It would be impossible to count, but the average supermarket contains about 70,000 different products and variations of the product that could make any shopper dizzy.

How do manufacturers manage to get your attention with yet another new product? COUPONS. Coupons are still one of the best forms of promotion, and as good shoppers we want to please the manufacturers by using them, and using them a lot.

Most new products never make it past the first year. Depending upon its’ budget, information about the product floods the market during that time. Which mean more promotions, more coupons and more sales.

General Mills is one of my favorite companies for coupons and new product introductions. My family has always been a fan of Honey Nut Cheerios, but when Chocolate Cheerios was recently introduced it captured the palate of one of my sons.

When I found a sale 2/$5 I bought 4 boxes, using a coupon on each, and getting double value to boot. My final cost was 2/$3 or $1.50 per box, about a 75% savings. General Mills made the coupon value so attractive it was hard to pass up the special deal. And it served its purpose, we now buy Chocolate Cheerios on a regular (sale of course) routine.

Enewsletters from many of the manufacturers also alert you to the new introductions and high value coupons on their web sites. That was the case with Comet Cream. The product was introduced with a $1 coupon.

Using high value new product coupons you will reduce your grocery bill and get to try lots of new items, so now it’s time to give it a shot.

One of the longest running promotions is the Labels for Education and Box Tops for Education programs.

General Mills runs the Box Tops for Education. They have donated hundreds of millions of dollars since 1996 to purchase new books, computers, playground equipment and much much more. Last year alone, they donated $49 million. There are now 330 participating General Mills products.

For more information and to start collecting for your school go to: www.boxtops4education.com.

The other great program is Labels for Education sponsored by Campbells. Once again hundreds of products are accepted for the promotion.

For more information go to: www.labelsforeducation.com

As a matter of fact there are bonus offers from Campbell’s Labels For Education (LFE) program, to help your school earn Bonus points. Now through May 31st, your school can receive one bonus point for each UPC submitted! Start collecting today to help your kid’s school reach their goal! Learn more at http://www.labelsforeducation.com/earn/bonus-offers.aspx?EID=4468&MID=3461418&LID=3767

Manufacturer’s sites have a wealth of information, goodies, coupons, and promotions.

It’s best to start off with some of your favorite companies. All that’s necessary is to take the name and add .com. You can sign up for their weekly or monthly e-newsletters that alert you to new products, coupons, samples and other fun stuff.

I have an email address for just this type of e-newsletter or information so I don’t fill up my entire inbox with these often precious goodies. And then I can check them at my leisure.

Some of my favorites include:
• Betty Crocker
• General Mills
• Kelloggs/Keebler
• Hershey
• Eat Better America
• Gortons
• 3m Company (Scotch Brand products)

Post some of your favorites on our discussion board at www.couponqueen.com

Over my years of couponing and refunding, I’ve come to find that some companies are very consumer friendly. They offer loads of coupons, are responsive to questions, and support community types of projects.

This list is by no means complete, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. You may decide you have an entirely different selection. But as a start, here are a few of my top. Most of these have web sites that offer special promotions. You can add .com to any of your favorites and navigate their web sites too.

• Kelloggs/Keebler
• Betty Crocker
• Hersheys
• Unilever
• Kraft Foods
• General Foods
• S.C. Johnson Co.
• Green Giant
• Del Monte
• Vlasic
• Dannon
• General Mills
• Energizer

I’d love to hear your suggestions, drop me a line at: susan@refundlebundle.com