Free samples serve a crucial purpose for businesses by placing products directly in consumers' hands without charge, with the goal of encouraging future purchases and building brand loyalty. RetailMeNot, a leading digital offers destination, actively supports this model through its platform and editorial content. The company’s editors express a particular affinity for free samples and provide guidance to consumers seeking legitimate, no-cost product trials. This approach aligns with RetailMeNot's broader mission to help consumers save money while maintaining a hassle-free shopping experience.
In a significant expansion of the digital offers landscape, Groupon entered the online coupon sector to challenge established players like RetailMeNot. In November 2013, Groupon unveiled "Freebies," a new category on its deals marketplace. This launch introduced digital coupons, promotion codes, giveaways, and samples to the platform. Groupon Freebies launched with over 25,000 coupons from more than 5,500 brands and retailers in North America. Participating brands included major retailers such as Target, Best Buy, Nordstrom, and Macy's. Groupon's strategy for this category included plans to expand internationally and introduce in-store coupons the following year. Industry analysts noted that the coupon business model may offer higher profitability than daily deals due to lower labor intensity and higher margins, citing RetailMeNot's example of EBITDA margins around 40% compared to Groupon's 11% to 12%.
RetailMeNot has integrated location-based technology to enhance the accessibility of offers, particularly for food and dining. Through the RetailMeNot Coupons app, available for iPhone and Android devices, the platform provides access to over 20,000 new restaurant offers. These offers are exclusively location-based, utilizing geo-location technology to ensure users see offers valid in their immediate vicinity. This prevents the common issue of holding a coupon valid only in a different city. To access these restaurant offers, users must sign up and become a RetailMeNot member. Once signed in, members can redeem offers on the spot by showing the location-specific deal to waitstaff or cashiers. While the app focuses on digital coupons, RetailMeNot's website also provides access to food offers ranging from pizza to gift baskets.
The platform's value to consumers and retailers is supported by data from surveys conducted by RetailMeNot. A study fielded by Kelton Global Research in March 2018 surveyed 1,018 Americans regarding their online shopping habits. RetailMeNot estimates that its marketplace influenced $4.8 billion in retailer sales in 2017, with over $560 million attributable to its in-store solution. Earlier surveys conducted in April 2014 also highlighted the value of restaurant offers to users. These surveys, conducted among over 1,000 U.S. residents each, utilized quotas to ensure reliable representation of the U.S. population ages 18 and over. The methodology employed email invitations and online surveys, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
RetailMeNot encourages user engagement through various channels. Consumers can download the RetailMeNot Coupons app for iPhone, Android, and iPad to access hot deals, browse top coupons, and shop online or in-store. The platform also maintains a presence on social media, including Facebook, Twitter (@retailmenot), and Google+. Additionally, consumers can sign up for the Online and In-Store Coupons Newsletter via the RetailMeNot website. For those seeking free samples without surveys, RetailMeNot's editorial content provides resources and guidance on how to find legitimate offers.
Conclusion
RetailMeNot and Groupon have established themselves as significant platforms for consumers seeking free samples, digital coupons, and promotional offers. RetailMeNot leverages geo-location technology to provide location-specific restaurant offers through its mobile app, requiring user membership for access. Groupon expanded its business model to include a dedicated "Freebies" category featuring samples and giveaways from major North American retailers. Both platforms utilize survey data to demonstrate their influence on consumer purchasing behavior and the value of digital offers. Consumers interested in these opportunities can access them through mobile applications and website sign-ups, ensuring they receive relevant, redeemable offers.