MEGA MARTS TESTS CARD-BASED ELECTRONIC COUPONING SYSTEM

DENISE ZIMMERMAN

OAK CREEK, Wis. -- Mega Marts here is testing a card-based electronic couponing system at one of its 12 Pick-'N-Save Mega Food Centers and will soon expand the program to additional locations.

"We've found that today's consumers don't have the time or desire to search and cut and collect the 'right' coupons every time they shop," said Brian Goedland, director of management information services for Mega Marts stores.

"We're able to bring our shoppers greater savings on the brand name products they want anytime, with the utmost convenience. It's a real competitive advantage for us."

With the system, a kiosk situated at the store's entrance prints out a personalized "shopping list" for customers enrolled in the chain's Advantage Savers Club frequent shopper program, said a source familiar with the system.

The list contains the customer's name and includes several targeted offers based on that individual's shopping patterns. A total at the bottom of the list shows the customer his or her potential savings if all the items are purchased.

At the checkout, customers swipe their card and discounts appearing on the list are automatically deducted from the customer's total based on product scanned. The data base tracks and records purchases by department, product category and Universal Product Code.

Point-of-sale hardware is provided by AT&T Global Information Solutions, Dayton, Ohio, and the software, dubbed Share Builder, is developed by Micro Enhancement International, Spokane, Wash.