Secret Weapon IRC Labels, Also Known as Instant Redeemable Coupons, Spur On-the-spot Sales!
Simply put, Instant Redeemable Coupons or IRC labels are labels affixed to products and/or printed pieces, that customers can just peel off to grab immediate savings or take advantage of some other promotional opportunity.
Properly designed, they visually “jump off” the regular packaging to capture attention from store customers or from readers leafing through a magazine or catalog. Customers get the positive vibe and instant gratification of removing them to get unexpected savings or some other incentive that they’ll be eager to take advantage of. And when they do, it’s great for your sales!
I’ll be talking about IRC labels fairly often in the next couple months because we are pretty excited about the things they can help businesses accomplish. Today, I’ll start by telling you a little bit more about what they are and how they work.
How to Make Coupons Even Better
Studies have shown that almost everyone uses coupons – nearly 90% of consumers. Who doesn’t love a chance to save money, or try something new at a reduced price?
The only problem with coupons is that they aren’t always convenient. You have to cut (or more likely rip) them out of magazines or those newspaper inserts. Then – and here’s the tough part for me – you have to remember to take them to the store with you, preferably before they expire. You know, you usually find them at home on your desk or counter, or even in our wallet or purse, just after you have bought the product without it.
IRC labels or Instant Redeemable Coupons solve that problem since you are providing them to your customers, right at the store. Whether you are trying to move more product or strengthen a customer relationship, it’s more likely to happen if you make it easier for them. It’s no surprise that IRC labels have the best redemption rate of all coupons.
The Right Place At The Right Time
There’s another reason IRC labels are a terrific tactic. Statistics show that 70% of purchase decisions are made in the store, and those decisions are heavily impacted when a deal is involved. More than a quarter of shoppers who come into the store planning to buy a particular brand will switch if they encounter a bargain. Plus, if they don’t have a specific brand in mind, a deal will win their business nearly two-thirds of the time.
These stats indicate pretty clearly that, despite all the millions of dollars spent on TV and radio commercials, some of the most effective spending and ROI can be realized through small printed messages on labels attached to products at the store level. It’s almost like posting a tiny and very convincing salesperson on the shelf alongside the product.
How Do IRC Labels Work?
Well, it’s tempting to be a smart alec and say “like crazy.” But I’ll behave. IRC labels can adapt to almost any product and purpose. They can be printed in full color in almost any size and shape, and maybe designed to work with the product packaging – or maybe stand out from it!
Typically, one side is adhesive that sticks to the package, but the label (or a tear-off section of it) it can be easily removed at the checkout for redemption. Other configurations can even include mini brochures, informational panels, contest entries or direct mail offers. They can be designed to permit customers to write on them for sending in their contact information.
IRC Labels Deserve Your Attention PDQ
Instant Redeemable Coupon Labels are almost too good to be true. I’ll be talking more about them over the next few weeks, but I’ve also got some excellent case studies in which we’ve used them to solve problems and save money for our customers. I’d be happy to tell you about them, so just look me up. Our sales reps are experts at finding ways IRC labels could help you, too, so don’t hesitate to give them a call. A little label can accomplish a lot.
