Groupon Now hits 1.5 million deals, outpacing original Groupon

According to the daily-deals provider, the original Groupon platform hit 1.5 million deals sold in 15 months -- three months later than Groupon Now.
Groupon Now has gotten off to a good start.
(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

The original Groupon platform might have set the stage, but Groupon Now has gotten off to an even better start.

Groupon today announced that Groupon Now needed just one year to sell 1.5 million deals. The original Groupon platform needed 15 months to hit that milestone. The 1.5 millionth purchase was made at CiCi Nails in Chicago, where a person bought a $42 manicure and pedicure for $30.

Groupon Now is designed as a real-time, location-based offers service for those who want to immediately redeem a coupon. Merchants can customize the instant deal through a dashboard, and manage how many people can take advantage of the offer at a given time. According to Groupon, its instant service is available in 31 of 175 North American Groupon markets. Groupon plans to bring Groupon Now to more markets "soon."