TOKYO, January 16, 2013 -- Rakuten Edy, Inc. today announced the launch of services for its new coupon site for smartphones, “Rakuten Edy Smart Coupon.”
Rakuten Edy Smart Coupon is a coupon site reserved exclusively for smartphone users that offers two different kinds of coupons: a pocket or show-in-store-type.
Pocket-type coupons are obtained in advance using the Rakuten Edy app on Osaifu-Keitai®. After shopping with Rakuten Edy, the consumer will receive a refund of Rakuten Edy equivalent to the coupon value at a later date. There is no need to walk around with coupon printouts like other similar services and you never have to present a coupon at the time of payment. Furthermore, the service is easy to use for retail stores since they do not have to collect or keep track of physical coupons.
For show-in-store-type coupons, the consumer will present a screen shot of the coupon at the time of payment, which entitles them to a special offer. These coupons can be used on every type of smartphone available, including the iPhone.
These coupons are both easy to use on any smartphone and are available for a host of products and services spanning a number of different genres. Merchants accepting Rakuten Edy for payments can use Rakuten Edy Smart Coupon as a mode of marketing, which enables them to send information on new products and services to drive Rakuten Edy customer traffic to their stores.
Initially Rakuten Edy Smart Coupons will be available for use at Circle K Sunkus’ 6,300 nationwide convenience stores, 190 Temomin massage outlets across Japan, business and city hotels operated by Tokyu Hotels (including all Excel Hotel Tokyu, Tokyu Inn, and Hotel Tokyu Bizfort as well as a total of 37 facilities located at certain Tokyu hotels), the combined Bic Camera and Uniqlo fashion and electronics store Bic Camera Bicqlo (see note below), Big Echo’s 310 karaoke boxes in Japan (starting February 1), Pronto’s 220 cafes (starting February 1), and at the Poplar Group’s 710 convenience stores (starting January 22), among others.
Going forward, Rakuten Edy will continue to collaborate with merchants from a variety of different genres to enhance user satisfaction and expand its service offerings.
(Note) Rakuten Edy or Rakuten Edy Smart Coupons cannot be used at Uniqlo apparel stores.