Every retailer has its biggest fans, and occasionally those enthusiasts build something great to showcase their passion.
Consider Michelle. We only know a handful of details about her: she’s a stay-at-home mom with two boys, she enjoys stretching her budget, and she adores Publix, the Southeastern supermarket.
So she created I Heart Publix, a site dedicated to tracking coupons and specials at her preferred grocery chain.
“They provide excellent customer service and even better bargains,” she notes on the site, which also features forums, recipes and contests.
If you’re as fond of shopping at Publix as Michelle is, here are five reasons to peek at her blog before you head out for groceries.
1. The Forums
Connect with Publix shoppers from all over in the forums to talk about this week’s promotions, including top picks for maximum savings. There’s even a section to swap coupons with other forum members.
The product reviews are especially useful when you spot a stellar deal on something you haven’t tried yet. Picking up a new product, even on sale, feels less risky when it comes recommended by someone else.
2. The Happy Report
Michelle posts a weekly roundup called The Happy Report, where she summarizes the week’s sales and highlights unadvertised bargains at Publix. Not every offer appears in the circular!
While reading the Happy Report, you can click to add the items you want directly to your shopping list.
3. Printable Shopping List
I Heart Publix understands that a list helps you avoid overspending on groceries. The site makes it simple to stay on track by letting you create, save and print grocery lists.
It’s straightforward to add Happy Report items to your list, with prices and discounts calculated automatically. Just save your list and print it before you go to the store.
4. Penny Item Alerts
Each week, Michelle shares the Publix penny item: a surprise product offered for one day only (except in Florida and North and South Carolina). The one-cent deal is available on the first day your Publix ad runs — either Wednesday or Thursday, depending on your region.
The coupon for the penny item — typically Publix-brand goods like a roll of paper towels, a loaf of bread or a jar of pasta sauce — is distributed in newspapers.
But by checking I Heart Publix each week, you can decide whether it’s worth chasing down a discarded paper and stopping by the store later that day.
5. Plenty of Giveaways
Michelle often runs brand-sponsored giveaways. Rather than hyping products excessively, her writing is candid and centered on family life.
And while some sites require a bunch of hoops to enter a contest — comment, tag several friends, forward a message — I Heart Publix keeps entry simple.
All that’s required is leaving a comment answering a question. It’s effortless — so there’s nothing stopping you from entering!
Your Turn: Do you shop at Publix?
Kelly Martin is a writer, editor and podcaster based in Washington, D.C. Whenever she visits Savinly HQ in Florida, she heads straight to Publix for snacks!
