CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Who doesn't love a good deal? A new Web site uses the power of numbers to save you money.
Groupon.com has only been available in Charlotte for a few months, and already customers and business owners say it's helping their bottom lines.
Lisa Milloy needed help recovering from hip surgery. She found a deal for Eden Therapy and Massage on Groupon.
"I needed help stretching and massaging muscles," said Milloy. "It was half-price, which was better than anything I had gotten before."
Groupon gives you a deal if enough people buy in. Sign up and you get a daily offer in your inbox. Milloy uses the deals all over Charlotte.
"I've downloaded several for restaurants and I've gotten a manicure/pedicure spa treatment," she said. "I was checking everyday to see what else there may be."
We found deals at places like Common House Restaurant, A Dinner A'Fare -- even places like the Harvey Gantt Center.
Eden Massage was one of the first to sign on when Groupon launched in Charlotte in October 2009. Since then, the Web site has featured 35 businesses here.
Groupon is in 45 cities across the United States. Andrew Mason founded the site in Chicago.
"I think the success really had to do with the fact that we're creating a win for merchants and a win for customers," Mason said.
Here's how it works: The business agrees to offer a deal for a certain number of people -- say 20 people get a massage half-price. If at least 20 people sign up, the deal is on.
Groupon takes a percentage of the profits and gives the business the rest, and the business gets a lot of people in the door.
"We've gotten a lot of recommendations for people who've never heard of us," said George Velasquez with Eden.
They sold 150 Groupons with their first offer. Sixty new clients came in just a month. It was great for them because they were introducing people to their business.
"We just wanted to get people in to see the place," Velasquez said.
Milloy had never heard of Eden, located in the South End, until Groupon.
"I didn't even know they were back here until I came in for my first massage," she said.
But, word is getting out. Velasquez frequently gets calls from businesses wanting to know how they can get on Groupon and as Eden Therapy's workers will tell you, the customers keep coming back.
"I've discovered a place that's a gem for me," said Milloy.
For deals from Groupon, visit http://www.groupon.com.
For more information on Eden Massage and Therapy, visit http://www.edentherapyandmassage.com/.
