Fast-food retailer Hardee's is among the companies testing coupons that are downloaded to customers' cell phones. The test, which is being conducted in Indianapolis and St. Louis, offers coupons
for chicken sandwiches, breakfast biscuits and chili cheese fries.
In order to get the coupons, customers have to go to www.cellfire.com, check the compatibility of their cell phone with
Cellfire, and enter their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. They then receive a text message with a link to download the Cellfire application. After launching, they can locate coupons stored under
the names of participating companies. After clicking "use now" when the appropriate coupon appears, they show the coupon code to the cashier.
Hardee's core customers are young and male,
since it launched the Thickburger line of sandwiches in 2003. But studies show most people who clip coupons are middle-aged and female. "Guys are lazy," says Steve Lemley, vice president of marketing
for the St. Louis-based chain.
advertisement
advertisement
Read the whole story at The Indianapolis Star »