Regular coupon use is a simple way to save hundreds of dollars a year on your purchases. Although millions of Americans use coupons each year many of them never give a thought to how the coupon phenomenon even started or how it has evolved into what it is today.

It is noted that the first use of coupons was back in the late 1800’s when Asa Griggs Candler, helped to launch Coca-Cola to the public by using innovative and never tried before advertising techniques. One of these techniques was the use of the first coupon. He simply offered people the opportunity to try a free Coca-Cola when they redeemed his crude coupon and because of this technique use of Coca-Cola quickly spread throughout every state in the country.

Over the years many other companies have utilized this marketing technique and have had tremendous success with it. In fact during certain periods in our country’s history like the “Great Depression” coupon use really soared to great heights as many Americans were out of work and forced to save money on purchases in as many ways as they could find.

Coupons still play a vital role in helping many families save money on their purchases but today’s coupons come in many different forms. Of course you still have your clip out paper coupons but with the advances in technology and common use of computers the coupon has also gone digital. Coupon codes have become highly searched for items online. Coupons for free shipping are common when making a purchase online as it doesn’t make sense to find a great deal on a product only to have your savings eaten up by shipping fees.

No matter what format you find them in, coupons are an easy way for companies to advertise what they have to offer as well as a great way for people to
get a low-cost (or sometimes even free) introduction to new products that they might like.

Here are three interesting facts about the coupons history:

1) One-half of all Americans were coupon users by 1965.

2) 1992 was deemed the year of the coupon when 7.9 billion of them were redeemed. Use has declined over the 17 years before 2009 but with the onset of the current recession use is going up once again.

3) Coupons have become totally integrated into the lives of Americans and in 1998, the United States decided to commemorate this fact with a celebration. The first-ever “National Coupon Month” was established in September of that year. To this day, people still celebrate National Coupon Month in America every September.

Coupon use is especially important to businesses of all sizes today and continues to be an excellent marketing tool. For the larger companies coupon use can be the difference between keeping a customer using your name brand or having them switch to an off brand competitor. For the small businesses offering coupons can encourage current customers to keep coming back and attract new customers into their place of business.

Mobile internet has become increasingly available today and mobile shopping is now starting to become popular. We are also now beginning to see the emergence of mobile couponing. More businesses will be able to take advantage of this technology as it develops and this will not only be beneficial to the businesses that offer them but it will be equally beneficial to their customers too. This is particularly true considering the number of cell phone applications being developed today which allows the phone to be scanned for bar codes.

Coupons have come a long way over the past century and no matter what form they take it looks like the mighty coupon is going to always be an integral part of American life.