Community Spotlight ~ Question: Help Please...

[abbiejunesmom]

Our local CBS will be taping a money savings segment with me next week. I am nervous because it is my first time!

Does anyone have any hints...???

And, can anyone possibly calm these fears:

1. Everyone in my area will start couponing and then my store will stop all of the good deals.

2. Everyone will start couponing and start stealing my deals. lol

3. My favorite stores will start watching me closer, because of publicity. (They will be following me to my fav grocery store.)

[momof4inmi]

I don't have any hints. I just wanted to say congrats and that is awesome. Good Luck!!

[NIGHTB1022]

I never tell my secrets publicly, I have been asked to go on air and refused several times. I don't want that kind of publicity. Good luck to you.

[Ggbwg]

Just be your self try to be calm. Just remember there interested in what your saying.

I wouldn't be nervous of the stores watching you more. My local grocery stores and Walmart have been nicer to me since they found out i have a blog and write about them, people that are nice or mean, my service received and deals i get.

Maybe talk about the ways of saving money.
Using customer loyal cards, loading coupons to them, combining store coupons w/ mf coupons. Internet coupons but be specfic to let them know they can only be printed 2x and how to not abuse them.

I would have a plan worked out showing items you have recently purchased cheap and have receipts to show. Seeing the products and receipts are real eye openers for people.

Maybe talk about what coupons have helped you save on. For example by our family using coupons it pays our car payment each month at least.

Hope some of this can be helpful for you.

[rswope]

I would suggest calling the store in advance and talking with them to make sure they'll welcome you in with the camera crew, and to tell them what strategies you plan to discuss. That way if they're letting you use a strategy but don't want everyone doing it they can let you know. Who knows, they may have some ideas for things you can say as well.
If you're in a small town and think it's possible that people might start emptying your shelves before you go, I'd keep things a little more generic so you don't give away all your secrets, but still help new people out. Things like ways to get coupons (newspapers, company websites, etc), organizing them and saving them to combine with sales, stores that double/triple, rainchecks, etc.
Good luck!

[434Teresa]

I would not do anything like this myself

[specialk1st]

Your fears are all reasonable.

I would:

1. Keep it GENERAL -- not specific. Don't forget that publicity leads to fewer sale promotions being offered.

2. Teach organization techniques.

3. Show how much work and dedication it takes -- thus increasing store appreciation and opinions of couponers.

4. Give one or two websites to visit. General ones like coupon mom vs. specific ones like SD, HCW, AFC, etc. that teach everything. Don't forget the store managers, marketing teams, employees, etc are logging on too.

(This is obvious when you look at the CVS weekly circular now vs. the ones of last year before as many people started couponing. The deals are much more scarce these days and the ECB offers are not MM as often anymore.)

So I would say teach, but do not teach everything to aid in soothing your concerns -- which are not only valid, but true.

All the best! Good luck to you!

[Saving_spree]

Not sure..

Dont panic

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Congrats on the press, I think it is exciting! Here are my 2cents on your questions:

1. Everyone in my area will start couponing and then my store will stop all of the good deals: Large chain stores plan their sales months in advance and are not going to change the deals because of the press. Smaller mom & pop stores might, but it could be for the better not the worse.

2. Everyone will start couponing and start stealing my deals. lol: Depends on the area...are you in a big city or a small city?I am in a small town and have done some local press and did not see any major uptick in couponers.

3. My favorite stores will start watching me closer, because of publicity. (They will be following me to my fav grocery store.): I found that my local stores started treating me better after the press because they viewed me as an expert and I knew what I was doing. And because I coupon the right way I have nothing to fear about them watching me closer, because I am doing nothing wrong. In fact my stores know that and leave me alone. LOL

If the cameras are going to follow you in the store(s) the will need to get a press pass from the store. This is not something that you should have to worry about but the news station will take care of it.

Focus on honest couponing and you will be fine, a lot of people will try couponing, they may dabble in it a bit but few will do it hard core because there is work involved.

Don't forget to mention HCW! (had to get that in)

Good luck!