No good looks needed for this discount
Cougar card can get discounts at select stores in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon
Aren Dow
Issue date: 8/24/09 Section: News
The Cougar Card, which has the ability to pay for virtually every expense on campus, also has a few perks outside SIUE as well.
A committee within Student Government has been dedicated to contacting merchants about providing discounts to SIUE students and faculty members. Students just need to present their Cougar ID card at the time of purchase, and can receive as much as 20 percent off an entire purchase.
External Affairs Officer Barrett Feltmeier is currently in the process of contacting area merchants for their support this year.
"The SIUE student discount is something my committee puts on. We contact local businesses in the area, in return they get advertising for their company," Feltmeier said.
A total of 36 businesses were on board last year with the program. It is the vendor's decision of what their discount will be, although most fall between a 10 percent and 20 percent discount.
While many merchants are part of the food industry, there were also several tanning and hair salons. The list even included car care from Midas and shipping from UPS.
Some merchants affiliated with the program last year noticed the discount helping their business. T-shirt retail store "The Grind" said students used the discount "quite a few times," and Cold Stone Creamery said 10 to 15 students would use it on the weekend. Both places offered 10 percent off on purchases.
Feltmeier said the list of businesses is renewed every year.
Senior marketing major Jasmine Jones said she rarely has used her discount in the past, but only because she is unsure which businesses are part of the program.
"If I knew who had the discount, I would use it more," Jones said.
Feltmeier said he was aware of the issue and was looking at different ways to improve the communication this year to students about the discounts.
"That is something I'm trying to work on, is informing students about the discounts," Feltmeier said. "We may try to have cards that fit in your wallet which include the businesses and are easier to transport that way."
Another aspect which may have confused students to which stores provided the discount were the red and black "We Welcome SIUE Student" signs. Not every business that displays these signs, however, is part of the program. Feltmeier said he hopes to supply merchants with more specific signs letting students know who offers discounts.
Feltmeier said he asked students which businesses they frequent or would like to see offer a discount. Such stores included Target and Buffalo Wild Wings, but Feltmeier said getting a large chain store could be difficult.
"It is a lot easier to work with local businesses than bigger companies," Feltmeier said. "It's harder to get through to corporate offices."
The list of businesses has yet to be completed, but Feltmeier hopes for a similar list as last year.
Once all businesses have been finalized for the program, information for different savings can be found at the Kimmel Leadership Center.
A committee within Student Government has been dedicated to contacting merchants about providing discounts to SIUE students and faculty members. Students just need to present their Cougar ID card at the time of purchase, and can receive as much as 20 percent off an entire purchase.
External Affairs Officer Barrett Feltmeier is currently in the process of contacting area merchants for their support this year.
"The SIUE student discount is something my committee puts on. We contact local businesses in the area, in return they get advertising for their company," Feltmeier said.
A total of 36 businesses were on board last year with the program. It is the vendor's decision of what their discount will be, although most fall between a 10 percent and 20 percent discount.
While many merchants are part of the food industry, there were also several tanning and hair salons. The list even included car care from Midas and shipping from UPS.
Some merchants affiliated with the program last year noticed the discount helping their business. T-shirt retail store "The Grind" said students used the discount "quite a few times," and Cold Stone Creamery said 10 to 15 students would use it on the weekend. Both places offered 10 percent off on purchases.
Feltmeier said the list of businesses is renewed every year.
Senior marketing major Jasmine Jones said she rarely has used her discount in the past, but only because she is unsure which businesses are part of the program.
"If I knew who had the discount, I would use it more," Jones said.
Feltmeier said he was aware of the issue and was looking at different ways to improve the communication this year to students about the discounts.
"That is something I'm trying to work on, is informing students about the discounts," Feltmeier said. "We may try to have cards that fit in your wallet which include the businesses and are easier to transport that way."
Another aspect which may have confused students to which stores provided the discount were the red and black "We Welcome SIUE Student" signs. Not every business that displays these signs, however, is part of the program. Feltmeier said he hopes to supply merchants with more specific signs letting students know who offers discounts.
Feltmeier said he asked students which businesses they frequent or would like to see offer a discount. Such stores included Target and Buffalo Wild Wings, but Feltmeier said getting a large chain store could be difficult.
"It is a lot easier to work with local businesses than bigger companies," Feltmeier said. "It's harder to get through to corporate offices."
The list of businesses has yet to be completed, but Feltmeier hopes for a similar list as last year.
Once all businesses have been finalized for the program, information for different savings can be found at the Kimmel Leadership Center.
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