Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s featured as first Groupon on Sanibel
You’re probably asking yourself, “What is a Groupon?”
Groupon.com is a website that offers daily deals to anyone who signs up for their email notifications in that specific area or city. These “group coupons” are given a time limit and a certain number of people who must buy them before the site reads “The Deal is ON!”
On Feb. 7, Groupon.com featured the Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s as their first coffee shop and first Sanibel business in the Southwest Florida area. The Coffee Bar offered a $10 voucher for only $5. This was featured in the Fort Myers/Cape Coral section of Groupon.com and was e-mailed to over 38,000 people who subscribe for our area.
Other deals in our area have included 60 percent off tickets to the Southwest Florida Symphony, half off tanning and up to 90 percent off dining in the area.
In November 2008, Andrew Mason launched Groupon specifically to the Chicago area. The idea behind it: locals sign up and were e-mailed daily deals that they buy – these “group coupons” that were offered for a local restaurant, shop or service, and if enough people bought it, the company featured would honor this “Groupon.”
Typically, companies offer 50 percent off (and anywhere up to 90 percent off) in order to promote themselves. The idea was so popular that is quickly spread to Boston, New York, LA, and numerous international cities and, most recently, Southwest Florida.
“As a business, it was a great promotion for us. With nearly 40,000 people getting these e-mails every day, you’re able to put your name out there,” said Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s owner Blanaid Colley. “We had an excellent response and even people from as far away as Minnesota who bought our Groupon.”
Signing up for Groupon is easy and costs nothing, but gives you access to daily deals for a variety of businesses. Additionally, seasonal residents can sign up for their hometown and for Fort Myers/Cape Coral to continuing to receive deals while their away. Most Groupons have a six-month expiration date and can be redeemed at any time. For more information, visit www.groupon.com and sign up for the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area.
The Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s is located at 2477 Periwinkle Way inside of Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel. It is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.