Replies to post #3916 on Groupon Inc. (GRPN)

[FUNMAN]

Hi Good, I think you made a "Good-bet".

I differ with you a little bit on your "They are firing on most cylinders" quote.

Ever since Rich Williams took his seat in the big chair, his turnaround strategy has been starting up like Fred Flintstone's car.

There was a lot of action all getting underway at once, and then all of a sudden GRPN gained traction and it's like ZOOM. They're off.

This statement has nothing to do with the PPS.

It has to do with Rich Williams fundamental recognition of doing what GRPN does well, and doing it even better. He's shedding what they don't do well, or just leaving the arena to others who are so much bigger in those other areas where it's so obvious that competing is just a stupid waste of energy, time, dollars and personnel resources.

Rich Williams is very focused. He's shrinking the company while making it more efficient.

I think he is firing on all cylinders.

[FUNMAN]

A-firing-on-all-cylinders-example...Groupon Adds Thousands of New Local Experiences with Viator Partnership

Thursday, October 5, 2017 10:14 AM
Business Wire

Viator experiences -- including activities, attractions, events and tours -- now found alongside Groupon’s local things to do deals

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) today announced an integration with Viator, a TripAdvisor company and the leading resource for tours and activities worldwide, adding thousands of new local experiences to the Groupon marketplace. The partnership brings more than 4,000 Viator experiences, including activities, attractions, events and tours to Groupon’s local things to do inventory.

“We’re thrilled to offer customers looking for something fun to do in their local communities even greater choices and convenience,” said Brian Fields, vice president and general manager, Things to Do, Groupon. “This strategic partnership helps make Groupon a must-visit destination for amazing experiences to make memories that last a lifetime.”

For those looking to have the perfect weekend this fall on just about any budget, Groupon offers a number of deals on the season’s top activities, including deals on family activities, tickets and events, outdoor fun and top deals of the week.

About Groupon

Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) is building the daily habit in local commerce, offering a vast mobile and online marketplace where people discover and save on amazing things to do, see, eat and buy. By enabling real-time commerce across local businesses, travel destinations, consumer products and live events, shoppers can find the best a city has to offer.

Groupon is redefining how small businesses attract and retain customers by providing them with customizable and scalable marketing tools and services to profitably grow their businesses.

To download Groupon's top-rated mobile apps, visit www.groupon.com/mobile. To search for great deals or subscribe to Groupon emails, visit www.groupon.com. To learn more about the company’s merchant solutions and how to work with Groupon, visit www.groupon.com/merchant.

http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&sty=20171005005863r1&sid=acqr7&distro=nx&lang=en

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171005005863/en/

Groupon
Nick Halliwell
312.999.3812
[e-mail]

Source: Groupon

Copyright Business Wire 2017

[FUNMAN]

Groupon is going loyalty program route as holiday season draws near

By Lewis Lazare – Reporter, Chicago Business Journal
Oct 25, 2017, 11:28am CDT Updated 2 hours ago

Groupon is taking a big cue from airlines and hotels and credit cards.

The Chicago-based online deals company today said it is launching a new loyalty program designed to incentivize customers to buy from Groupon.

The new program, starting today, will allow customers to earn airline miles or hotel points from a range of frequent travel programs when they purchase Groupon local, travel or shopping deals.

The participating travel loyalty programs include American Airlines AAdvantage, United Airlines MileagePlus, and through Points' Loyalty Commerce Platform, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Choice Hotels Privileges, IGH Rewards Club, JetBlue TrueBlue program and La Quinta Returns.

Noted Groupon senior vice president of global marketing Vinayak Hegde: "We're excited to have more frequent interactions with our customers by providing them with even greater value when they shop through Groupon. Whether it's finding a new local experience to try, booking a trip with the family or getting an early start on your holiday shopping, we're offering incredible savings and airline miles or hotel points from your favorite loyalty programs. A win-win."

Airlines and hotel companies — and credit card companies — have realized for a long time that rewards programs are a powerful tool to keep customers in the fold — a goal for Groupon, too. Whether it will work for the deals company too, of course, remains to be seen.

A spokesman for Groupon said today, the deals company will not purchase miles from the participating programs until a customer buys a deal, thereby eliminating the risk — and the huge overhead — involved in stockpiling an inventory of points and miles.

Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) is introducing its own loyalty program at the start of the busy holiday shopping season, which could be a big boon in helping launch the new program.

Participating in the Groupon loyalty program will require customers to obtain a loyalty membership number to attach to their Groupon account. Those customers opting for airline miles will get a 1,000 mile bonus for their first local $30 purchase. On an ongoing basis, local deal purchases will accrue 5 miles for every dollar spent. getaway purchases will earn 4 miles for every dollar spent, while goods purchases earn 3 miles per dollar spent.

For Groupon customers seeking hotel points, the first local purchase of $30 will net 2,000 hotel points. Additional local purchases will generate 10 points per dollar spent. Getaway deals will earn 8 points per dollar spent, and goods 6 points per dollar spent.

At launch, the Groupon loyalty program only applies to the United States-based customers, but the company said plans are afoot to expand internationally. Groupon also said it expects to add more travel loyalty programs to the mix over time.