CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) (www.groupon.com)
today announced that a free beta version of Groupon Scheduler, an
easy-to-use online booking and staffing management tool, will be
available to all appointment-based small businesses in the US and Canada
(excluding Quebec). Scheduler is the most intuitive and complete free
product of its kind and represents the latest addition to Groupon's
extensive suite of merchant marketing tools, which help business owners
acquire more customers and run their businesses more successfully.
Scheduler provides merchants with a convenient, free way to accept
online bookings 24/7 and seamlessly integrates into the Groupon deals
process. Once a Groupon has been purchased, a customer can schedule an
appointment in just seconds through their account on Groupon.com.
Merchants can also add a "Book Now" button to their website and use
Scheduler to manage online booking for all of their services—not just
those offered through Groupon.
"Effectively managing appointments and staffing schedules is critical
for small businesses, but it takes a tremendous amount of time and
energy," said David Katz, General Manager, Groupon Scheduler. "Scheduler
streamlines these time-consuming tasks and lets business owners dedicate
more time to what matters most—developing a thriving business."
Groupon Scheduler works for a wide range of appointment-based businesses
especially spas, salons, services and businesses offering classes or
scheduled activities. Merchants can customize almost every aspect of
Scheduler, including business hours, locations, services offered and
appointment confirmations. Scheduler sends consumers immediate booking
confirmations, as well as automated email reminders up to 72 hours
before scheduled appointments, which helps reduce late arrivals,
no-shows and cancellations.
In addition, Scheduler provides merchants with a client list and
business dashboard showing real-time numbers of total appointments, new
customers and percentage of bookable time filled. Scheduler also gives
merchants the ability to easily track Groupon redemptions.
"We began using Groupon Scheduler in February and it has been a great
tool to help manage customer appointments and employee schedules," said
Jane Kane, Loving Lotus Center & Spa in Coral Gables, Fla. "It was
extremely easy to implement and Groupon Scheduler has helped reduce the
amount of time I spend on administrative tasks, giving me more time to
do what I enjoy most—work with my clients."
The product is based on technology obtained through Groupon's September
2011 acquisition of OpenCal, a Vancouver, Canada-based company and was
successfully piloted in Sacramento and Miami.
Businesses can access the free beta version of Groupon Scheduler by
visiting www.groupon.com/scheduler.
About Groupon
Groupon (NASDAQ:GRPN) launched in November 2008 in Chicago, features a
daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see and buy in 48 countries
around the world. Groupon uses collective buying power to offer huge
discounts and provide a win-win for business and consumers, delivering
more than 1,000 daily deals globally. To subscribe for the best deals in
your city, visit www.groupon.com.
To learn how to become a featured business, visit www.grouponworks.com.
To learn more about Groupon Scheduler, visit www.groupon.com/scheduler.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those
discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences
include, but are not limited to, the factors included under the headings
"Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in the company's registration
statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on November 1, 2011, copies of which may be obtained
by visiting the company's Investor Relations web site at http://investor.groupon.com
or the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
Groupon's actual results could differ materially from those predicted or
implied and reported results should not be considered as an indication
of future performance.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of
future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in
the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that
the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and
circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be
achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes
responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking
statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press
release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in
our expectations.
Groupon
Nicholas Halliwell, 312-999-3806
Nhalliwell@groupon.com
http://www.thenewsmarket.com/groupon
or
Weber
Shandwick
Megan Casserly, 312-342-5764
Mcasserly@webershandwick.com
Source: Groupon
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