Groupon Launches in Ann Arbor
The Chicago-based shopping deal Web site Groupon announced Monday that it had launched in Ann Arbor.
Groupon sites feature a daily deal from local merchants.
Previously, Ann Arbor deals were featured on Groupon as part of the Detroit market region.
"A cultural hub and home to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is an excellent match for the Groupon model," said Rob Solomon, president and COO of Groupon. "Groupon will offer residents and students unbeatable deals on the best that Ann Arbor has to offer, while driving new customers to local merchants."
Using the principles of collective buying, Groupon negotiates unprecedented discounts with popular businesses. Groupon subscribers get free daily emails alerting them to the deals. The deals are activated only when a minimum number of people agree to buy, encouraging subscribers to share the promotion with family and friends. By guaranteeing a large number of new customers, Groupon has created a powerful new marketing vehicle for local merchants. This innovative approach to e-commerce has brought millions of dollars in new revenue to local businesses while saving nearly $2 billion for subscribers worldwide.
"Groupon brings buyers and sellers together in a fun and collaborative way," said Solomon. "We offer the consumer a great deal they can't get anywhere else and deliver the sales directly to the merchant."
During its first week as a unique market, Ann Arbor's featured deals included film festival tickets, a wine tasting and Southwestern fare. Upcoming deals include a family fun center, hair salon services and a local sports bar. Ann Arbor joins Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing as Michigan's fifth Groupon market, with statewide savings of more than $22 million to date. Groupon is on in more than 900 markets worldwide.
More at www.groupon.com.
