LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — It’s happened to all of us, a text or email letting us know about some kind of deal, from a company you don’t really use.

We all like the deals, but how good is it if we don’t use that particular service?

Enter Hot Takes 5, an app created right here in Acadiana in which you pick the business, and you get the reward.

Here’s how the app works: an offer is sent from the merchant. A timer appears on your device, from the vendor you selected. An offer countdown begins, you accept or decline this unique offer.

Andrew Klenert had the idea back in 2012. Now, with the help of his son, Oliver Klenert, the app offers something that big-name coupon and deal sites simply can’t: targeted offers.

Andrew said the app is especially good for those who may be deciding where to go eat that evening.

“Well, how about here? How about there? And all of a sudden, bam, a pop up comes up,” he said. “Hey, what about this is one of my favorite places and we’re going to get a deal tonight. Except I instantly get a code that only we have unique to us. Go to the restaurant that night. If that was what the offer was, redeem it for whatever the offer was. We’re happy, the restaurant’s happy.”

The benefit for the merchant is the ability to know precisely the amount of traffic they’ve increased for that time period.

Andrew said Hot Takes 5 hones in on likely customers with pinpoint accuracy.

“I’m only targeting those people who know I love them,” Andrew said. “A restaurant, a store, whatever it is. So it makes everybody happy trying to find a balanced approach. It helps the businesses and Acadiana, but also if the customers get only what they want.”

Oliver Klenert said the app allows participating merchants to avoid spamming thousands opf people, but still get the word out.

“You don’t want to just send out, ‘Hey, we’re doing a discount today to 15,000 of your followers,'” he said. “So that’s where we come in with being able to pick how many people, being able to pick what time of day you want to do that. And even the selected group that you want to pick too. So if you want to send just to your breakfast subscribers, you can do that or even just your dinner.” People would be like, Hey, dinner people, We got some breakfast items that you don’t know about. You need to come in there during, let’s say 10 a.m. and come get this deal.”

The father and son team spent the better part of 12 years putting this app together, and hope to get upwards of 3,000 users. You can download it at the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Latest news