Local Deal Seekers Zip on Over

Newly launched Zippla.com lets shoppers search for local offline bargains by zip code. If there aren’t any matching retailers in a given zipcode, the site will suggest 10 other zip codes in the vicinity and prompt the user to search in one of them.

Retailers pay a monthly fee of $100 that allows them an unlimited number of Twitter-style posts. Each post, known as a "zipple," can be up to 151 characters and can be used to promote sales, special offers and more. Each zipple will include the retailer’s name and street address. Businesses can track the success of their campaigns by offering promotions unique to Zippla.com. 

For retailers, it offers the advantage of exposing their store to new potential customers in their target audience: local residents who are interested in their category of product. There’s even a focus group aspect: the website lets customers submit anonymous feedback regarding their experiences with a registered business, which is then forwarded to the business. For consumers, the site offers a way to avoid shipping costs, get instant gratification and feel good about buying local and supporting small businesses – as well as getting a deal.

 But whether this is worth it for small businesses remains to be seen. The huge number of visitors to Black Friday coupon websites indicates that the online consumer is hungry for deal information. But Twitter is free and has a built-in subscriber base – Zipple will have to deliver enough more customers ready-to-buy tojustify that $1,200 annual pricetag.