Grocery Coupon System (SteadySavings™) – Key Questions

Q&A Conducted By Kayla Marcus | Nov. 19, 2025

Question 1

Who will be responsible for updating the weekly coupon list?

Answer

I’ll be the one updating the coupons each week. Sometimes an assistant manager may help, but it’s usually just one or two of us. We’re not very technical, so the process needs to be straightforward and hard to mess up.

Question 2

What information needs to be included for each coupon: product name, price, discount, expiration, SKU, or something else?

Answer

We need the product name, the regular price, the discounted price or savings amount, and the start and end dates for the coupon. If possible, adding the product SKU would help keep things consistent with what we already use in the store.

Question 3

When are coupon updates typically made, and how often: weekly, daily, or only during promotions?

Answer

We need the product name, the regular price, the discounted price or savings amount, and the start and end dates for the coupon. If possible, adding the product SKU would help keep things consistent with what we already use in the store..

Question 4

Where will these updates happen: on a store computer, a mobile device, or remotely from home?

Answer

We’ll be doing updates on the office computer in the back of the store. It’s a standard desktop—nothing fancy. Being able to access it through a simple webpage on our internal network would be ideal.

Question 5

Why is this system being created now: what current problems or inefficiencies should it solve?

Answer

Right now we keep our coupons in a spreadsheet, and it’s easy to make mistakes or forget updates. We need a more reliable process that keeps everything consistent week to week. The goal is to reduce errors, keep pricing accurate, and make updates faster for our staff.

# SKU Product Category Regular Price Discounted Price Savings Start Date End Date
1 APL-001 Gala Apples (3 lb bag) Produce $5.49 $3.99 $1.50 2025-11-24 2025-11-30
2 MILK-1G Whole Milk 1 Gallon Dairy $3.89 $2.99 $0.90 2025-11-24 2025-11-30
3 BRED-100 Sourdough Bread (single loaf) Bakery $4.50 $3.25 $1.25 2025-11-26 2025-12-02
4 EGG-12 Large Eggs, 12ct Dairy $2.99 $1.99 $1.00 2025-11-24 2025-11-30

Best Approach

For this project, there are two possible approaches: storing coupon data in a plain text file or using a database. While a text file is quick to set up, it places extra responsibility on the store manager to maintain formatting, avoid file loss, and handle manual updates, which introduces unnecessary risk and support needs. A JSON database requires slightly more setup initially, but it offers a far smoother, more reliable experience. The client never interacts with the database directly; instead, they simply fill out clean, user-friendly fields in the admin panel and click Save. The system handles all organization, validation, and storage automatically. Given that the managers are "not very technical" and update coupons weekly, the database approach provides the most efficient, stable, and professional solution.

Wireframes For Users & Admins

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