The site of the polarizing Marilyn Monroe statue is slated to become the home of another tribute to another polarizing behemoth: Groupon.
According to a release, come this Thursday and Friday, Andrew Mason's company will be stationing "interactive outdoor multi-touch displays… next to the Tribune Tower, offering passerby geo-targeted Groupon Now! deals promoting food, drink and entertainment specials."
Groupon employees will also be there, in the flesh, dispensing $5 promotion codes to use with the machines. It's a sales-a-bration!
George Burciaga, CEO of Elevate Digital, who is partnering with Groupon on these machines, said, "By placing these multi-touch displays outdoors in a high-traffic area like Pioneer Court, Groupon is able to reach more current and potential customers… Our technology is allowing companies to break out of traditional marketing and advertising approaches and engage people in a different space while continuing to generate and build revenue.”
Elevate Digital has previously partnered with Metromix, Chicago Magazine and the Chicago Tribune. All in all, seems like a great way to snag tourists with some money burning a hole in their pocket that must be extinguished in the next hour for an impulse massage.
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a columnist for EGM. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
