There are many purposes of a special offer: to entice customers to test the product and then buy it, have current customers buy more and more often, develop customer loyalty, make the product more easily available by the distributor, improve the rotation of stocks and raise the active number and support of distributors in the selling of stock. Promotional campaigns, which contribute to an increase of potential customers at sales points, lead to customers having a more favourable outlook on a company and its products.
If a price reduction is the most widespread offer, it does follow some very strict regulations: for example, loss leaders are strictly forbidden.
In terms of travel, special offers usually spring up at the beginning of the season, at the end of the season, and especially as the departure date approaches. A trip is a product with an expiry date; the closer the departure, the more the price may fall.
Companies also try to promote new products by proposing special offers for limited amounts of time.