Facebook's day in the stock market arrived today as the company debuted on the NASDAQ to a valuation over $100 billion. The $38 a share IPO price makes Facebook the biggest company in U.S. history to go public, yet other tech companies have also raised massive amounts (yet relatively modest sums compared to Facebook) of cash with their own initial public offerings. Take a look back at tech's financial heavyweights.
Photo: Instagram User katestern
Students at the National Louis University can give their wallets a little break. The Chicago-based school is offering a Groupon for an introductory teaching course for graduate students, and buyers can save up to 57 percent off the tuition of one course. There are only four days left till the deal closes, and up to 15 coupons available — two of which have already been bought. The course normally totals up to $2,232, but people who purchase the daily deal can buy it for just $950.
If you're interested in the details, the class starts this Fall, and students will meet once a week on Monday nights for three hours. There are only 25 spots available for that class, and students will receive three credits that they can use toward the 36 credits needed to graduate from the program.
Now, if only other graduate schools started selling their courses on Groupon . . .
Hot off the heels of Groupon's much-discussed IPO comes news that the company is piloting a grocery discount program. The online daily coupon company has negotiated deals with Massachusetts-based supermarket Big Y Foods to offer Groupon discounts for groceries, such as 50 percent off on shellfish.
The catch? Customers who buy the deal will get the discounts credited to their Big Y loyalty cards upon checkout. If successful, it's an arrangement that would better suit merchants such as supermarket chains that have many locations and points of purchase.
Given a positive outcome, other grocers are on board to do their own promotions, Groupon says (although the company remains tight-lipped when pressed for names). As a shopper who scourges market aisles for the best deals, I'd be excited to see this roll out nationwide. What do you think of the concept?
If I were living in the UK, I would snap this up in a second. Business Insider found a Groupon UK deal today for a £49 or $79 32GB iPad — although it's last year's model and comes with a two-year T-Mobile subscription, it's still a good deal if you were already looking to purchase one. You'll be saving about £180 or $289 off the regular iPad 1 price, according to T-Mobile. This compares to the US Apple store slashing the cost of the old model by only $70.
I think I'd be satisfied with the iPad 1, because it doesn't seem to be drastically different from the iPad 2. According to GeekSugar, some of the benefits of the iPad 2 are the faster speed, thinner size, and choice between a black or white iPad — all those I can do without!
I get pretty happy when I find a great deal, and sites like Groupon and FreshGuide are definitely great sources for online coupons.
I just cashed in a massage voucher this weekend and am very satisfied with the results. I can't believe that I received 60 minutes of high quality Swedish massage for half-off the regular price. Paying full price is so overrated! I'm asking, what's the best deal you've enjoyed on these coupon websites?
Source: Flickr User rachaelvoorhees
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Things that bug us when hunting for the best deals:
Into The Void: Signpost.
Lately we’ve been digging Signpost.com, a deal hunting site with a social networking twist. Instead of showcasing just one deal a la Groupon, its homepage features loads of deals in different categories like fitness, shopping, and nightlife—and even better, they come vetted and recommended by the community.
Although a few retailers post deals through the site, most posts come from regular people who want to spread the money-saving love. For example, Signpost members tipped off the community to free yoga classes at donations-only studios, bars around town to get free birthday shots, and a Helmut Lang and Theory sample sale. You can also search by anything, such as “free” or “birthday.”
Looks like the discount coupon site is jumping on the Super Bowl bandwagon. The firm bought a 30 second ad spot after recently raising $950 million in funding, according to CNN.
The firm currently has 50 million customers who subscribe to their daily deals. I'm thinking the $3 million they're dishing out for the Super Bowl commercial will probably take them to the next level and grow their user base even faster than it was before. Previously, Internet domain registrar site, GoDaddy.com, experienced similar growth since it first posted an ad in 2005. It went from a relatively unknown site to making $1 billion last year.
Do you think Groupon made a smart move — is spending a few million worth some short Super Bowl airtime?
When it comes to popping the question, guys are always looking for the most creative, over-the-top, awwww-inducing means possible. Whether they're motivated by that male desire to one-up the competition, they've simply been pressured into it by all the other guys who've made grand gestures, or maybe they just really want to show how much they care, guys have come up with some crazy ways to ask for your hand.
One of the engagement trends making waves is taking a turn toward the techy, be it proposal videos at movie theaters (bonus if Muppets are involved!), on blogs and social media, or, as of this week, proposing via Groupon. But apparently the expectations are stressing fellas out, since the other big trend in the soon-to-be-married world is engagementcations, package deals sold by companies who will plan your perfect proposal.
These virtual, viral marriage inquiries take the public proposal to a whole new level. And while I think the effort put into elaborate "will you marry me" moments is commendable, a proposal doesn't need to be a huge ordeal. Foreign countries and clever Internet-savvy aren't necessary to be sweet, sentimental, and successful. After all, when I asked what your response would be to a casual, no-frills proposal, a whopping majority of you so far said, "I do."
What do you think about these engagement trends?
