CheapTweet Blog

This week, we talked to Tara Roark (@couponbootcamp), Founder of Coupon Boot Camp.

Tara is the author of a weekly newspaper column, Cutting Corners. She resides in southwest Ohio where she also facilitates seminars with her husband of nine years. Mother of three, Tara developed Coupon Boot Camp to train others how to save on their everyday shopping. Since then she has been featured on three local television stations and made several organizational speaking engagements to share her cost saving ideas and techniques. You can find her on her site, her blog and on Twitter.

Tell us a little about Coupon Boot Camp. How did it get started?

A friend of mine had taught me a little about couponing and I began saving BIG immediately, like getting 20 boxes of Kellogg’s cereal for only $17.60. I was sharing this savings and photos on my Facebook page and many of my friends requested that I teach them how to do it, stating that they would gladly pay for a class. I had been doing home training with another business, Computer Help, and was familiar with creating comprehensive manuals and training so I thought I would give it a shot.

I did some additional research and before I administered my first training class.  I ran it by my best friend who I knew would be sincerely honest and thorough in reviewing. She was someone I refer to as a “Coupon Backslider”. She used to use coupons and save but for whatever reason had gotten away from it. She had several challenging questions for me. Two of her main concerns were actual savings and time. Once I was able to show her that she could get name brand groceries cheaper than her off brand and how to manage the whole coupon process with minimal effort, she was once again happily clipping! I then polished the manual and offered classes to the public.

My first class was in January 2009 and I had sold out bi-weekly training classes of 20 – 32 attendees each. Many of my trainees have written, spoken to or called me excited to share their savings and appreciation.

Why do you think coupons are so important?

With this economy, I think it is vital that we save in all areas of our family budgets and with manufacturers eager to win our loyalty by offering coupons and sales, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the great savings!

What would I learn if I enrolled in one of your classes?

Let me tell you, the reason I titled my series Coupon Boot Camp is because, much like any other type of boot camp, it is hard core! In a six-week military training, for example, they have a short period of time to condition recruits mentally and physically so that they are prepared for battle. In my training courses I have a short period of time – two hours for Basic Training – to prepare consumers to win the war against high prices!

How do you market or promote Coupon Boot Camp?

Through my weekly newspaper column Cutting Corners in the Wilmington News Journal, handing out brochures when people behind me in the store check out comment on how much I saved, word of mouth from previous trainees, TWITTER!!, my Facebook page and EVERY area I can! Whenever I see a news story about saving money, shopping, etc.., I go to that website and tell them about myself.

How do you use Twitter to help with your business?

In a short period of time, Twitter has become a HUGE valuable tool for me. Through it I recently earned a newspaper interview and FRONT page article in the Cincinnati Enquirer!  I have so many new followers and sales are beginning to generate from that!

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started with his/her business?

Work it! Work it! Work it!! Self promotion should be a HIGH priority!! Don’t be afraid to tell people who you are and what you do. Be proud of your accomplishments!