---
title: "Minitab: Good for Statistics and for Shopping"
description: "Minitab: Good for Statistics and for Shopping"
image: https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/shopping-3.jpg
---

English

- [English](https://blog.minitab.com/en/?hsLang=en)
- [Français](https://blog.minitab.com/fr/?hsLang=en)
- [Deutsch](https://blog.minitab.com/de/?hsLang=en)
- [Português](https://blog.minitab.com/pt/?hsLang=en)
- [Español](https://blog.minitab.com/es/?hsLang=en)
- [日本語](https://blog.minitab.com/ja/?hsLang=en)
- [한국어](https://blog.minitab.com/ko/?hsLang=en)
- [中文（简体）](https://blog.minitab.com/zh/?hsLang=en)

- [![Icon Partners](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/Partners.png) Partners](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/partners/)
- [![Icon Contact](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/Contact.png) Contact](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/contact-us/)
- [![Icon Talk to Minitab](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/Phone.png) Talk to Minitab](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/talk-to-minitab/)
- [![Icon My Account](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/MyAcct.png) My Account](https://licensing.minitab.com/account/manage)

[![Minitab](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/minitab-corp-logo.svg)](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/)

- Products
  
  Back
  
  [Products](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/)
  
  [All Products](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/) 
    - [Minitab Solution Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/minitab-solution-center/)
    - [Minitab Statistical Software](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/minitab/)
    - [Minitab Connect](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/connect/)
    - [Minitab Model Ops](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/model-ops/)
    - [Minitab Education Hub](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/education-hub/)
    - [Minitab Engage](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/engage/)
    - [Minitab Workspace](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/workspace/)
    - [Real-Time SPC](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/real-time-spc/)
    - [Prolink Data Collection & SPC](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/prolink)
    - [Simul8 Discrete Event Simulation](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [SPM](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/products/spm/)
- Solutions
  
  Back
  
  [Solutions](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/)
  
  [All Solutions](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/) 
    - [Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/)
    - [Statistics & Predictive Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/statistical-analysis-predictive-analytics/)
    - [Data Science & Machine Learning](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/data-science-machine-learning/)
    - [Business Analytics & Intelligence](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/business-analytics-intelligence/)
    - [Statistical Process Control](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/statistical-process-control/)
    - [Quality Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/quality-analytics/)
    - [Live Analytics](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/live-analytics/)
    - [Reliability & Life Data Analysis](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/analytics/reliability/)
    - [Discrete Event Simulation](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [Process Mining](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [Key Capabilities](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/)
    - [Continuous Improvement](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/continuous-improvement/)
    - [Data Integration & Data Prep](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/data-integration-data-prep/)
    - [Diagramming & Mind Mapping](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/diagramming-mind-mapping/)
    - [Digital Twins](https://info.minitab.com/en/new-to-simul8?hsLang=en)
    - [Model Deployment & ML Ops](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/model-deployment-ml-ops/)
    - [Innovation & Project Management](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/innovation-project-management/)
    - [Process Excellence: Detect, Correct & Prevent](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/key-capabilities/process-excellence/)
    - [Featured Industries](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/)
    - [Academic](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/academic/)
    - [Energy & Natural Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/energy-resources/)
    - [Government & Public Sector](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/government/)
    - [Healthcare](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/healthcare/)
    - [Insurance](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/insurance/)
    - [Manufacturing & Industrial](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/manufacturing-industrial/)
    - [Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/service-industries/)
    - [Software & Technology](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/software-technology/)
    - [Construction](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/industry/construction/)
    - [Featured Roles](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/)
    - [Engineering](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/engineering/)
    - [Business Analysis](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/business-analysts/)
    - [Information Technology](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/information-technology/)
    - [Supply Chain](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/supply-chain/)
    - [Customer Service & Contact Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/customer-service-contact-center/)
    - [Human Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/human-resources/)
    - [Marketing](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/marketing/)
    - [Research and Development](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/solutions/role/research-and-development/)
- Resources & Services
  
  Back
  
  [Resources & Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/)
  
  [All Resources & Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/) 
    - [Resources](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/)
    - [Case Studies](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/case-studies/)
    - [eBooks & White Papers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/ebooks-and-white-papers/)
    - [Blog](https://blog.minitab.com/blog/?hsLang=en)
    - [Data Sets](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/data-set/)
    - [Webinars & Events](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/events/)
    - [Education Hub](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/resources/education-hub/)
    - [Services](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/)
    - [Training](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/training/)
    - [Deployment](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/deployment/)
    - [Consulting](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/statistical-consulting/)
    - [Self-Paced Learning](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/self-paced-learning/)
    - [Continuing Education](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/continuing-education/)
- Support
  
  Back
  
  [Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/)
  
  [Technical Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/) 
    - [Subscriptions & Activation](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/subscriptions-and-activation/)
    - [Minitab Quick Start](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/quick-start/)
    - [Training](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/resources-services/services/training/)
    - [Installation Support](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/installation/)
    - [Support Videos](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/videos/)
    - [Support Documentation](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/documents/)
    - [Software Updates](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/software-updates/)
    - [Product Downloads](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/downloads/)
    - [Support Policy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/support/policy/)
- Company
  
  Back
  
  [Company](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/)
  
  [Company](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/) 
    - [About Us](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/our-company/)
    - [Leadership Team](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/leadership-team/)
    - [Partners](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/partners/)
    - [Careers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/careers/)
    - [Contact](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/contact-us/)
    - [News](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/press-releases/)

[Try/Buy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/try-buy/)

- [Statistics](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/statistics)
- [Data Analysis](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/data-analysis)
  
    - <https://www.minitab.com/en-us/>
- [Quality Improvement](https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/tag/quality-improvement)

- [Subscribe](https://info.minitab.com/blog/subscribe?hsLang=en)

![Minitab](https://20853177.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/20853177/minitab-corp-logo.svg?t=1755011311618)

## Notice

You are now leaving minitab.com.

 Click Continue to proceed to:

 Continue

 Go Back

# Minitab: Good for Statistics and for Shopping

 Minitab Blog Editor  |  6/10/2011

- [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/real-world-quality-improvement/minitab-good-for-statistics-and-for-shopping)
- [Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.minitab.com/en/blog/real-world-quality-improvement/minitab-good-for-statistics-and-for-shopping)

I’m ![I used Minitab to help me analyze data on the worthiness of the coupons I receive in my e-mail inbox, which helps me get the most bang for my buck at the mall.](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/shopping-3.jpg?width=275&height=183&name=shopping-3.jpg "I used Minitab to help me analyze data on the worthiness of the coupons I receive in my e-mail inbox, which helps me get the most bang for my buck at the mall.")an avid shopper and coupon-clipper. I receive most of my coupons via e-mail and I often wonder what day of the week the best coupons will be e-mailed. In my attempt to [live a Lean life](https://blog.minitab.com/blog/real-world-quality-improvement/how-i-live-a-lean-life?hsLang=en), I think finding this out will save me time and prevent me from opening some of the hundreds of promotional e-mails I get each week.

Before performing any data analysis in [Minitab](http://www.minitab.com/products/minitab/), I decided to assign the e-mails in my inbox according to the following categories I think best rank each coupon’s worthiness:

**Not worth your time**

**Offering average savings (A “noteworthy” deal)**

**So good you should skip work and go shopping**

 

Based on my own personal preferences, I ranked coupons that included dollar savings (i.e., $10 off $25) higher than coupons that required the use of a store credit card to receive savings. I considered “not worth your time” e-mails to be those that were just promotional (i.e., "Check out our new summer styles") and didn’t include any coupons. I used four weeks of e-mail data (51 total messages) and I chose the following retailers to analyze: Kohl’s, Cabela’s, Express, and Victoria’s Secret.

Next, I ranked and tallied the coupons by color and recorded the numbers for each day.

Then I placed my data into Minitab (two-way table):

![Data entered into Minitab](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/shopping3-3.jpg?width=300&height=212&name=shopping3-3.jpg "Data entered into Minitab")

I used Minitab to create a clustered bar chart:

![Minitab Bar Chart](https://blog.minitab.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B2BML%20-%20NEW%20FILE%20MANAGER%20STRUCTURE/Blog%20Images/Imported_Blog_Media/couponchart_w640.jpg?width=425&height=284&name=couponchart_w640.jpg "Minitab Bar Chart")

 

The majority of the coupons I received are what I consider “noteworthy” (28/51, or about 55%). The e-mails that contained coupons I considered “not worth your time,” were more frequent than I would have liked, making up about 35% of all the e-mails sent. The doorbuster savings were the least frequent e-mails, with only 16% falling under the “so good you should skip work and go shopping” category.

The majority of “noteworthy” or average savings were sent on Wednesdays and Fridays. “So good you should skip work” deals were most likely to be sent on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, but were never sent on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Saturdays.

Based on this Minitab output, I think Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays are the best days for me to open e-mails from the four retailers. The most “noteworthy” e-mails were sent during that time period, and the best chance for a “So good you should skip work” e-mail also occurs during this time. However, Wednesday-Saturday also had the best chance for receiving e-mails “not worth your time.”

If you'd like to analyze your own coupon data, my best advice is to focus on the e-mails from your favorite stores, and remember that there’s probably going to be a higher likelihood for better savings later in the week. Stay tuned for another shopping-related post.

Happy Shopping! 

---

- [Careers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/company/careers/)
- [Trust Center](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/trust-center/)
- [Suppliers](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/suppliers/)
- [Site Map](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/site-map/)

- [![linkedin](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/linkedin-1.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/minitab/)
- [![facebook](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/Minitab/)
- [![youtube](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/MinitabInc)
- [![instagram](https://blog.minitab.com/hubfs/WCM/instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/minitab/)

---

© 2025 Minitab, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

- [Terms of Use](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/terms-of-use/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/privacy-policy/)
- [Legal](https://www.minitab.com/en-us/legal/)

- Cookies Settings