Then, the impasse. Your email is filled with offers. Deals, bargains, two-fers; you name it. They’re there. What happened? How did we get to this point, and why was no one offering us these “bargains” before? Marketing organization is the strategy that convinces businesses to take advantage of online energy. It’s simple for the companies, especially small companies, but no one should forget how well big players such as Gap (Groupon deal) and Amazon (Living Social deal) did with their offers!  Small businesses, on the other hand,  see the advantage of possibly getting 1,000 new customers. Will they have stickiness is the big question or does the purchaser only visit the place on his special deal visit?

Look at the possibilities that I awoke to this morning: Half-off a burger, $15 for $30 worth of food from a large selection of Asian and European restaurants, $25 for $50 at an American spot…I could continue, but it is rather alarming how these deals multiply. Subscribers are divided into only two groups: The Addicted and the Never Again. The fine print often gets the Never Again as they missed the expiration date or the deal was not what they expected.

The Addicted, a group I might claim chairmanship, means a daily scroll through the possibilities and some serious personal, private conversations about how many deals should one have floating in their cloud at any one time? I do have self-control, as in, I did not buy $20 worth of candy which looked like jelly beans for $10. Yet, a good chocolate offer…BTW, companies are sprouting up all over the country. New online contenders continually seem to offer a deal a day. Deal categories continue to expand from cooking classes to clothing to home decor and activity trips or vacations. You name it; there’s a deal site.

What’s one to do? Of course, cancellation would be an option, but then you’d miss the hot new restaurant that’s trying to get your attention. After all when you scan through sold out past deals, you see what you missed!

Just to show you the popularity of these programs, try to take advantage of the offer to get “free” money with a referral. Everyone you send it to seems to respond, “already subscribe.”

The obvious solution: Invest in the companies when they go public. They know how to make a deal.

We are deluged by so many deal-breaking opportunities, but few seem to be complaining. Someone must have figured out that we will buy the discount promos, but may not remember to use them. After all as with any good promotion, there is an expiration date. Email, mobile, radio, you name it, the offers keep coming. Some shout out similar to a circus barker, “Today and Today Only… You have so many hours…So few minutes… The clock is ticking…Time’s Up…Expired.”

How did this explosion of high-tech couponing take off and become so popular? The simple answer is that most people like a deal, a bargain, or a perceived unique opportunity. Half-priced sushi at a top-tier sushi haven represents such a deal. Buy 1, Get 1 has been the old school standard. Now, the show me the money game is more of a contest, how many people quickly sign up to get the deal into place. Obviously, these businesses have a sales force that is omnipresent and trying to capture the greatest number of site hits. Remember last year when Gap was deluged by its half-price offer that the site kept crashing. Well, this is the food world’s response. We, too, can eat.

A new national player has entered the game on universe. Albeit they are not in every city they serve, but their major city deal of the day has been quite successful. That’s Open Table’s entree with its daily Spotlight. (Here’s one for Denver). Names change; game’s similar.

Travelers, plan your meals. Here’s an opportunity to get a deal where you’re headed. Look at sunny San Diego, for example, and see how the dice land. For a small price, as in turn over your email, you can be the first to know about a new deal group starting in January, but in the meantime, there are several other sites ready to offer up their best.

Call it what you want, these deals frequently represent significant cost savings at familiar places or some you’re willing to gamble on for a savings. Remember your holiday present list. Buy up food opportunities for your stuffers.

This past week solidified the reality of shopping. Chicago area chain Dominick’s (aka, Safeway) fired a missile into the competitive marketplace with their recent roll out of personalized deals: Just for You. They do not have the exclusive handle on this strategy as most of the majors have figured out they need to get into our grocery baskets to help us earn savings for our regular purchases. Not invasive; just cost-saving as most of these grocery programs are limited to car-carrying loyalists!

On the East Coast, Giant Food (Stop & Shop) has been running a promotion with Shell gasoline. (Kroger, and its many affiliate names throughout the country, has a similar tie-in.)  Giant just upped the ante and tied specific purchases to higher gasoline discounts. The promotion was supposed to expire over the summer. Now that it’s October, the program seems to have moved into overdrive with numerous new promotions that come with high rewards: 200 points, for example, equals 20 cents off a gallon of gas. Simple math or a two-fer: grocery promos and gas savings! We may have to start watching Shell Oil to see if its sales climb, too, or see if Costco’s gas prices are impacted?

Not only businesses that call themselves grocers are in on the act. Look at Dollar General, Target, Costco, and Wal-Mart and you see an expansionary trend: Consumers buy what they can afford, and these companies want to be at the top of the list. Target plans to open stores with full-fledged food departments. If you think I’m making a small point, check out their 10/10/10 strategy; they’ll  open 10 new stores, all with a major emphasis on the grocery part of the business. That’ll be a date the company will remember!

Lest you forget, the big box guys as in Costco and Wal-Mart already realize the impact food purchases have on the bottom line. Neither is standing still and both plan major expansions and an increased emphasis on private labels and upscale goods. It’s tough out there as the consumer does the math and heads for the bottom line; no one wants the sidelines.

Even though the economy has not dealt us all a fair deck, grocers continue to fight with a vast array of new promotions.

If you’ve missed the restaurant week promotions, check out individual specials at top-tier restaurants. These are locations that cannot afford the August doldrums drop-off business and need to create promotions to keep guests dining. When everyone heads to the beach, you can head to the restaurant. There are plenty of food and beverage trend-setting ideas with happy hour and dog day promotions to keep you within budget. There are numerous lunch specials, early dinner deals, and specially themed events. You can even find the win-win situation at Louisiana Chef John Besh’s aptly named restaurant, August.

As for making reservations, more cities have multiple online promotions to smooth the experience. Pick your city and see what specials Open Table has listed. This makes restaurant shopping easy!

No doldrums; just exciting dining options.

Costco is one of those companies that exudes trust. When they make a change, consumers often just nod and go along. When a product is not to one’s liking, then the return line welcomes the customer and the product back. It’s that type of company, a consumer-friendly atmosphere, so when they say they plan to expand their food offerings, we say, bring them on. Consumer Reports just added to Costco’s accolades with positive remarks for multiple departments. The Kirkland label has been an impressive solution to deals that were harder for them to cut. Remember they had to play tough guy with Coca-Cola not too long ago and who wanted their products back on the shelves and bowed to pressure: Coke.

BTW, the July issue of Consumer Reports offers multiple shopping strategies. Saving money is still the preferred route.

As an aside to all this attention, food wars are kicking up. Wal-Mart decided it could get more play at the registers by increasing its price cuts (Rollbacks) on name brands to get more customers in the door. A few competitors responded immediately by matching Wal-Mart’s actions. No one wants to be left with high prices as consumers are still scrambling to find the best deals and prices.

Either approach: One winner–the consumer.

Smart shopping’s the buyword!

Before the enumeration, here are a few special days to note–they come with goodies:

–June 4, National Doughnut Day, a holiday established initially by the Salvation Army to help those in need. Check out Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts for their free offers. (Note that the offers are not identical). Get in line for a sweet Friday.

–June 5, Friendly’s is giving away free ice cream cones.

More of these special freebies as the month progresses.

Combine these single events with month-long celebrations:

–National Candy Month. The 16th is Fudge Day! This is from an association that has figured out how to celebrate different candies for each month of the year! They know about our collective sweet tooth!

–National Dairy Month. Easy to celebrate milk and all the other dairy foods as prices have remained fairly constant making dairy a consistently important, good purchase. FYI, vanilla is still the most requested ice cream flavor!

–National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. Seriously, this needs little introduction. We know what we are supposed to eat and how many helpings. Slice up that organic celery now!

–National Iced Tea Month. It’s hot and as many people get into the iced cube part of life, tea does not want to be ignored. A vendor at The World’s Fair in St. Louis (1904) took credit for starting this beverage sensation. Why not have it on ice!

–National Turkey Lovers’ Month. This concept appeals to those looking for protein substitutes and the Association has been trying to get consumers to consider the product a year-round food, not just one celebrated in November. Lots of recipes and nutritional information on the site including a meal update calculator that helps us be more creative in our menu-planning.

Put them all together and what do you get: Many foods that we enjoy every month of the year!

–The Capital Grille just introduced a new bar menu with such tasty temptations as mini tenderloin sandwiches and lollipop lamb chops. These items will pair well with the reduced priced bottles (a list of 30 for under $30) or from the expanded wine-by-the glass list.

–McCormick and Schmick’s understands happy hours and lets each individual location create a daily list of reduced priced specials and parallel beverage offerings.

–The Cheesecake Factory wants customers to get in on the action. With their new hamburger menu (called the Glamburger), they celebrate different regions of the country, but want to include your favorite recipe. You have until the end of the month to submit. Here’s your chance to be famous and secure a place of prominence for your secret ingredients!

–T.G.I Friday’s has hit a whole new price point: $12.99 for a starter, entree, and dessert. That’s an amount that makes you question whether you can prepare a full meal like that at home for that price!

Besides the increase in happy hour menus, a few other promotions seem to have universal appeal. Many restaurants have half-priced wine nights (mostly Mondays or Tuesdays), and kids eat free nights are commonplace at a growing list of restaurant price points. Again, not every restaurant will follow the Monday-Tuesday light night concept, but those traditionally are good nights to secure restaurant deals.

No matter the price point, someone’s dealing.

It’s unofficial but McDonald’s seems to be moving toward a summer $1 beverage promotion. Some locations may consider opting in sooner, but that’s an on-the-go price that’s hard to ignore. Stay tuned.

You want some good news sooner than Summertime, how about next Tuesday? Score a double win: Starbucks will be offering free pastries (up until 10:30 A) on the 23rd with a beverage (a handcrafted one) purchase. You need the coupon, so print away. Before you panic about the bad news in the pastries, remember these are free of high fructose corn syrup and are without artificial trans fats. Sounds like you can treat yourself.

Dunkin’ Donut Mondays continue until the end of the month.

As a further incentive, there’s the health news that validates our love affair with coffee and tea:

–A European study further supports the power of multiple cups of coffee daily in reducing cholesterol numbers and lowering the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes.

–A new study out of Japan lends support to the health benefits in green tea. This time the beneficiary is improved dental health. The health benefits of green tea seem to inhibit a rise in periodontal problems.

So your choice. Hot or cold, these beverages line up with good deals.

This has truly been a long month of limited outings whether from record snows or unceasing inches of rain. The Coasts have been clobbered, and the spots with normally full outdoor tables have been holding court inside as record lows have walloped the FL sun. Enough about February; what’s to come in March?

It looks as if restaurants have come out of the gate in flying colors with multiple promotions to get us out of our homes. In Washington, DC, The Restaurant Association coordinated a one-week (March 1-7) “Unleashed” deal in the hopes of creating a buzz again as too many people have been stuck at home and not taking advantage of the conviviality of dining in a more spirited space.

Chicago restaurants, at all price points, have banded together and offer any number of food and drink specials via Open Table. This site is a particularly easy way to see who’s offering what during the coming weeks throughout the country. Hey, Minneapolis, get out, you still have til the 5th to enjoy Restaurant Week.

Resorts are getting into the act, too. One of my favorite properties, Meadowood in Napa Valley, has instituted a rain check. If your visit includes a rainy day during your stay from now through April 2010, they’ll give you a complimentary night’s lodging when you stay again before the end of July. It’s been raining a  lot in California. The fields still have their mustard color display, and the restaurant always offers a quiet respite with exciting food.

Regardless of the city, coupons, social media tactics, and the old-fashioned Internet are ready to help move you from the doldrums to the tables. Let’s welcome March by getting out and helping the restaurants stay in business and be there for us when accessibility is even easier.

I’m on my way.

The consumer is finally in the driver’s seat, but that’s only because there are still too few people struggling to find economic solace. The latest dining out news from one of the country’s major food industry consulting groups says the restaurant recovery will not come until late 2011 or early 2012. That’s pretty bleak info.

Grocers have figured out how to tap into the carry-in market with $6 meals of an entree and two sides–that at least appears to be the midpoint pricing war among various grocers. It’s hard to dine out at that price, and grocery stores are hopping all over the burgeoning prepared meal category.

For the consumer, the shopper, the diner: This has real possibilities.

I think everyone would be happier with the world of not that many years ago; the one with fewer specials but more job and wage opportunities.

In the meantime, the philosophy is single-focused: Keep the offers coming from all sectors of the food industry.

Bulk purchasing is a case of simple math: Money saved today v. Money that’s out of pocket for a while or until the goods are used up. All depends on how you calculate savings. A simple message runs through these new big boxers: No need to pay a membership fee.

Grocers such as Wegmans decided a while ago that they could rearrange their stores and find room for big containers of everyday purchases such as toilet paper, paper towels, and dish detergent. They devote an aisle or two or a section of the store to these seductively priced items. Judging by the piled-to-the sky carts, seems it’s working.

Now, Target has decided it can be a major player in this multi-pak arena. The logic is quite simple: You’re here; let us capture those dollars; no need for you to run around. They call it “The Great Save.” The simple translation is:  Shop, spend, save. This is a limited time experiment (until the end of February) as in if it works, it will most logically be continued.

With the price of gas again on the upswing. Consolidated shopping seems to be more than a passing fancy. That’s why Target has also added to its grocery sections and continues to remodel its stores with greater emphasis on food items. At the same time, they are studying smaller in-city stores: Their new target audience.

Nothing complex here. Multi-paks save money.

Bring on the deals. We’ll figure out the math.

Plenty of restaurants and quick-service spots have obviously heard the rallying cry–it translates as Ka-Ching as dollars are going into the register with record speed as breakfast has become a bigger stop than just for the all-mighty cup of coffee. The examples speak volumes.

–Chick-Fil-A: They just introduced a new breakfast menu with with a low-calorie yogurt parfait (They quickly decided this item would be a popular all-day choice so its availability extends beyond 10:30AM) and mini nuggets–(Chick-n-Minis)–you know, a hand-held slider. Judging by the early morning drive-thru line, the concept must already be working.

–IHOP: Breakfast anytime is their concept as they move into the new year with the return of the All-You-Can Eat Buttermilk Pancakes starting at $4.99. It’s not just a plate of pancakes on this special as the combo accompaniments of eggs, hash browns, and meat are part of round one. Pancakes can keep on coming until it’s time to roll yourself out the door.

–McDonald’s: They  took on the breakfast brigade with the national rollout of the $1 menu (sausage biscuit, burrito, or McMuffin, and, of course, hashbrowns).

–Sonic Drive-In has several breakfast choices on the dollar menu including the Junior Breakfast Burrito with Sausage. They subscribe to the breakfast anytime motto.

All-Day Breakfast and price-competitive menus seem to be the theme starting the New Year. That, of course, and the big shout out about new, better grinds for truly enjoyable coffee!

With all the drive-n-go or eat ‘n run options, is anybody really focused on the Breakfast Metabolism starter or just finding filling food at affordable prices?

A little less food; a better cup of coffee.

Thank you.

Here are some obvious, but yet often forgotten, strategies to use at this time of the year:

-Do not pay for shipping. Find the product from one of the myriad offers that still include free shipping. If you wait much longer, some of those offers will disappear and shipping costs will exceed the product’s individual cost! Be careful.

–Watch out for super saver shipping headlines–read that info carefully unless you don’t care if it arrives the 28th!

–Buy the local paper. Yes, I know no one reads the paper anymore, but it is still a great way to find coupons and insert deals. Newspapers stay in business at this time of the year from these types of single-day promos, and you benefit from a very limited outpouring of cash!

–Watch the big box retailers who have their prices set well in advance of the holiday season. Many of their great small electronic buys, for example, do not hold up at this time of the year. Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and similar department stores have special one-day houseware and home sales and offer coupons for those special events. That type of shopping often brings the price of the coveted KitchenAid mixer, for example, down below the everyday great super warehouse price.

–Check out the grocers. Not only have they moved into more branded items, but they’ve also expanded their holiday wares in the toy aisle and the handy last-minute grab-it gift sections. They are more than happy to make fruit baskets, coffee/tea combo sets–you name it; they want to make it happen.

–Make your own food baskets–we’re not talking robotics here but sensible solutions for great gift-giving. Coffee shops are more than happy to help out if you become completely flummoxed.

–Buy a basket; get brightly colored tissue paper, and fill it up. Your choice. Personalized food items are especially popular. Make your house-brand of specialized cookies. There’ll be few complaints.

Get your blood pressure in line, and you’ll have time to wrap!

With the economic rebound still at slo-mo, coupon usage continues to rise. Sometimes the Sunday newspaper inserts are actually lacking in the coupon department. Maybe manufacturers have figured out that another tree does not have to be cut down to meet the print requirements. Let the consumer find the coupon he wants!

That’s the world of coupons and the Internet. There are no shortage of approaches to ease the shopping burden. Name a category and there’s a site or a way to access a coupon. Look at a few examples. Google an item and follow the item with the word coupon, and you are in business. Let’s play the game: Look what happens, for example, when you type Cuisinart coupon. It’s that simple. The onus is on you to check out the validity of all sources and always look at the expiration date.

If it’s a food product, then the exercise is identical as there are no shortage of options. Companies want you to buy the cereal, the yogurt, the whatever and if it’s coupon enticement you need; no problem.

As for dining out, there are numerous opportunities to reduce the overall tab. Restaurants do not want to be ignored and are willing to help get you in the door.

It’s crazy to think you have been shopping without the deductions that are so readily available. Easier than clipping; figure out what you want and google the coupon possibilities.

Live a little; save a lot.

As for some of the big national steakhouses such as The Palm, The Capital Grille, or Morton’s Steakhouse you see other ways the message is being transmitted: Deals, specials, promotions that keep getting extended. The Palm’s lobster and  steak special are both extended until the end of September. Am losing count how many times these have been extended! The Capital Grille just announced their $39 3-course dinner will be good until the beginning of November!  Morton’s has a similar promotion which continues until the end of September. These types of ongoing promotions were previously unheard of. That says a lot about projections, numbers, and negative info. It only works if the consumer believes that such a promotion is a good deal and not something that is still difficult to swallow.

Restaurant weeks have become multi-week and seasonal promotions. Restaurants tout that a single week could not accommodate all the interest. I think that is part of the story. Having visited a number of such establishments, I believe the other component to the decision is why not extend it an extra week if it helps draw the numbers and fill the tables. Why not?

BTW, the restaurants that did a good job during restaurant weeks are those that either let guests choose items from the regular menu or established a creative menu and not a skimping one that left people grousing about overpaying for something ordinary. The restaurants that have it figured out will garner long-term customer loyalty.

Restaurants can learn plenty from guest response. Listen.

What do these new pricing strategies mean? As far as I can tell after a mini-aisle cruise, products are tagged with multiple layers of prices–what it used to cost v. the new price and what a nearby national brand competitor (often Safeway) is charging. The gloves are off.

In the Chicago area, it’s Jewel v. Dominick’s, and the focus is on rolled back prices.

No matter where you live, we are all in this grocery pricing life. With Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, and Trader Joe’s competing with traditional grocers, there is some hope for further reductions. As consumers the questions we should ask are: Why were the prices so high in the first place? How do we continue to get them to come down? Overpaying is the name of the game as purchasers continue to feed conglomerates. Some hope is on the horizon as lowered pricing continues to garner attention.

Maybe we just don’t shop the way we used to. Maybe we are smarter, and the chains are just starting to understand that consumers have become savvier and have learned to be more better shoppers; less impulsive.

Maybe, just maybe, the pricing wars will continue, and we, as consumers, will benefit from further reductions.

McDonald’s joined forces with a research group that had just released its list of the Happiest Cities for Families in America and chose 10 of them to help the company celebrate the 30th birthday of its Happy Meal program. Thirty years!

If you live in Minneapolis, I’m sure you already know how jovial you all are: The number one Happiest City for Families. Don’t worry, I’m sure you live near one of the other 9 top happy family cities.

Now until August 13, when you order a Happy Meal, you’ll receive one of 30 different Beanie Babies that are part of the promotion. You’ll also have a code that you can apply at the happymeal website. The site also has games and puzzles to expand the activity possibilities for families. If a birthday party has you perplexed, McDonald’s has you covered with invitations and ideas to help turn a special day into an extra-fun party.

Make room on your shelf: The Beanies are Back.

A whole new way to view our current economic environment. Thank you, Target. Yes, Target which traditionally has a sizable insert on Sundays had a new direction insert yesterday called “a new day. new ways to save.” A true Target Bull’s Eye Winner!

Target

Each page showed the old world, for instance, room service and the new one, a smiling young face holding a tray with cereal bowls and orange juice–touting “the new room service.” Very clever. Each page had a new approach to a lifestyle we once patronized but currently needs major reworking. How about a trip to the spa–old world! Target world:  a terry robe with skin care products and makeup.

The ad gets the point across: life does not have to stop. We just have to approach the familiar a little differently. Love the reinvention; actually love shopping at Target in any economic environment!

Look at the world of dining. Lots of mid-tier chains such as TGI Friday’s, Marie Callender’s, Chili’s, and Ruby Tuesday are offering a variety of specials to their e-mail subscribers. Sign up. Each has a little different approach, and I believe the concept will spread to your favorite spot.

More expensive dining places throughout the country get it, and are offering similar promotions. People need to treat themselves. Maybe at different price points, but they need to dine out. It’s the real trickle-down effect.

Yet, the all-time winner this week is Tom Colicchio, chef and owner of the Craft food empire and well-known celebrity chef from Bravo’s “Top Chef”. Last week he rolled out his latest dining strategy in New York:  smaller plates and lower prices in the front room of craftsteak, calling the new mid-week enterprise, halfsteak. The line of people waiting to get in, said it all. We appreciate these changes; what’s next?

Yes, we are all in this together. Every business needs to rethink its business model to accommodate people and get them in the door for multiple visits. That way the business survives as a business, and the dining, shopping public responds by purchasing.

This will work.