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Executive Summary:
Stop & Shop is addressing concerns about the accessibility of digital coupons by rolling out Savings Station kiosks in its stores. These kiosks allow shoppers without smartphones or internet access to load and print digital coupons, ensuring that all customers can benefit from savings. Customers can scan their GO Rewards loyalty card or input their phone number to activate offers tailored to their shopping history, with savings automatically applied at checkout.
This initiative comes amid criticisms that the industry-wide shift to digital couponing excludes older and lower-income shoppers. In addition to digital coupons, the kiosks offer recipes and activities to enhance the in-store experience.
Roger Wheeler, Stop & Shop’s president, highlighted the company’s commitment to improving accessibility and responding to customer feedback, particularly during the holiday season when savings are a priority. Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky praised the kiosks for making digital savings more inclusive.
Legislative efforts in states like New Jersey, Illinois, and Rhode Island aim to require stores offering digital coupons to provide equivalent in-store alternatives. Some proposals would automatically apply digital coupons to all shoppers.
The shift to digital couponing, which surpassed traditional paper coupon redemptions in 2020, has accelerated due to declining newspaper circulation and the pandemic. While grocers benefit from the cost savings and personalized marketing insights offered by digital coupons, initiatives like Stop & Shop’s kiosks aim to balance cost-efficiency with customer inclusivity.
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