Coupon books are available but the use is marginal
Coupon books can be a way for students to save money on
everything from tattoos to food.
Two coupon books are regularly found on the CSU campus at the
beginning of the semester, but only some students use them.
Kevin Best, a junior graphic design student, said he has not
used the coupons despite best intentions.
“I always mean to (use the coupons),” Best said. “I usually flip
through them.”
Ian Best, a senior business student, agreed.
“I’ve never used them,” Ian Best said. “I usually look for
something really good.”
One of the coupon books available on campus is College Coupons
book, produced by Brooks Publishing Company, Inc.
The Kansas-based company produces coupon books for about 50
major colleges in 21 states around the country, said Cal Morris, a
national sales representative.
“The format is the same at whatever school,” Morris said. “The
content is different. I wish there were more in it.”
Morris said College Coupons often have representatives in the
area they distribute so they can stay in touch with the companies
that advertise in the book.
Morris said he likes the way his company’s book is designed
because it is easy to keep on hand because of its small size.
“I’ve found ours the easiest to use,” Morris said. “You can pop
it in your purse or pocket.”
Working with the campus bookstores is a way Morris said the
company tries to distribute the coupon books. Handing out the books
directly to students is also something the company does.
“We try not to just set them around,” Morris said.
Campus Cash is also a coupon book available around CSU. Campus
Cash Publications is a local advertising business that also
produces the coupon books for University of Colorado-Boulder and
the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
Monte Florea, the publisher and founder of the 12-year-old
company, said the company has been very successful with
students.
“We appreciate all the students that use the booklet. CSU
students have been very good to us,” Florea said.
He said many businesses that advertise in Campus Cash hear about
the company from other businesses.
“We get a lot of referrals from business to business,” Florea
said. “A lot of businesses just know about us and just call
us.”
Though the coupon companies may offer a good deal to advertise
in their booklets, some businesses have found it is not worth
it.
“I didn’t sign up for the spring semester,” said Pat Talley, the
owner of Life of the Party.
Talley said she knows people do look for coupons, but the coupon
she offered in the coupon book didn’t bring in business.
“If the discount’s big enough, people will come in,” Talley
said. “We gave out free greeting cards (at one time) and had tons
of people. But we had to replenish the supply and that was over
$500 so we had to stop doing that.”
Jeff Hoffman, the owner of Mountain Music, said advertising in
coupon books is something he just fell into.
“When I bought the business 17 years ago, it was something (the
previous owner) was doing,” Hoffman said. “The price seemed
justified for being in the book. It went to a group of people I was
interested in letting know about the
business.”
While consistent exposure in a coupon book is good for a small
business like Hoffman’s, he said sometimes the coupon does not
return any business.
“Some semesters it doesn’t even pay for itself,” Hoffman
said.
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