Chincoteague Island .Net

WBEY Bay Country 97.9 FM and WGOP Timeless Favorites 540 AM and FRUGALS” the glitzy coupon source for thrifty shoppers” have joined together with other print and electronic media to publicize great savings to locals on products and services used daily. FRUGALS, published quarterly, is packed with coupons, discounts and special offers from locally-based, small and medium-sized businesses.

“Not only does shore wide distribution of 15,000 copies of the book provide great savings for thrifty shoppers but local retailers gain an edge over competitors and that means a lot in today’s economy”, said Lisa Taylor, owner of Frugals and frugals.biz, the company’s new site that puts consumers a “click” away from timely money-saving tips, coupons and instant access to advertisers’ web sites.

WBEY Bay Country 97.9 FM and sister station WGOP Timeless Favorites 540 AM owned by Bay Broadcasting, Inc., has agreed to on-air and electronic promotion of Frugals and advertisers in the coupon book.

The two stations have a wide listening audience. 97.9FM is heard from Cambridge to Exmore and from Pocomoke across the Bay to many locations on the western shore. Listeners on the eastern shore from Pocomoke to Salisbury and Ocean City in the north and deep into Accomac county in the south tune into both 540AM and 97.9FM.

“We all see jobs vanishing or wages not rising as quickly as the cost of basic necessities and with most of us cutting back, many of our businesses are bracing for hard times. We want to keep our listeners informed about savings and where to find the best deal”, says Mike Powell, owner of the two stations.

Bureau of Labor statistics reveal that food prices increased 4.9 percent in 2007; have climbed to 7.5 percent in the first nine months of 2008 and are expected to rise higher in 2009 while retail sales have dropped to the level of 1969.

“Merchants and manufacturers are motivated to increase revenues by offering more coupons that entitle consumers to more savings and coupon redemption has increased dramatically.” says Taylor.

A recent survey conducted by the Coupon Council reveals that 89% of the nation’s shoppers utilized coupons to save on groceries, household and health-care products in 2008.

“The use of coupons has turned my whole shopping experience into a game that brings a thrill when I get home. I’ve reduced my family’s grocery bill by half when shopping with coupons. Sometimes I feel bad for the retailer,” says Susan Skinner who once walked out of a store with products worth $200 for $50.

Businesses are experiencing different redemption rates depending on type of business and the offer.
“My coupon in Frugals has helped my business in more ways than one. Regular customers come in more frequently and my store has been introduced to new customers outside my area” says Suzanne Timmons, owner of Lost in the Country, Snow Hill, Maryland.

“The multimedia method of combining radio, print and electronic marketing with publicity and promotion provides me with an annual marketing campaign at a cost within my budget”, says Mike Monte Calvo, owner and distributor of Monte Calvo Foods.

Real estate brokers and other high-ticket product and service advertisers who use many types of media to reach prospective buyers do not expect to have high redemption rates from coupons but find the media team’s new distribution network a good avenue for continuing public awareness.