PODcast #69 : Espresso Pods News

Welcome to The PODcast, PodMerchant's newsletter of espresso pod news, education, tips and deals. Back issues of The PODcast are available online.

PodMerchant News

This — the 69th issue — is the last regularly scheduled issue of the PODcast. I'm proud of many of the articles I've written for the PODcast. Sometimes though, it was a real brain-racker to come up with useful content. But an issue had to go out each month because loyal customers were waiting for the coupon. I can hear the gasps now... "What? No more coupons?" Read on...

Points Rewards Program

The monthly coupon has been a customer reward / loyalty program. But we are switching to what I think is a better system. As of now, we are introducing a Point Rewards program. When you shop at PodMerchant, you earn one point for every dollar spent on product purchases. When you redeem points on future purchases, one dollar is taken off for each 10 points earned (10 points = $1). So essentially, you get 10% back on purchases when you place your next order. Rewards Points are redeemed during checkout on the Shipping / Payment Methods Screen. You do earn points on purchases for which you redeem points.

And since we want to reward our customers right off the bat for previous purchases, your account has been seeded with points equaling 1% of the total purchases you've made with us. I think some of our long-term customers will be pleasantly surprised with the amount already on their accounts.

Please note that this issue does include a coupon code.

Online Store Enhancements

We've been busy adding some new features to the PodMerchant online store. First off, you can now log into your account using your email address. 'bout time, right? Yes, it certainly is. But as a business owner, I must choose from available off-the-shelf eCommerce packages. We use Miva Merchant. Oh, it's heavily customized (and customizable) but that doesn't mean I can have everything just as I'd like it. But, the feature has been implemented and you can now use the email address you entered for billing to log into the store.

One down, 1000 more features to go.

Another new improvement is the Account Screen, which you can access from the top navigation area (click "Your Account"). Here you can edit your customer information — password, billing and shipping address, email, etc. Best of all, from there you can now access your previous order information. Can't remember what you purchased order-before-last? No problem — it's there. (However, order data before August 2010 is not available.)

With the introduction of the new Rewards program, it's time to say "goodbye" to our Summer Sale. I hope that the new changes make your shopping at PodMerchant easier and more pleasant.

Product News

Due in this week, PodMerchant Private Label double-shot pods! We will be stocking 2X pods in our House Blend and Stout offerings. No decaf double-shots, but if there's enough demand (which I doubt), we can stock those as well.

Also just now available, an "Office Kit" from Covim. Each box contains 200 each of disposable espresso cups, sugar packets, and stir-sticks. Great for office / business environments and events.

We've got a shipment coming in from Italy that's on the water now, having left Genova on Monday. It will take 4 to 5 weeks to arrive at our door. Hopefully it will arrive before we are out of stock of any of the items being shipped. We ran out of Caffe' del Doge's Doge Nero Whole-bean coffee very quickly, and we'll have a larger supply of this exquisite coffee soon.

Facebook

Please visit our Facebook Page! We post updates on product availability, coffee-related stories, photos, and videos to our Facebook page. Press on our Facebook Page and you'll get up-to-date news and coffee stories posted to your Facebook News Feed. We also have a discussion board.

PODcast Discount Coupon

PODcast subscribers get a 10% discount* coupon with each issue. Just enter the code below on the Shipping Selection screen during checkout.

• The discount does not apply to illy Caffe' products.
• Coupon expires when the next issue is published, or at the end of the next month following publication of the issue, whichever comes first. This means you need the current coupon code from the current newsletter!
• Only one coupon per subscriber per issue.
• For more information, please see our PODcast Coupon FAQ.

The subscriber version of this newsletter contains a Coupon Code for 10% your next order. Be sure to subscribe to take advantage of this discount.

Keep on brew'n...


Kevin Garrett, The PodMerchant.