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Dynamo: Pre-Blackberry Communication for JC Penney

7 Mar

JC Penney couldn’t reach all his employees via Blackberry as many employers can do now.  He had to find other ways to provide information about training, sales strategies and company news.

Beginning in 1917, Penney used a newsletter called “The Dynamo” to encourage, inform and motivate his employees.   Using this company newsletter, Penney focused on training, advertising and how to treat customers well.  The key to his business success was keeping customers happy so they’d come back.

At a time when Penney was opening 70 new stores a year, “The Dynamo” kept an increasing number of associates in the loop.  Read more about how JC Penney’s newsletter and how it was a factor in his business success in the conclusion of our series on JC Penney stores:  The Dynamo Factor in Opening 70 New Stores a Year.

Every Baby Loves Coupons!

22 Feb

We’ve got some great new features here at The New Parents Guide–and these features involve my favorite subject:  using coupons to get a great deal!

I’ve been a fan of grocery coupons since I was a college student living in a crummy apartment and feeding myself (well) on $25 a week.  But there are lots of other kinds of coupons out there too; you just need to know where to find them!

Over on the right side of this page, below the list of categories of blog posts, you’ll find a brand-new Coupon Widget.  It’s constantly updating itself with the latest deals on everything for babies and kids.  If you’ve got a blog, you can get your own coupon widget and set it up to display coupons in any category you choose–or just the latest, best deals on just about anything.  It’s super-simple to install and customize, and you can change it anytime you like.  The widget is great, since it shows you the most recent coupons; if you’re shopping, stop here at the blog first and check that widget before you go any further.

We’ve also added a fabulous new Coupon section.  These aren’t the kind of coupons you clip and carry to the supermarket or CVS–they’re web coupons, and all you have to do to use these is click on the website and sometimes enter a coupon code.   These are just like the coupons in our daily Basket of Bargains, but this section is specialized just for the readers of The New Parents Guide.  The coupons are for stores that specialize in babies’ and children’s products.

With all these ways to save, you won’t miss a single deal if you stop here before you shop!

BASKET OF BARGAINS

$5 off online orders over $50 at Target.com
Use this link to activate the promotional code.
Valid though: March 30, 2010, 11:59pm ET
Minimum purchase amount excludes Gift Cards, e-GiftCards, gift wrap, tax, and shipping & handling charges. Cannot be combined with other promotional offers or discounts or applied to previous orders. Offer available for Target.com orders only and does not apply to Apple iPods, video game hardware, Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, partner businesses, custom clothing, personalized gifts, or Amazon.com product purchases. Discount not available when using 1-Click ordering online.
See other Target coupons!

FREE $100 American Express Gift Card with the purchase of Stokke Sleepi Crib at The Land of Nod
Valid through: February 28, 2010
Make purchase between 01/15/10 and 02/28/10 (promotion period), follow the redemption instructions and submit your claim by 04/15/10. Items can be purchased separately, but purchases must be made during the promotional period. Redemption Instructions: 1. Register your product(s) online at http://www.stokkeusa.com/warranty.htm and upon completion of the registration process you will be provided with a Registration Confirmation. 2. Submit your claim via U.S. Mail or e-mail. Via U.S. Mail: Please print and mail the confirmation, and send along with a copy of the original receipt with the qualifying STOKKE product name circled to: STOKKE Free Gift Card Offer, 1100 Cobb Place Blvd., Suite 100, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Via email: You may scan copies of your store receipt and registration confirmation and send an email to promotion@stokkeusa.com using subject line: STOKKE Free Gift Card Offer from your name. For complete terms and conditions, go to http://www.stokkeusa.com/promo/sleepi/Q110rules.html.
See other Land of Nod coupon codes!

Occupational Hazard

16 Jan

I love Amazon.  You can find just about anything there.  Plus it has free Kindle books for my iPod Touch, free downloads of music, and free shipping on most purchases of $25 or more. amazon-box You can’t beat free!

And it’s got recommendations based on your past searches.  That’s where things get a little sticky.

You see, when I do product spotlights for this site, I check out user reviews on Amazon and other places.  Amazon remembers that I’ve searched for certain items.  So despite the fact that it’s highly unlikely that I’ll be purchasing a double stroller, high chair or diaper bag anytime soon, Amazon knows I’ve looked at them.  And when I look at the product-recommendation emails Amazon sends me, I find things like car seats, diapers and baby food listed there.

I can’t use any of that stuff.  My youngest child will turn 8 in March.  Anyone who looks over my shoulder while I surf Amazon will wonder why so many baby items are on my list of past searches.  It’s all in the name of helping you get the best deals on the best stuff for your baby.

See you on Monday with a fresh Basket of Bargains!

Cyber Monday Roundup

24 Nov

If Black Friday shopping isn’t your bag, there’s always Cyber Monday!  That’s the Monday following Thanksgiving, when work productivity suffers because people are searching for online bargains rather than working.

We’ve made that easier for our readers:  we find the bargains for you!  Just visit the Ultimate Coupons Cyber Monday Sale page for the latest. cyber-monday-sale

There are also lots of articles letting you know what’s on sale and what merchants expect to move on Cyber Monday!  Here’s a sample:

Retailers Wire into Social Media for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday Rebound?  Not This Year!

Cyber Monday Origins

Cyber Monday More Promotional!

Cyber Monday Sales Focus on PCs

Cyber Monday Laptop Deals

Cyber Monday Online Retailers:  Best Offers

Cyber Monday and E-Commerce

Cyber Monday Sales Fueled by Mysterious Back-to-Work Disorder

Online Retailers Hope for Rebound

Game Industry Hopes Cyber Monday Jump-Starts Sales

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Tech Roundup

The Cyber Monday Deals page will be continually updated with the latest bargains, so check it often!  And sign up for the Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/ultimatecoupons for tons of sales!

Black Friday Shopping: Where to Find the Best Deals and Tips

20 Nov

What are your Black Friday plans? Will you line up outside your favorite big-box superstore or sit at home and shop in your robe and slippers?  No matter how you choose to shop on Black Friday, we’ve got the best deals and insider tips to help you save the most this year.  black-friday-etailers

Check out the deals:

$7 off online orders over $70 at Target.com

$10 off orders over $150 at TickCo

15% off your order at Greatskin.com

Lane Bryant: 10% off online orders over $100

Bonus $25 gift card when you spend $100 on gift cards at The Container Store

Of course, this is just a small sample of the deals available! The list is always growing at our Black Friday Sale page!

And take note of the tips. We’ve got tons of tips!

Black Friday Going Online

Black Friday 2009 Sales Predictions

Black Friday Apparel Sales Predictions

Black Friday Doorbusters May Disappoint

Black Friday Promotions Target Frugal Shoppers

Department Stores Hope for Black Friday Rebound

Best Black Friday Deals: Let the Battles Begin

Black Friday Toy Sales Aim Low, Target Frugal Consumers

Black Friday: Mass Merchants Get an Early Start

Black Friday Could be Big for Blu-Ray

Is Black Friday More Productive Online?

Do We Really Buy or Just Browse on Black Friday?

Death and Destruction? Black Friday Safety

What to Buy on Black Friday

Black Friday: Takedowns, Doorbusters and Loss Leaders

The Top Black Friday Retailers

Greening Black Friday

The Brilliant Birth of Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday Ads: Best Buy

Black Friday Ads: KMart

Black Friday Ads: Toys R Us

Black Friday Ads: Wal*Mart

For all the news on the very best Black Friday Coupons, stop by our Black Friday Sale page. And sign up at www.twitter.com/ultimatecoupons for the very latest deals!

Travel Spotlight: Link to a Great Deal!

30 Oct

If you’re planning any family vacations, reunions or visits during the next few months, the time to make your travel plans is now.  And if you want to save money on your trip, you’ll want to do a little research before you book those plans.

Trend-spotters advise smart consumers to book their flights early to secure the best deal, according to the Cheap Holiday Flights article at Ultimate Coupons.com.  The reason:  many airlines have cut the numbers of flights to certain cities, making seats harder to come by.  In this case, the early bird definitely gets the worm–buying early is the way to go.  Additionally, there are some days that will carry an automatic $10 (each way) surcharge because they’re the busiest travel days of the year.  Cheap Holiday Flights has all the information you’ll need to schedule around that.

If you’re looking for more information on possible airline-ticket price cuts or how to capitalize on competition among online travel websites, we’ve got articles on those subjects as well.  Or maybe you’re looking to avoid the airlines altogether and travel by road and rail; check out our advice on that topic.  And for travel resources of all kinds, there’s a roundup of helpful travel links!

For all the best in holiday travel deals, check the Holiday Travel Coupons page at Ultimate Coupons.com!  And don’t forget our very own Family Travel Guide, with information on resorts, vacation spots, equipment rentals and even packing checklists!

BASKET OF BARGAINS

$15 off orders of $100 or more at TysToyBox.com
Enter special offer code Early15 during checkout.
Valid through: November 4, 2009
Only one coupon per purchase.
See other Ty’s Toy Box coupon codes!

15% off sale and regularly-priced items
20% off coats at Lord & Taylor

Use promo code NOW in your shopping bag.
Valid through: November 4, 2009
Some exclusions apply. See site for details.
See other Lord & Taylor coupon codes!

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