Bates: In tough times, creative businesses stand out
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 5:30 a.m. CDT
I really enjoy sharing about the creativity of chamber members. Creativity that takes advantage of opportunities can be the difference between success and failure.
One such innovative entrepreneur is Glen Gilmer, owner of True Blue Coupons and Glen’s Lawn Service. Gilmer established Glen’s Lawn Service as a successful lawn care company during the 1990s. Diligent and reasonably priced with references to boot, Gilmer was and is well thought of by those who use him. Yet when 2008 hit, Gilmer found his business, Glen’s Lawn Service, needed new customers to replenish some lost through the recession. That was when Gilmer followed the old adage “adversity is beset with opportunities” and True Blue Coupons was born.
Gilmer creatively spearheaded True Blue Coupons, an affordable coupon flyer, as a way to advertise Glen’s Lawn Service to the community with other organizations sharing the cost. He distinguished his flyer by its unusual blue color and 11-inch by 15-inch size that cradles all other mailers. Kudos to Gilmer for developing a cost-effective way to get the good news to the community about Glen’s Lawn Service and other companies using True Blue Coupons.
Couponing Saves You Time
One of our favorite ways, here at True Blue Coupons, to evaluate whether a money-saving idea or technique is worth your time is to evaluate it in terms of an hourly wage. For instance, if it saves your family $30-$50 and requires an hour’s worth of work, it is totally worth YOUR time. Coupons are worth your time because when you put in an hour’s worth of time, you are usually saving $40-$75 for doing so. That sounds like a pretty good hourly wage to us!
If you're not among the 94 percent of Americans who use coupons when they shop at the supermarket, drug store, or department store, you're throwing money away. Americans still are using coupons, and in GREATER quantities. In fact, there has been a huge recent spike in usage, especially with sites like this one, allowing for almost instantenous results and savings and far easier than clipping the old-fashioned way.
In 2010, U.S. consumers spent an average of just 10 minutes per week clipping and organizing coupons, but reaped a whopping $3.7 million for their efforts, or approximately $416 per family per year. By doubling the time invested weekly to just 20 minutes, the average shopper could save as much as $1,000. Not too bad, eh?
Learn How to Live on Less Money
Using coupons and saving money can change your life. Once you learn how easy it is to save 100s of dollars each month on food, clothing, oil changes and entertainment, you will wonder why it took you so long to get started couponing.
Whether you are trying to get out of debt, save money, or you will need to learn how to live on less money, True Blue Coupons is an excellent way for you to save money so that you can live a better life with your family.
There is something about getting your entire family involved in cutting costs that truly makes it easy. If your kids and your spouse know that you want to save money on your bills they will have fun being a part of it. Tell them what you are currently paying, and ask them if they can help you cut it by a certain amount of money. Using your coupons at the right time will help you save the most money and sure, you should get everyone on the coupon bandwagon!