It isn't just the wage slaves having a rough return to work this week. As of Tuesday morning, Groupon's stock has dipped below its initial asking price yet again, perched currently at $19.10. Ouch.
But that doesn't mean Groupon isn't ready to shake up its strategy and do something about its underwhelming stock performance. Street Fight Mag has a couple of interesting theories on how the group-buying giant will expand its reach to keep from being the one-note deal-slinger it's currently known as. According to Street Fight:
"If you’re a small business, Groupon will likely soon:
• Manage the bulk of your online marketing.
• Control your booking software and calendar.
• Handle your loyalty program.
• Build your website.
Local
• Represent the bulk a small business’s online reviews.
• Manage your e-mail marketing."
Is it as far-fetched as it might sound? Not necessarily. To stay competitive, Groupon is going to have to do something more than shoot back against media stories it doesn't care for. And while that pushback is relatively ancient history -- Mason sent that infamous memo over the summer of 2011 -- the public consciousness doesn't forget so quickly. Doing things like this could change it.
After all, Groupon has been on a bit of a quiet bender, scooping up talent like OpenCal in early December and then, in late December, also Campfire Labs. Before being acquired, Campfire was working on some sort of social-media endeavor. Not much is known about it, but that says plenty -- although nothing specific -- about where Groupon hopes to go this year. Will it be enough, though?
It's early in the year still, but what the hell. Let's say, sure, it will be enough. Let us be the first to congratulate you, Groupon! Hey, if Street Mag can peer into its crystal ball, so can Inc. Well. Right?
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.
