Tag Archives: Military discounts

We Want YOU… to offer a military discount

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It all started with just one question. “Wouldn’t it be cool if every business gave military discounts or special offers?”  That one question spawned a series of other questions like, “Well, why don’t retailers offer military discounts?” and “What would make it easier for small businesses to create special offers for members of the Armed Forces?” We try to stay solution-focused around here, so we came up with an answer.

We’re giving away our active duty verification solution for free. Yep, free. What does having a free verification solution enable retailers to do (other than offer an everyday discount like Fathead’s)?

  • Offer discounts to active duty military during Memorial Day weekend or for the week of Veteran’s day.
  • Give active military coupon codes for free shipping to APO addresses.
  • Create a special sweepstakes or contest especially for active duty military.
  • Include printable coupons for free popcorn or soda on a custom thank you page when verified military purchase tickets online to your events.

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Military Saves Week–We Are Big Fans

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What does the word “wealth” mean to you? Google says (and of course, Google knows everything):

Wealth

Noun: An abundance of valuable possessions or money. The state of being rich; material prosperity.

Synonyms:  Opulence-riches-affluence-richness-fortune

That’s how I used to view the word “wealth” as well. “Wealth” to me wasn’t an extra $5, it is opulence and fortune.

sheerid and military savesThen I was introduced to militarysaves.org. They use the word “wealth” differently and I really like it. They use it, very simply, as the opposite of debt. On the front page of Militarysaves.org they have their Saver Pledge that says “I will help myself by saving money, reducing debt, and building wealth over time. I will help my family and my country by encouraging other Americans to build wealth, not debt.”

This week is Military Saves Week, sponsored by Military Saves, celebrating the idea that with simple steps, military families can save for their future and live comfortably. There isn’t anything flashy about Military Saves Week, there aren’t any secrets or get-rich-quick schemes. It’s pretty simple math: spend less =  save more = worry a little less.

Militarysaves.org has all sorts of tips to get started and to stay motivated. My favorite part of their site, of course are the success stories. The theme of the stories is building “wealth” at a variety of levels through simple, small steps. As you read the stories, you can feel the confidence increase and the stress decrease as they gained control of their own financial future.

SheerID wants the military community to be able to build wealth too. We want every

kelly gets a college student discountretailer to offer a robust and exclusive military discount to recognize the sacrifice and service of military members. We get out of bed every day to make the process of offering an exclusive military discount more automatic, more secure, and faster.

Military Saves, thank you for your cause. We are shaking our pom poms, doing cartwheels, and tweeting about your message. We join you every day in trying to get every military personnel one step closer to opulence. Go Team!

Keep My Info Safe

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This time our favorite guest blogger, Dallas Abraham, is writing from a different viewpoint. Before she enrolled in college, Dallas was a member of our Armed Forces who was stationed in Iraq. She’s taken the time to give us an insider’s perspective on what it’s like to order online when you’re stationed overseas, along with what is and isn’t reasonable for retailers to ask of active-duty military serving abroad in exchange for a military discount

I always took my military job very seriously. A significant part of my job in the army was information security. Once a soldier in my company misplaced a roster of phone numbers we were required to carry at all times. The entire company was punished, or “correctively trained,” for four hours until we sweated blood. We knew we deserved it: it was our JOB to examine every single piece of information from the perspective of someone who wanted to kill us. Every morsel of information has to be treated like a weapon in the hands of the enemy. Apparently not all companies respect information security as much as a soldier does.

While at my desk in Iraq, I tried to order $1,500 worth of merchandise from a certain company for the first time. This company is to the military what Apple is to college students. You either have the right brand, or you don’t. This company has well-established loyalty in the community.

Ordering something over the Internet while in a war zone is not analogous to ordering it while in your home country. Ordering over the internet in Iraq feels VERY high risk. How many groups would love to know everything the U.S military does over the Internet? All of them.

We were advised to moderate our behavior on the Internet as though foreign generals from an unfriendly country were looking over our shoulder. Yet this company with a reputation for military-friendliness expected me to email a copy of my military ID.

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The Best Super Bowl Ad of 2013

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While the Niners fans in the office today are licking their wounds and mumbling about bad calls, and the Ravens fans are crowing triumphantly, there’s one thing we can all bond over by the water cooler, no matter what our team allegiances may be… the Super Bowl XLVII ads. There were the good (Budweiser’s Clydesdale spot is always a favorite), the gross (oh GoDaddy…), and the funny (nice work, Tide). But our unanimous favorite is Jeep’s 2 minute commercial honoring our military troops.

Partnering up with the USO, Jeep has taken the ad campaign to the next level, elevating it beyond a memorable Super Bowl ad to a full on movement, Operation S.A.F.E. Return (OSR), aimed at actually helping returning service members and their families as they come back home. In addition to sponsoring a day of service this week at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, donating vehicles to USO centers, and donating $1 to every time the hashtag #joinOSR is used on Twitter, Jeep has made a commitment to honor our troops every day by offering $500 cash back to active duty military and retired veterans.

Jeep is one example of a brand that is going the extra mile to thank our Armed Forces for their service and sacrifices. One of our goals is to make it easy for every company in the US to offer a military discount or some other token of appreciation to military and their families. Give us a call today so we can help you give back to the military community.

When Veterans “Stand Down”

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Saturday, November 10, SheerID attended the Lane County Veteran’s Stand Down in Springfield, Oregon. It was estimated to be the single largest gathering of veterans in the State of Oregon.

SheerID was there talk to veterans about what it’s like for them to try to get a military discount. We were there to gather their stories and to hand out gloves.

The event was important and dignified. Over 300 veterans were in attendance to receive a free hot breakfast and hot lunch plus receive basic services like dental care, veterinary care, haircuts, bike repair, and flu shots. There was also a beautiful ceremony that included a veterans men’s choir and a color guard.  There wasn’t a parade. There wasn’t any pomp. It was just veterans getting to relax, be among other veterans, and to be quietly appreciated.

We felt honored to be a part of the event, but the real honor came from the hundreds of veterans we spoke to about their current situation and how corporations can help them.

The answers we received just confirmed for me how important the work is that SheerID is doing. What can corporations do? Tell people about their military discounts. Get the word out, offer it up front, and make it super easy to redeem. Veterans don’t want to have to ask for a discount. They feel bad, they feel like they are being a hassle, or that they are begging and will be looked down on. Over and over they said that if they were offered a discount, they would be more loyal to that company because of the sentiment of being recognized. Sound pretty simple right?

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2012 Veterans Day Discount Deals

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Colonel Kelly deserves military discountsFirst and foremost, Veterans Day is a time to express gratitude to all the men and women who have served our country so well. And I join my co-workers at SheerID in thanking them for their service and sacrifice.

Around the country, in different ways, people will show their thanks to the members of the military.

Several online retail companies will be offering discounts specifically for active military, veterans, and their families. We’ve compiled a list of some of our own clients who are offering these discounts.

Check them out over on our Veterans Day 2012 Discount Deals page.

Military Discount on Big Apple Circus and More

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SheerID is fighting for military discounts. That’s literally why we get out of bed every morning, well, that and eventually we get hungry and need to get a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. We want there to be lots and lots and lots of military discounts. We want the military discounts to be deep, and permanent, and exclusive, and easy to redeem. But we need the help of the military market. If a company offers a military discount, you all need to go buy stuff using the discount, and maybe even more importantly, you need to tell everyone you know about the discount to get more people to redeem it.

Big Apple Circus military discountWhy you ask, is this blog post being pushy and giving you homework? There’s a good reason, and a perfect, timely example–a new military discount that SheerID has recently learned about is a 50% discount for Big Apple Circus in Dulles, VA.

As most companies, Big Apple Circus wants to offer a military discount for all the right reasons. They want to say thank you, they want to be an example to the world by honoring our military men and women. But as all companies, they need to make money to stay in business. So if they spend money and energy getting the word out about a military discount, they want to see it used. They want to see that the military market cares and pays attention and shows loyalty with their dollars.

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Happy Father’s Day from SheerID

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My dad is a Veteran. He is also an accomplished tennis player and a small business Father's day and military discountsadvocate as a successful executive at a small community bank. Nothing brings him more joy than hanging out with his three children and three grandchildren. If he gets all six together in the same space, well, he’s in heaven. He’s smart, funny, wise, fearless, and the most optimistic person I’ve ever met. Last summer, he & I summitted Oregon’s Mt Washington which included a three pitch, class 5 rock climb to the top and a free-hanging rappel to get back down. He’d never rock climbed before. Did I mention fearless, yeah, I meant that. This year we are planning on summitting Mt Mcglaughlin, Mt Thielson, and Broken Top together (though he may not know that’s the plan).

SheerID says thanks to military personnelTwo years ago he was attending an air show in Madras, OR and as he pulled in to park, the parking attendant said “are there any Vets in the car?” My dad was taken off guard, but said “yes, I’m a Vet.” The parking attendant said “well, Vets park for free.” My dad relayed that story with the modifier that other than the awesome no-money-down mortgages offered to Vets that he used to buy his first home, he’s never been offered anything extra for being a Vet.

I think if you asked my dad to list the 5 things that he is, he would say:

  1. Father
  2. Grandfather
  3. Banker
  4. Tennis Player
  5. Fan of all Oregon State University Sports

I’m not sure “Vietnam Veteran” would make his top 20. Maybe not even his top 50. By the way, my dad’s dad was a Veteran as well.

Say thank you with military discountsMy point? For Father’s Day, I want to say “Happy Father’s Day” to all the silent heroes out there. Aren’t they the ones that really deserve the “thank you” and the recognition–the ones who fought for our country and just took it in stride, never asking for or even expecting a “thank you?” They did their duty, put off their careers and their family and put their country first. Many of them came home with visible and invisible scars. Our dads (and moms) serving in the military have shaped who we are as Baby Boomers, as Gen X-ers, as Americans.

I’m in danger of getting really sappy, but here I go…SheerID is changing how easy it is to say “thank you” to military personnel and other heroes. By offering discounts to military personnel and families online and having those discounts be verified instantly, the silent heroes that we all know, can get some recognition. They can be tennis players, and bankers, and hikers, and get 10, 20, or even 50% off their purchases online without having to make a fuss or draw any extra attention to themselves. SheerID wants to say “thank you” to all military personnel, and to make it a lot easier for retailers to say “thank you” as well.

To all the father’s out there who put their country first, so they could hurry home to put their families first—Happy Father’s Day from SheerID.

How to Reach Military

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So you want to offer a military discount? Good for you! A military discount is not only a great way to show your support for our troops, it’s also a smart way to grow your business and reach new customers. The military market is huge. Of course you probably already realize you can’t just decide to offer a discount to military one day, and expect servicemen and women to magically show up at your door the next. If you think our military men and women can read your mind, you’ve watched one too many conspiracy-theory action flicks, my friend. Step away from the Will Smith DVD’s, we’ve got some more effective tips to help you spread the word about your awesome new military discount.

1. Be genuine.  From franchise “opportunities” to real estate “deals”, there are so many scammers out there pursuing veterans and military retirees, it’s no wonder the military market  views some special military promotions with suspicion. Keep it simple; offer a discount and a sincere “Thank you for your service.”

94% of present and past military personnel say they notice when companies are “military-friendly” and have a positive impression of those companies. To be perceived as military-friendly, your message needs to be truthful, transparent, and come from the heart.

2. Reach them where they’re at. Where are they? Well, think about it. Active duty military are often posted abroad. Many military families live on bases or in small towns near bases. The downside to these locations? They’re not in close proximity to malls, superstores, or your brick and mortar shop. The upside? It’s easier to target your marketing efforts and meet the military market where they are, whether that’s on base or online.

Here are 4 suggestions:

  • Offer Your Discount Online. We already established that most military families don’t live within a reasonable radius of your store. Now let’s think about the daily schedule of an active duty GI or a non-enlisted parent who is holding down the home front while their loved one is serving. What we’ve got here is someone who is in a remote location and doesn’t have a lot of free time on their hands. By making your military discount redeemable online, you’ve just removed two big barriers for these customers, allowing them to shop anywhere at any time that is convenient for them.
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Support Our Troops

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In honor of Memorial Day, I think we need to have a frank conversation about military discounts.

There are a lot of companies out there that don’t offer any military discounts at all. We need to talk. Save your sniveling and whining, I’ve heard every lame excuse in the book.

1.    It’s not fair to only offer a discount to a small subset of customers. Normally I’d agree with you here. It is very tricky to offer a discount to a segment of your customers without angering the majority of customers who aren’t getting the bargain, “hero” discounts like special deals for military, veterans, teachers, police, firefighters, and first responders are the exception to the rule. It’s highly unlikely that a customer is going to resent you for offering a hero discount. In fact, most customers will actually applaud your for supporting our troops, making a military discount a good PR move for most companies.

2.    You used to offer a military discount, but nobody ever used it. I’ve got 2 questions for you. Question #1. Did you advertise it? That sounds like a dumb question, but you’d be shocked at the number of businesses that offer special discounts and then hide them on secret landing pages or make customers ask for discount. Offering a hero discount is a smart PR move, but um, well, you need to actually tell people you offer the discount to get any buzz going. Here’s the other thing. Our service men and women are also fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, sisters and brothers. Many veterans have long careers after they leave the military. They don’t necessarily self-identify as someone who qualifies for a discount, and many would never ask for one. Read Christy’s interview with her uncle if you don’t believe me.

But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t appreciate one. Or that they wouldn’t be more loyal to a company that offers one as a token of appreciation for their service. You could even get clever and create a campaign to encourage your existing customers (the ones who are now proud to shop with such a patriotic company), to support our troops by sharing the news of your new military discount with their friends and family members who serve through Facebook, Twitter, or even an e-card with a link back to your site. Work that word-of-mouth! And for Pete’s sake, post your hero discount front and center on your web site for everyone in the good ole’ U.S.A. to see.

Ready for question #2? Continue reading →