To discount, or not to discount? That is the question posed by many businesses. In honor of the upcoming Armed Forces Day, let’s take a look at what military discounts can do for you and your country.
There are two main reasons business opt to offer discounts to service members. The first is that saying “Thank you” doesn’t always feel like enough. The men and women of the armed services sacrifice incredible things to afford the rest of us certain freedoms. While you may not be able to offer a grand gesture, a discount on dinner counts for something. The second reason is that discounts can make life a little easier for military families.
As a United States citizen, offering a military discount makes you feel good inside. As a business owner, it also makes you look good to the outside world. When considering what type of discount to offer and to whom, there are several groups to keep in mind.
- Active service members
- Retirees
- Veterans
- Reservists
- Military families
You will also want to take into consideration how to advertise this privilege. Many businesses choose not to publicize the discounts, leaving military members unaware or needing to ask every business they walk into.
The last point to think over is how you will know if a person qualifies for the discount, meaning what type of identification they will need to provide.
- Current military ID
- Valid military ID
- Military group membership card
- Discharge papers
If you are not in the position to offer a valuable discount, you may also think about offering specials and deals for armed forces personnel on military-specific holidays like Memorial Day or Veterans Day.