Utilizing the Power of Group Buying

Nicole Brown, Marketing Intern

From restaurants to dance studios to car washes, businesses everywhere are jumping on the group-buying bandwagon. The power of group buying is harnessed via the internet when websites offer discount deals that only become active if enough people purchase the deal. But what does this mean for consumers—discounts. Businesses pay websites a percentage to advertise a discount deal, and when enough people buy the deal, it becomes active. The website makes money, the business makes money, and the consumer saves money.

I first heard of group buying through my mom, who buys restaurant deals so we can try new restaurants. At that point, I knew about two sites: Groupon and Restaurant.com. Now, there’s the issue of the plethora of sites available, especially in major cities. In Lexington, we aren’t as overwhelmed with sites when compared to Los Angeles or any other large city, but there are still more sites than one person would ever need. Therefore, one must sort through the many options to find the few that you’ll use.

Once you’ve found a site to use, it’s easy. First, enter your zip code and set up your deal notification subscription settings. Then, find a deal you want to purchase, and buy it during the time frame that it is available. (Group buying deals are only available for a limited time and require a minimum number purchased.) Finally, all that’s left is to use your deal. Utilizing the power of group buying can get you discounts on new places and activities, allowing you to explore your area at a discount.

Regardless of the site, most offer a variety of deals including restaurant discounts, service, discounts, product discounts, and travel discounts. On a group buying site, one could buy a one-month, unlimited yoga pass, a cookware set, or a 3-night stay in a downtown Lexington hotel, just to name a few things. There are deals for everyone. But just which sites are best? I’ve compiled a few of my favorites.


Major national websites with Lexington specific offers:
Groupon
Living Social
Sweet Jack
Dealster and Restaurant.com
Local Lexington site:
Pete’s Deals
Other sites to check out:
Yipit
Amazon Local

www.groupon.com

Groupon offers daily deals, travel deals and Groupon Goods deals. While the variety is great, this site can definitely flood your inbox! For a solid, comprehensive group buying experience, I’d start here. In addition, the customer service is wonderful.

www.livingsocial.com

Like Groupon, this site offers daily deals that include discounted prices on goods, services, or travel. However, I tend to use Living Social mostly for its discounts on services. They also tend to run each individual deal for a longer period of time.

http://www.sweetjack.com/

Sweet Jack, like Living Social and Groupon, offers deals on everything from food to travel to activities and more.

www.dealster.com and www.restaurant.com

These sites are perfect for food lovers, as they feature only food discount deals. I’ve discovered a few of my favorite restaurants because I first tried them using a group-bought coupon.

www.petesdeals.com

With local sponsors Smiley Pete Publishing and Lex18, Pete’s Deals offers many useful Lexington-area discounts. What sets the site apart is its connection to the community. On Pete’s Deals, you’ll find prize package giveaways and other promotions that a larger site wouldn’t use.

www.yipit.com

Whether you already use any group buying sites or are just considering creating an account, try Yipit too. Rather than actually selling deals, the site collects deals from hundreds of group buying sites and sends you a daily email set to your specifications that suggests the best deals for you and links back to the original deal.

www.local.amazon.com

A much more sporadic site that’s similar to Yipit, Amazon Local advertises deals in your area, often from Living Social or Groupon. However, they sometimes have promotions  offered directly by Amazon, which often feature a limited amount of free vouchers for a discount. For example, I recently downloaded a free voucher for $3 of Amazon MP3 downloads.

There are many more websites like these, especially if you branch out into larger cities—Louisville has a few sites of its own as well. But besides the fact that they are all group buying websites, what do these sites have in common? The ability to get you to buy things you wouldn’t otherwise buy.

To have a positive group buying experience, use the following tips:

1.     Check the fine print and the expiration dates.

2.     Don’t buy something that you won’t realistically use.

3.     Don’t buy something that you wouldn’t consider buying without the discount. If you buy something that you’d never buy normally, 80% off of any price is still more than the nothing you’d pay if you didn’t buy it.

First Day of School Fashion

Arielle Parker, Marketing Intern

The first day of school should be an exciting day. You’re meeting new teachers, reconnecting with old friends and setting the tone for the semester to come. To feel your best, look your best. Just keep in mind to have fun with your style and wear something that expresses your personality. Be unique and be yourself!

Popular options for girls:

 Sporty/comfy

The sporty and comfy style is among the most common choice for college students. It’s comfortable, low maintenance and the easiest style to wear around campus. To get this sporty style, pair your Nike shorts with your favorite t-shirt whether it reps your favorite sports team, is that shirt you got for free when you ran that 5K, or a UK shirt. To complete the look, wear a pair of gym shoes, low-cut ankle socks, and a messy pony-tail.

To spruce up this sportier look, wear an athletic dress, like a tennis dress in a bright summer color such as pink, blue, green, yellow, etc. Pair this dress with a white sporty watch and a pair of flip-flops or gym shoes.  

     











Bohemian

The Bohemian style, or in other words the “boho” look, is another popular option. This style consists of wearing prints and patterns that aren’t too loud but can make quite the first impression when paired with accessories. Wear tops that have an airy shape to them, such as a babydoll top or something that flows. Pair a top with flared or skinny jeans.

To have a complete boho look, accessories are a must.  Try mix and matching your accessories with your clothing choices. If you’re wearing a plain top then wear statement pieces, such as long earrings and a necklace. To complete your look, wear a pair of comfortable shoes such as cute sandals or loafers.  

Classy

Trying to dress classy in the classroom? This look can seem a little intimidating to put together however, it can leave a remarkable first impression. Match a neutral, solid colored shirt, such as white, beige or navy blue with bright colorful denim shorts. Colorful denim is trending right now and matching it with a more muted color will attract more attention to the shorts. Choose denim jeans that are light colors such as coral, mint green, sky blue or pale yellow. Simple accessories should be worn with this outfit. Wear small studded earrings, a matching necklace, and a bracelet. Complete the look by wearing ballerina flats or boat shoes.

Popular options for guys:

Comfort

For the guys whose first priority is comfort, pair your favorite pair of basketball shorts with a t-shirt of your choice, preferably a UK shirt. However, make sure the shorts and shirt match. Don’t wear one sports team on your shirt and another on your shorts. Also, don’t wear black on black or dark colors with dark colors. Complete this outfit with a pair of basketball shoes or any type of gym shoes.  

Preppy

Guys, show off your preppy side by matching bright color shorts with a plain shirt. Matching a bold color with a simpler one creates a striking look. Some colors that go great together are navy blue and pink, pale yellow and lime green, and beige and orange. Try to class up the look by wearing a leather tan or light brown belt with a pair of boat shoes or comfortable sandals to complete the look.

Tips to consider:

   Buy something new. Whether it is a new top, new necklace or even a new pair of shoes. Wearing something new can bring out your confidence and express the person you truly are. Remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune to look your best.

   Wear something comfortable. There is nothing worse than walking from building to building in uncomfortable shoes or jeans on the first day of school.  Make sure to wear something comfortable when you navigate your way around campus. 

   Accessories are key. For any outfit that you might wear, make sure to match an accessory with it. Girls, if you’re wearing a plain top with a pair of jeans then wear a big and bold necklace.  Other items that make a statement are headbands, bracelets, earrings, and, if the weather isn’t too warm, a summery scarf. Guys, accessorize your look with a watch, a tan leather belt or a hat.

   Match a pair of shoes with your outfit. First choose which outfit you will wear on the first day of school. Then, pick shoes that go with it. Wear a pair that will match your look and express your personality.

   Change up your style. Jeans and a t-shirt are great for everyday but try to wear shorts, a skirt, and a nice shirt once in a while. Also, you can never go wrong when wearing anything blue and white. 

Residence Hall Recipes

Alex Newby, Marketing Intern

With move-in day looming, UK students are relishing their last home-made meals of the summer! For students moving into the dorm, campus food and microwave meals might soon become the norm! To help you avoid the usual Ramen and pizza diet, we’ve searched the web for some delicious dorm-friendly recipes! With only a few ingredients and a microwave required, these recipes will lessen the sting of leaving behind your Mom’s cooking!

Breakfast:
Coffee Cup Scramble 
This recipe is pretty basic, but such a time-saver! The eggs we made in our coffee cup were fluffy and tasted just as good as eggs made on the stove! We even improvised and used coffee creamer instead of milk! You couldn’t tell the difference!
http://www.mrfood.com/Eggs/Coffee-Cup-Scramble/

French Toast 
This French Toast scramble from Kitchen Daily is perfect for mornings when you’re running late and don’t have time to for a dining hall breakfast! Throw a few ingredients into a cup, and 30 seconds later you’re ready to go!
http://www.kitchendaily.com/recipe/easy-french-toast-egg-mug-scrambler-tm-153277/

Lunch/Dinner:
Minestrone
Created by Martha Stewart, this minestrone recipe is definitely on our list of fall staples. It takes only 15 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to cook, and it serves 4! With so much, you can share some with roommates or freeze some for later!

http://www.marthastewart.com/341262/minestrone?czone=home/home-tech/kitchen&center=907785&gallery=274266&slide=261716

Pizza Roll-Ups
Although it only calls for cheese and spinach, you can improvise a lot with the toppings you use for this recipe! We used feta instead of mozzarella and added tomatoes to a later version! Just be careful with how much sauce you use because it does get SUPER messy if you use too much!
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/pizza_roll_up.html

Chili Cheese Dogs
Like the pizza roll ups, this recipe is easy to improvise with! Follow the recipe or add your own favorite hot dog toppings! 
http://www.hercampus.com/health/7-meals-you-can-make-microwave

Bacon Monterey Jack Panini
This recipe only takes 10 minutes and is delicious! Switch up the types of cheese and try a different type of meat to add some variety! 
http://www.hercampus.com/health/7-meals-you-can-make-microwave?page=2

Snacks/Desserts
Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries 
These strawberries are easy to do without a recipe as well! Just buy a bag of chocolate chips that can be melted (check the back of the bag!) and then follow the instructions! Make sure to follow the recommended heating time or the chocolate will start to harden before you can dip the strawberries!
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/strawberries_dipped_in_chocolate.html

Sweet Cinnamon and Sugar Pretzel Nuggets
Although this website suggests making them for Christmas parties or presents, we think this sweet snack would be perfect for a movie night or study session! 
http://ohmysugarhigh.com/sweet-cinnamond-sugar-pretzel-nuggets-recipe/

Chili Dip
Recipe #8 on Coed Magazine’s list of “9 Best Dorm Room Recipes” is perfect for those times when an inexplicable craving for Queso comes upon you. Haven’t had that moment yet? Believe us, its coming! Grab some Tostitos and enjoy! 
http://coedmagazine.com/2011/04/04/10-best-dorm-room-microwave-recipes/

2-Minute Chocolate Chip Cookie 
Although easy, this recipe requires a lot of ingredients. We haven’t tried it yet, but we suspect you might be able to do the same thing with pre-made cookie dough. If nothing else, you  will have a warm gooey dessert for cold nights!
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/5ySahg/:jcbatEo@:G9xbPV6y/zoomyummy.com/2012/08/04/2-minute-chocolate-chip-cookie-for-one/

For more microwave and dorm-friendly recipes, visit The Study’s Pinterest Boards and start repinning! 

K Week Returns to UK

Alex Newby, Marketing Intern

It's that time of the year again and organizations all over campus are gearing up for KWeek 2012 to help welcome UK's newest class! Here at The Study, we'll be attending several different KWeek events as well as hosting two of our own! 

Below is the information for K Week events at The Study:

"Donut Avoid The Study":

"Does the transition to college completely freak you out? Come to our open house, and spin the prize wheel to win free t-shirts & other cool stuff, while chatting with us over some donuts! Our student employees can answer any questions you have about taking college classes, tests, living on campus, balancing school and free time, and how we can help you succeed in your first year."

When: Saturday August 18th, in the ballroom of The Study (306B Complex Commons)10:00-11:50am

Pre-Dentistry student Blake
Dickens will be one of several
speakers at Saturday's panel

"Preparing to be a Pre-Professional":

If you see graduate school in your future or are planning to enroll in one of UK's many pre-professional programs, like law, dental, or medical, plan to attend this interactive panel. 

This session will feature a panel of undergraduate and graduate students currently in pre-professional and graduate programs. These students will share their experiences and talk about the impact Academic Enhancement's programming can have as students work towards admission to graduate and professional programs

When: Saturday August 18th, in the ballroom of The Study (306B Complex Commons) 1:00 - 1:50 pm