It’s TIME:

I have REALLY been trying to avoid controversy on my blog.  On Facebook, not so much.  The BP Oil Spill has eaten away at my soul for months now, the Banks too Big to Fail, Goldman Sachs & Wall Street, and the Foreclosure crisis have made me angrier than I ever imagined I could be, but now – for our own “Representatives” in the Senate to turn their back on the very people they allegedly represent, and deny them an extension ot unemployment benefits in a time where unemployment is at the highest it’s ever been in a U.S. recession:

I simply can’t find it in me to stop my ranting posts – unless I stay OFF Facebook – which I have also tried!

Today – well, today, was the end of my patience.

Yesterday the Senate voted AGAINST extending the Unemployment Benefits to more than 2 Million U.S. Citizens – that THEY allegedly “represent”.  You really have to wonder how far these alleged Representatives have gotten out of touch with reality…that is until you read a comment by Senator Sharron Angle of Nevada, who said – and I quote:  ”that the unemployed are too spoiled and lazy to get a job (which she says are plentiful)”.
Has she even BEEN back to Nevada lately?  I think she must be living in  D.C. full time, paid for by the same people she talks about (yes, unemployment benefits ARE taxable!)
Hell, just listen to her for yourself – she is so far out there that you really could NOT reel her back in!

I posted the traitors who voted against the extension of the Unemployment Bill on Facebook but I wanted to make it even easier for voters to note who they are in their own home state.  That way, when re-election comes up, they know who failed American citizens and then has the gall to ask for a vote!

ALPHABETICALLY, BY STATE, HERE ARE THE GOOD GUYS (YEA-Re-Elect!!)
and the BAD GUYS (NAY-Get rid of them!!!):

Senators voting against Unemployment Extension Bill 06-30-10-2

This week in my Mobile Advertising and Design course, we are studying digital coupons.

This assignment is based on an article dated November 11, 2009, titled,  “Coupon Clippers Drive Incremental Sales”.

The article cites that digital couponing is on the rise and 1 out of 3 consumers report using more coupons than at the same time a year before, and that males age 18 to 34 were doing more comparison shopping and actively searching for coupons.  Further, as much as 59% of consumers will forsake name brands for generic brands based on price.

The next question raised by the article is whether the coupons drive incremental sales or cannibalize existing sales.  The study found that coupons do, indeed, drive incremental sales by as much as 40% and those customers are either new or lapsed buyers.  The study also cites that 63% of the redemptions drove incremental volume and did not cannibalize existing sales.

Our instructor then posed the question:

Does “digital couponing” cause consumers to forsake brand name products over cheaper products or services?

To that question I would have to say no.  I believe that digital coupons help drive the sales of name brands over generics when the coupon brings the price inline with the price range of the generic.  If I am shopping and I prefer the name brand product, but buy the generic to save money, I will use a coupon and purchase the name brand.  For example, the price difference is 50 cents and the name brand gives a coupon for 35 cents, I will choose the name brand.  That confirms the findings of the study, as I would have been considered a “lapsed” buyer.

There are some items I simply will not buy generic replacements for.  Instead I will shop the ads and when there is a really good sale, I will pick up a couple of the same item, saving me money in the long run.  A good example of this is Heintz Ketchup.  I grew up on it, it’s the only kind I like, and yes it’s more expensive but I will not buy any other brand – it’s the taste and the consistency.  Now, if I get my hands on a coupon, it’s a happy day, and just like the others cited in the article, I will look for a coupon.  I am not loyal to Heintz per se, I will buy generic brand relish, mustard and other products that Heintz sells in order to save money, but I will not scrimp on my ketchup!  This sale would have been categorized as a “cannibalized” sale.

I really do not think Consumer behavior can be so easily categorized in those terms.  We live in interesting times right now.  Things have changed drastically with the steep recession we are in, and everyone is doing the best they can to get by.  What I find interesting was stores like Publix who would run their ad specials in conjunction with manufacturer’s coupons so if they were selling something 2/$4 this week, you could also use a manufacturer coupon to bring the price even lower.  I am sure that is why Publix is gaining market share and increasing revenues.

Digital Coupons vs. Newspaper Coupons:

Another article titled “Gens X/Y, Rich Households Hike Private-Label Sales, written May 6, 2010, affirms my shopping habits since the recession.  In this article it cites a Nielsen report that National brands still drive the vast majority of sales (82.7%) as well as units (78.1%).  During the period of time of the study, store brand sales grew by 2.5%, while National Brands were able to stabilize declines and achieve a growth of 0.4%, due to increased promotional spending.  The study showed that categories with the strongest brand marketing support (Beer, Candy) or those achieving the biggest innovations (deodorants, detergents) were the strongest of the national brand sales.

According to a Research Brief titled “Digital Coupon Redemption Value Beats Newspapers”, dated March 1, 2010, use of digital coupons outpaced newspaper coupons 10 to 1.

This study also cites a Nielsen Online Metrics report stating that coupons/rewards was the fifth fastest growing Internet category in 2008.  Google reported that searches for the terms “printable coupons” and “online printable coupons” grew 186% and 178% respectively during the year.  Yahoo reported searches for “coupons” were #1 on their list of economy-related search queries during the same period.  Futher, the 2009 Savings Index found that Atlanta residents were heavy users of Coupons.com offers in 2009, followed by Tampa, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Minneapolis.

Digital Coupons expected to continue growth in 2010:

In conclusion, I agree with Coupons.com CEO Steven Boal when he said “we expect the adoption of digital coupons will continue to accelerate in 2010”.  We are far from being “in the clear” with respect to this economic situation.  Smart manufacturers will continue to use digital coupons to invite consumers to save on their products.  Digital wins hands down – they are easy to locate, easy to print and while the coupons from yesterday’s newspaper are still sitting on your coffee table at home, the ditigal ones can be retrieved right before you leave work to purchase dinner on the way home!

Sources:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=117207

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=127527

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=123365

http://promomagazine.com/incentives/news/0224-digital-coupons-beat-newspapers

According to the NPP, Taxpayers in Florida will pay $565.9 million for proposed ballistic missile defense in FY2010.

For that same money, Florida could have provided:

9,040 Music and Arts Teachers for One Year
OR 129,412 Scholarships for University Students for One Year
OR 101,968 Students receiving Pell Grants of $5550
OR 4,174 Affordable Housing Units
OR 312,781 Children with Health Care for One Year
OR 77,217 Head Start Places for Children for One Year
OR 9,649 Elementary School Teachers for One Year
OR 397,999 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year
OR 199,677 People with Health Care for One Year
OR 13,036 Public Safety Officers for One year

Now, Imagine if only 10% were retained by Florida for it’s citizens:
Florida would keep $56.59 million in FY2010.
For that same money, Florida could provide:
904 Music and Arts Teachers for One Year

OR 12,941 Scholarships for University Students for One Year

OR 10,197 Students receiving Pell Grants of $5550

OR 417 Affordable Housing Units

OR 31,278 Children with Health Care for One Year

OR 7,721 Head Start Places for Children for One Year

OR 965 Elementary School Teachers for One Year

OR 39,800 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year

OR 19,968 People with Health Care for One Year

OR 1,304 Public Safety Officers for One year

THAT IS A LOT OF NEW JOBS!

Find out about your State, Congressional District, or Community.  When you look at our tax money at use in this way, it sure does seem that a 10% cut in just one area could made a world of difference for ALL our communities!