You won’t believe what the first coupon was for

With one invention, Frank Mason Robinson changed not only the history of Coca-Cola, but also advertising.

As Coca-Cola founder John Pemberton’s bookkeeper/partner, Robinson created the name “Coca-Cola,” designed the iconic cursive script logo and was responsible for the company’s early advertising efforts. One of his many promotional ideas was the invention of the coupon.

At Robinson’s suggestion, thousands of free drink coupons were mailed and placed in magazines, with the company distributing free syrup to soda foundations to cover the costs. By 1913, an estimated one in nine Americans had redeemed a free Coca-Cola coupon.

– Caroline Parsley, The 100 Companies