Abstract: A retail establishment discount coupon generating system for use with a chain made up of a plurality of retail establishments includes a targeting and delivery system which may assign coupons to individual households as a function of purchases by each household and a kiosk. The kiosk may be positioned at an entry area of a retail establishment and include at least a user identification device and an output device. The kiosk retrieves data from the targeting and delivery system for coupons assigned to the individual household and outputs coupons assigned to the individual household in response to identification of a user. The targeting and delivery system includes an enhancement function which provides tools for enhancing the coupon offer data. This includes tools for enhancing the coupon offers including the ability to select particular coupon offers for dispensing by particular retail establishments. This allows an operator to select different coupon offers for dispensing at different retail establishments.

Abstract: A manufacturer's ordering system provides manufacturers of packaged goods with analytical tools for conducting analysis on consolidated data of consumer purchase patterns. The consumer purchase data are consolidated by product categories and/or subcategories and/or freely defined geographical areas in which the manufacturer is interested. The manufacturer thus may specify coupon print content, audience selection criteria, geographical area and time frame for coupon distribution without the requirement of interaction with various print companies and sales representatives. The coupon discount value may be varied in accordance with the different groups of targeted customers. The promotional selections may be made via electronic media, such as a global computer network or internet connection, and may then be provided to a coupon distribution system via a similar connection. Preferably, the consolidated data are accumulated from point of sale devices at retail stores and preferably from kiosk usage at the store.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for generating coupons to provide discounts for purchases includes providing a computer-based kiosk at a retail establishment such as a grocery store. A user identification of a household is received at the kiosk. The kiosk outputs a series of targeted coupons which have been assigned to the individual household on the basis of at least one attribute of that household. Images of coupons may be formatted "on the fly" from parameters set forth in a coupon record. The system may further include an enhancement system which provides tools for enhancing the coupon offer data by designating particular offers as either a targeted coupon offer assigned to individual households as a function of purchases by that household or a mandatory coupon which is assigned to substantially all households.

Abstract: A merchandising system for generating and redeeming product discount coupons prints coupons for a selected consumer from a group of consumers by selecting particular coupons from a group of coupons to provide to the selected consumer and printing the coupons. Both the consumer and coupon identifications are encoded on the coupon in machine-readable form whereby the machine-readable code may be read at a point-of-sale terminal using a code reading apparatus. The portion of the read code corresponding to the consumer identification is replaced with a generic code to provide a substitute code. The substitute code is applied to a look-up table in order to determine coupon parameters related to the coupon identification. The entire machine-readable code may also be captured and uploaded to a central database for determining the coupon identification and consumer identification in order to update the database of consumers and coupons.

Abstract: A merchandising system for generating and redeeming product discount coupons prints coupons for a selected consumer from a group of consumers by selecting particular coupons from a group of coupons to provide to the selected consumer and printing the coupons. Both the consumer and coupon identifications are encoded on the coupon in machine-readable form whereby the machine-readable code may be read at a point-of-sale terminal using a code reading apparatus. The portion of the read code corresponding to the consumer identification is replaced with a generic code to provide a substitute code. The substitute code is applied to a look-up table in order to determine coupon parameters related to the coupon identification. The entire machine-readable code may also be captured and uploaded to a central database for determining the coupon identification and consumer identification in order to update the database of consumers and coupons.