Local Entrepreneur Highlights Brighton Business, Re-Defines 'Coupon Clipping'

Every day, the trend grows with more and more consumers using their mobile devices when shopping online and one Hartland man is hoping to bring the age-old concept of "coupon clipping" into the 21st century.

“I was always the one that I’d see the coupon in the Clipper, but forget to bring it,” co-founder and Hartland resident Brad Brief said. “Working in social media, I just thought there has to be a better way to do this.”

Launching OfferzNow last month, Brief hopes to accomplish two goals with the website, mobile app and social media presence. First by helping to strengthen the local business community by “banning them together” OfferzNow also provides convenient and instant savings for consumers looking to shop locally.

"So, someone may start off by searching for Black Rock but then they'll see the ad for Anytime Fitness and Guido's Pizza," he said.  

A social marketing director at Enlighten in Ann Arbor, Brief approached his CEO Steven Glaberman with the idea last year. Calling it a "simple, but great idea," Glaberman gave Brief the green light to pursue the concept and OfferzNow was born,

"We looked into it and saw that no one else was really doing it in this way," Broef said. "There really wasn't something to use in the local business, local market.”

Launching with 25 local businesses in Livingston County from Kathleen's Cookies to Hartland Glen Golf Course, OfferzNow offers a variety of savings anywhere, anytime a customer has their phone.

While printing off an offer directly from the website is available, by downloading the OfferzNow free app, consumers will be able to simply show the coupon right from their phone. 

“Businesses now are becoming more accustomed to the mobile usage of coupons,” Brief said. "The businesses we talked to are really excited about it... and the usage will grow as the fan base grows."

And while the convenient platform provides a central location for consumers to locate current offers, by using social media, a satisfied customer is also able to instantly “share” their coupon across Facebook with one simple touch.

"The average person has about 400 friends on Facebook," Brief said. "So the nice thing is, say you found a great deal at Black Rock, instead of calling everybody to tell them, you just hit share on Facebook and it goes out to all your friends."

To download the free app of OfferzNow, check out the website or Facebook page.