Just got a press release from Greater Louisville Inc.'s Becky Ruby Swansburg about a new website called TryItLocal.com. Beginning Tuesday, July 6, the site will offer a one-day-only deal every weekday. (Yes, it sounds exactly like the Groupon.com site you've surely heard of by now.) Basically, here's what happens: A local business — bars, restaurants, salons, dry cleaners, etc. — offers something at 40 percent (or more) off. After you sign up for free at the site, you'll receive an email alert about each day's deal. You print off the coupon after you buy it.
Swansburg says the goal is to compete with sites such as Groupon, which offers deals in other cities and is not based in Louisville. "We're very similar to Groupon," she says, "but 100 percent of our profits stay in the local community." According to the press release, 70 percent of the profit goes to the participating business, 15 percent to GLI and 15 percent toward maintaining the site.
I'm all for more ways to save money. I wonder, though, if Try It Local can be as funny as Groupon is with its company profiles. For example, today's Groupon deal is $25 for a two-month membership at Curves, valued at $197. From Groupon's description of the female fitness center: "...many ordinary gyms cater to men's bodies and psychology, right down to the urinals that were 'accidentally' installed in the women's locker room." Also, this: "...each machine uses push-and-pull motions to create toned, lean muscles perfect for crushing a grapefruit without looking like you can." And this: "...the members of all-female lizard species are stronger, happier and 10 times more likely to be named Trisha."
