Groupon comes to Ann Arbor

It only took three years but Chicago-based Groupon has finally decided to add Ann Arbor to the list of places it creates snarkily written coupons for. Now locals can cash in on restaurant and recreation and other deals from nearby businesses. Think of it as the 2.0 version of the Sunday circular.The question now is, why did it take so long for a company co-founded by a U-M alumnus so long to include his alma mater?Excerpt:”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. “Read the rest of the story here. And here.