In the face of increasing competition, companies are having to resort to highly ingenious discount innovations to keep attracting customers.
Many companies choose to promote their discounts to people of a particular demographic, which could include age, income level or occupation. Depending on the product or service offered, some companies target consumers belonging to a certain sub-culture and appeal to their sensibilities.
Some particularly innovative companies offer discounts that reward consumers for a particular behavior that is seen to fit in with the company's philosophy. Others choose to offer the same discount to everyone in a bid to tempt as many potential customers as possible.
The rise of the Internet and social media marketing and the proliferation of smartphones have opened up the floodgates to a vast variety of ingenious discount innovations.
37 Examples of Discount Innovations
From Customer Loyalty Cubes to Couples-Only Discount Codes:
Rahul Kalvapalle — Mar 27, 2014 — Marketing
37
Bargain-Hunting Apps
The Shoptagr App is a Must-Have Tool for Online Shoppers
36
Web Design Discounts
MightyDeals Offers a Way for You to Upgrade Your Web Creations (SPONSORED)
35
Fresh Food Vending Machines
The Vending Machine Farmer's Market Makes it Easy to Eat Well
34
Snooze-Discouraging Apps
Starbucks Early Bird Offers Discounted Coffee for the Dedicated
33
Discounted Food Deliveries
Groupon's Discount Delivery Service Brings Consumers Cheaper Eats
32
Mobile Discount Stores
The 'Treasure Truck' Will Drive Around Seattle Selling Discount Goods
31
Smart Discount Cards
Plenty Helps Consumers Clean Up Their Wallet with a Single Card
30
Anti-Smartphone Discounts
Abu Ghosh Offers Half Off to Customers Who Turn Off Their Mobile Phones
29
Gamified Payment Apps
The LevelUp App Lets You Pay and Gain Store Credits with Experience Points
28
Social Scavenger Hunt Stunts
The Peugeot Pinterest Puzzle Campaign is Creatively Engaging
27
Couples-Only Discount Codes
The Scandinavian Airlines 'Couple Up to Buckle Up' Promo
26
Cost-Cutting Retail Apps
Fashalot Offers Retail Discounts When a Shopper Checks in to the Store
25
Emotion-Scanning Checkout Tablets
The Simplate Platform Customizes Deals by Scanning Faces
24
Discount Dining Clubs
This Subscription Service Offers Discounts at Local Restaurants
23
Weather-Based Markdowns
Momentum Madrid Devises Special Discount for Limon Y Nada Drink
22
Food Waste Discounts
Diners Exchange Food Waste for Reduced Restaurant Rates
21
Consumer-Targeting Billboards
OfferMoments Creates Custom, Targeted Advertisements
20
Discount Millennial Retailers (UPDATE)
The Find @ Lord & Taylor Discount Store is Youth-Focused
19
Unrestricted Retail Discount Sites
AllOurPower Provides Fair Prices on Goods and Services
18
Paperless Coupon Apps
'Milk' is a Handy App That Helps You Save at the Grocery Store
17
Multilingual Beauty Windows
Ainz & Tuple's Beauty Retail Window Prints Coupons in Many Languages
16
Discount Cinema Apps
The 'DealFlix' App Offers Discounted Movie Seats and Concession Prices
15
Personalized Supermarket Prices
Kroger Rewards Gives Customers Discounts Based on Shopping History
14
Facebook Cocktail Discounts
Bull and Bear Steakhouse Offers Reduced Prices Based on Stocks
13
Affection-Encouraging Apps
The Valentine Kiss App Rewarded Smoochers on February 14th
12
Topographic Promotion Apps
The Inby Platform Sources Local Shopping Deals, Sales and Events
11
Hunger-Fighting Dining Discounts
TangoTab Provides Cheap Meals and Donates to Food Banks
10
Combative Discount Apps
The WarBot App Rewards Play with Discounts
9
Discount Grocery Apps
Flipp Gives Users Access to Grocery Store Deals and Discounts
8
Discounted Organic Food Collectives
The Green Polkadot Box Provides Healthy Food for Cheap
7
Personalized Health Food Deals
Zipongo Life's Food Offerings are Based on Your Medical Records
6
Parisian Discount Markets
ANDES is a Small Grocery Store Offering Cheap Food for People in Need
5
Eco-Supporting Smartphone Rewards
The Re:route Smartphone App Awards Points for Green Activities
4
Rewarding Movie-Goer Apps
The Cinime App Encourages UK Film Buffs to Hit the Theater
3
Perk-Providing Soldier Services
The Military ID Program Helps Deserving Troops and Veterans
2
Reward-Optimizing Payments
Wallaby Card Helps You Take Advantage of Credit Card Benefits
1
Modern Table Manners Incentives
Eva Restaurant Gives Discounts for No Phone Use During Dinner
Related Ideas
Futuristic Grocery Stores
Whole Foods' Store of the Future is Both Sensory and Tech-Savvy
Mobile Bus Boutiques
The Kenzo Fashion Bus Offers Designer Style On the Go
Bargain-Hunting Apps
The Shoptagr App is a Must-Have Tool for Online Shoppers
Intuitive Grocery Displays
Whole Foods' Interactive Store Display Helps Make Purchase Decisions
Interactive Retail Maps
Ralph Lauren's Window Display is an Interactive Shopping Experience
Sophisticated Skincare Brands
Moreish is a Luxury Skincare Range from New Zealand
Empowering Beauty Campaigns
This Avon Ad Features Employees and Brand Ambassadors of All Ages
High-Tech Retail Hubs
Harvey Nichols' Newest Retail Store Design Boasts Engaging Details
Sophisticated Raw Juice Branding
Belmonte Raw is a New Juice Brand That Boasts Luxurious Packaging
Lipstick-Smooched Accessories
The Charlotte Olympia Kiss Me Collection is Funky
Airport Cosmetic Vending Machines
Benefit Cosmetics Developed Clever and Practical Beauty Kiosks
In-Store Beer Stations
LCBO Summerhill's Beer Experience Zone Spotlights Local Brews
Upleveled Discount Grocers
The Winn-Dixie St Johns Store Reveals the Brand's New Concept
Pop-Up Auto Retailers
The New 'Tesla' Automotive Shops Come in the Form of Shipping Containers
Untouched Celebrity Fashion Ads
The #AerieReal Campaign Features Emma Roberts as the Brand's Model
Buying Assistant Apps
The Fetch E-Commerce Platform Makes Online Shopping a Simpler Process
Paper Thin Keyboard Apps
Gyorgyi Kerekes’s Paper Keyboard App is the World's Thinnest
Hybrid Restaurant-Theaters
CineBistro Pairs Fine Food & Films for a Truly Entertaining Experience
Upscale Discount Store Experiences
Primark Balances Low Prices with a High-End In-Store Experience
Luxury Members-Only Cinemas
iPic Theaters is a Chain of Upscale, Membership-Based Cinemas
Champagne Vending Machines
Moet & Chandon Unveil Their Champagne Dispenser for Christmas
Taco Shop Vending Machines
The Burritobox Sells Mexican Food Without the Middleman
Breakfast Emoji Keyboards
Holiday Inn Express Turns Morning Meal Items into a Visual Language
Comprehensive Shopping Apps
The Duane Reade App Makes Shopping Easier Than Ever
Gallery-Style Concept Stores
This Spacious Retail Outlet is Set Up Like a Model Home
Social Shopping Apps
The Fun Feature on Alibaba's Tmall App Tags Visible Brands in Photos
Age-Defying Ad Campaigns
This Refreshing Ad Campaign Fights Ageism in the Beauty Industry
Custom Shopping Map Apps
ParknShop x Beacon Technology is a Useful Shopping App Concept
Airport Navigation Beacons
The FlyBeacon App Helps Emirates Customers Find Their Gate
Cosmic Dine-In Restaurants
This Retro Diner Mimics the Design of a Drive-In Movie Theater
Transgender Fashion Marketing
& Other Stories' Fall Fashion Campaign Encourages Gender Inclusion
Luxe Pop-Up Boutiques
Chanel St. Tropez is a Temporary Retail Experience for Lovers of Luxury
Character Ice Cream Parlors
Barcelona's Eyescream and Friends Features Adorable Designs
Time-Efficient Restaurant Apps
The Kind Chef App is Revolutionizing Restaurant Ordering
Social Loyalty Programs
Social Rewards Lets You Earn Loyalty Points by Sharing on Social Media
Bargain Shopping Apps
Coupolog's Deal-Finding App Features Thousands of Shopping Deals
Pharmacy Produce Markets
Shoppers Drug Mart Now Features Fresh Produce Offerings
Pretty Polka-Dot Packaging
Dilo Bonito Gifts are Delivered with Patterns of Monochromatic Spots
Love-Centric Shops
The STORY New York City Shop is Hosting an Installation All About Love
Waste-Reducing Grocery Programs
Marks & Spencer's New Program Aims to Prevent Food Waste
Intuitive HDMI Devices
The 'Cadent HDMI Switcher' Offers On-Screen Previews
Bra Size-Assessing Apps
The ThirdLove App Helps to Measure Bra Size from Selfies
Couples' Tea Sets
The Tea Republic's Pyramid Gift Boxes Supply an Assortment of Tea for Couples
Multipurpose Helmet Cameras
The Fusar Mohawk Makes Your Helmet Safer, More Connected and Fun
Serial Dating Escapade Blogs
Get Restaurant Tips From a Serial Dater Who Offers Dates for Dinners
Discount Hybrid Hotels
The 'Freehand Chicago' is a Hybrid Hotel and Hostel Built for All Travelers
Paperless Loyalty Apps
Canadian Tire's Loyalty Rewards App Offers a Better Way to Collect Perks
Sun-Activated Coupons
Zealios Skin Care's Unique Coupon Only Appears in the Sun
Life-Saving Domestic Abuse Apps
The Aspire News App Helps Victims of Domestic Violence
Coupon Sharing Apps
The Photopon App Acts as Social Media for Coupon Sharing
Visual Notification Speakers
The AuraBox Clock Speaker Sends Audio/Visual Alerts for Notifications
Anti-Smartphone Discounts
Abu Ghosh Offers Half Off to Customers Who Turn Off Their Mobile Phones
Dining Experience Apps
The Reserve App Handles Everything From Restaurant Reservations to Payment
Impulse Shopping Apps
Spring is an App for Shopping New Arrivals from Brands Instantly
Global Love Declaration Projects
The 'I Love Anne' Project Was a Super Social Media Valentine
Hands-Free Grocery Apps
Tesco's Google Glass Grocery App Makes Shopping Easy In-Store & at Home
Social Loyalty Apps
This Loyalty App Leverages Instagram to Offer Unique Deals to Shoppers
Engaging Loyalty Platforms
Kiip Helps Brands Reward Fans with Specialized Perks
Recognition Product Apps
Shazam is Moving into the Retail Space to Help Discover Physical Objects
Sanitizing Touchscreen Stations
Sterilyfe's Touchscreen Kiosk Makes Interactive Marketing Hygienic
Personalized Wine Clubs
Club W is a Direct-to-Consumer E-Commerce Wine Business
Concession Stand Order Apps
Qkr! by MasterCard is an App-Based Ordering and Payments Platform
Crowdsourced Reward Apps
MoPals' Rewards App Provides Incentives to Share Photos, Reviews & Posts
Fresh Produce Apps
The Local Roots App Delivers Farmer Produce to Your Door
Twin-Only Waitstaff
Russian Restaurant 'Twin Stars' Exclusively Hires Twin Sibling Servers
Touchscreen Fridge Monitors
The Kitchen Hub Helps You Plan Meals and Monitor Expiration Dates
Couples Only Vending Machines
Coke's Invisible Vending Machine Doesn't Reveal Itself for Singles
Aquatic Museum Interiors
Lisbon's Water Museum Reflects Its Subject Matter in a Design That Flows
Behavior-Learning Grocery Apps
The PriceSwarm App For Groceries Creates Tailored Shopping Lists
Social Dating Apps
The 'Avalable' Dating App is Like a Social Network for Those Looking for Love
Pretzel Point Apps
Auntie Ann's Pretzel Perks Mobile Loyalty App Puts Points Towards Tasty Rewards
Multi-Sensory Dining Events
Stella Artois' Unique Dining Experience Engages the Five Senses
Flyer Subscription Kits
JetBlue Teamed Up with Birchbox to Offer Flyers Goodies While Traveling
Professional Food Delivery Services
The Office Grocery Platform Delivers Edibles to Working Teams
Charitable Food Photography Apps
The Feedie App Lets You Donate a Meal Simply by Taking a Picture
Mobile Pop-Up Shops
Jana Pijak Counts Down Her Favorite Examples of Mobile Retail Innovation
Pre-Paid Dining Apps
The PayPal App Will Enable You to Pre-Order and Pre-Pay For Your Food
Projected Table Identifiers
Serv-Mark Helps Waiters Find Diners and Distribute Dishes Correctly
Bad Habit-Banishing Apps
'Social ReHub' is the New Rehab for Your Questionable Behavior
Local Group Dining Apps
The OverAhead Kinetic Farm, Inc. Platform Accommodates Parties
Building Block Tissue Boxes
The Kleenex Kids Collection Boxes Feature Subtle, Pastel-Hued Designs
Looped Musical Video Apps
Mindie a Music-Sharing App That’s Like Vine for Songs
Roommate Privacy Alert Apps
Clorox' Sock-It App Acts Like a Virtual Sock on the Door
Local Car Rental Apps
Car Rental Marketplace Turo Makes Travel Less Stressful With More Options
Food Waste Discounts
Diners Exchange Food Waste for Reduced Restaurant Rates
Discount Grocery Apps
The Snap by Groupon App Helps You Find Deals on Groceries
Speedy Grocery Delivery Apps
The Grofer App Shops & Delivers Groceries in 90 Minutes or Less
Effortless Gifting Apps
Giftagram is a Gift App That Makes It Easy to Send Presents
Sunburn-Prone Dolls
The Interactive Nivea Doll Teaches Sun Protection for Kids
Waiterless Automated Restaurants
This Tokyo Restaurant Combines Technology with Food
Female-Targeted Beer Ads
Uses a Facial Recognition Billboard to Market Beer for Women
Productivity-Enhancing Food Platforms
The Snacknation Service Provides Healthy Edibles for Teams
Rewarding Hotel Apps
The Marriott Uses Hotel Beacon Technology to Personalize Experiences
Paperless Coupon Apps
'Milk' is a Handy App That Helps You Save at the Grocery Store
Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Pranks
This Drive-Thru Prank Features a Teddy Bear Trying to Find Love
Cruelty-Free Cooking Shows
Pamela Anderson's Vegan Cooking Show Makes Animal-Free Food Fun
Interactive Produce Stations
Hakuhodo's Talking Food Prototype Lets Farmers Chat with Consumers
Simplified Food-Finding Apps
The myfab5 App Cuts Through to Find a Good Restaurant Easier
Boomer Matchmaking Apps
Dating App Stitch is Described as Tinder for the Oldies
Festive Gift-Giving Apps
The Christmas Gift List App Helps You Stay On Top Of Gift-Giving
Insta-Photo Flipbook Apps
The Flipagram App Turns Instagram Photos into Cool Video Flipbooks
Transformative Dining Apps
The maegan App is the Most Efficient Way to Order Food In Toronto
On-Demand Taco Deliveries
The Taco Bell Chain Has Officially Launched a Fast Food Delivery Service
Points Cards-Combining Platforms
Thanx Links All Your Loyalty Points Programs to One Credit Card
Latte Art Vending Machines
Yojiya Cafe Selection Sprinkles the Brand's Logo onto Cups of Coffee
Personalized Music Videos
Etienne De Crecy's Hashtag My Ass Makes a Video from Your Instagram Pics
Triple-Play Cell Towers
The China Tower Project is Changing Telecom Infrastructure Networks
Ex-Hippie Mindfulness Apps
Dharma Seed Offers Guidance from and for Boomers
Connected Smart Mailboxes
The uCella Mailbox Emails You When You've Received a Package
Affection-Encouraging Apps
The Valentine Kiss App Rewarded Smoochers on February 14th
Hospitable Reward Programs
Kimpton's Unique Hotel Loyalty Program Offers Personalized Incentives
Chef-Prepped Frozen Meals
Dinner for N's Frozen Food Meals are Like Having a Chef of Your Own
Tactile Pesticide Packaging
These Natural Insecticides Wear Green Ingredients on Their Sleeves
Cab Credit Beacon Beams
This Taxi App Lets You Broadcast Your Referral Code to Those Around You
Combative Discount Apps
The WarBot App Rewards Play with Discounts
Emergency Flower Boxes
This Stunt Provided Valentine’s Day Flowers for Love at First Sight
Personalized Product Email Platforms
Pushmarket Sends Custom Yet Automated Emails for E-Retailers
Cinematic Breakup Videos
POYKPAC's Movie Title Breakup Has a Couple Dramatically End It
3D Pizza Apps
This Domino's Pizza iPad App Lets you Create a Realistic 3D Pizza
Pre-Diabetes Apps
Nudge Helps High Risk People Change Their Eating Habits
Telecom Marketing Campaigns
IMImobile Wins Three Awards at the Effective Mobile Marketing Awards
Familial Communication Apps
The Life360 Platform Lets Families Communicate Anywhere in the World
Restaurant-Reserving Apps
The Resy App Helps You Cut the Line at Popular Restaurants
Binge-Encouraging Coffee Apps
The CUPS App Helps Get Coffee Drinkers a Coffee Discount at Cafes
Dine-In Ordering Apps
This App Lets Users Order Ahead at Their Favorite Restaurant
Tablet-Based Banking Apps
The TD for iPad App Provides a Secure Way to Perform Transactions
Fatherhood Cosmetics Campaigns
The Dove Men Care #RealStrength Campaign Targets Young Dads
Restaurant Discount Apps
Ressy Searches For Last Minute Dining Deals in Pune, India
Globetrotting Snack Bags
Transavia Airlines' Potato Chip Bags Satisfy Cravings and Wanderlust
Handicapable Map Apps
Handimaps Helps the Disabled Plan a Wheelchair-Friendly Route
Branded Selfies
Misel Saban Counts Down Her Favorite Campaigns Featuring the Celebrity Selfie
Crocheted Public Transit
The L Train Yarn Bomb by London Kaye Takes a Valentine's Day Theme
Inclusive Culinary Kits
The Raddish Help Children and Tweens Appreciate and Understand Cooking
Speedy Book Delivery Services
Amazon Launches a One-Hour Delivery Service Exclusively for Members