupons. Forums, discussions, online up to the minute coupon database, access to hundreds of freebies, where to enter contests, product and store reviews, weekly flyer's for stores coast to coast, sales promotions in a small town to a blowout clearance in a major city the information gets posted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Regular contests for members of the online community are a great participation incentive (not that we need one!)

Questions about trading coupons are frequently sent to me and I encourage "newbies" to ask anything and everything. In an article to follow, I'll be outlining the major and minor thoughts and questions new-to-coupon-use people frequently ask. If you are new to coupon use and have a question, please feel free to send me a message. I will do my best to answer your question or find someone who knows the answer for you.