Groupon Launches in Columbia

Upcoming Features Include Kayak Tour and Mexican Cuisine

COLUMBIA, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Groupon (http://www.groupon.com), a shopping website that offers a daily deal on the best local goods, services and cultural events in more than 250 markets around the world, recently launched in Columbia.

“We look forward to offering Columbia’s students and residents unbeatable deals on the best that their city has to offer, while introducing new streams of revenue to local businesses.”

“Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina and features a thriving district of art galleries, shops and restaurants, making it a great fit for the Groupon model,” said Rob Solomon, president and chief operating officer of Groupon. “We look forward to offering Columbia’s students and residents unbeatable deals on the best that their city has to offer, while introducing new streams of revenue to local businesses.”

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 more than $570 million for subscribers across North America.

“Groupon brings buyers and sellers together in a fun and collaborative way,” said Solomon. “We offer the consumer a great deal they can’t get anywhere else and deliver the sales directly to the merchant.”

Recent featured deals in Columbia included bowling and a new Southern cuisine restaurant. Upcoming deals include a guided kayak tour and Mexican cuisine. Columbia joins Charleston as South Carolina’s second Groupon city.

About Groupon

Groupon, launched in November 2008 in Chicago, features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy in more than 250 markets around the world. Groupon uses collective buying power to offer unbeatable prices and provide a win-win for businesses and consumers, delivering nearly 200 deals daily throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.groupon.com.

To get Groupon’s daily free email for the best in your city, subscribe at http://www.groupon.com.

For more information on Groupon apps for the iPhone and Android, visit http://www.groupon.com/mobile.

To learn more on how to become a featured business on Groupon, visit http://www.grouponworks.com.