Jupiter Water Tours Steers Back to Success with Groupon
“As soon as we got on Groupon, it just started immediately. We were filling up boats, every single trip, every single day. Our business just exploded after we went on Groupon!”
Joe Smith, co-owner of Jupiter Water Tours
About Jupiter Water Tours
Jupiter Water Tours, a popular cruise service based in Jupiter, Florida, has been offering scenic boat tours for several years.
“It’s a two-hour cruise. We start off the trip by showing Jupiter Lighthouse and then we cruise up along the Intercoastal along Jupiter Island. We don't just show them the houses of the rich and famous. We also tell them about the history of Jupiter and this area as far back as about 1,000 AD as well as show them the famous people's houses,” says Joe Smith, owner and founder of Jupiter Water Tours.
Their vessel, “Kyalami” (which translates to “My Home” in Zulu), is a great source of pride for Joe. Dive boat by day and tour boat by night, it’s the only boat in Jupiter painted like a dive flag, and the intimate tours it hosts are limited to 24 guests per time, to “give them an “at home” experience like no other”.
The Challenge
When Hurricane Irma hit Florida in September of 2017, much of the Jupiter community was affected by the aftermath, especially those whose jobs were based in and around water.
According to Joe, “we'd been operating as a dive boat for almost two years, but after the hurricane, we didn't get a lot of scuba diving in the water. It was just a mess here, and the visibility was horrible. There were some days where we weren't filling any trips, or we had to cancel trips because we didn't have enough people to run them. So we decided that we needed to figure out a way to get the boat back on the water and earn again”.
The Results
One year later, Jupiter Water Tours was a thriving business again. In Joe’s words, “As soon as we got on Groupon, our business just exploded. We’ve sold over 2,500 vouchers, and our customers are giving us fantastic reviews.”
The partnership with Groupon not only filled their boats but also brought in a steady stream of repeat customers. “What makes me even more proud is that we've already had repeat customers. They enjoyed it so much the first time, using their Groupon voucher, that they come back, bringing new guests with them. That makes me really happy,” Joe added. Jupiter Water Tours turned things around, going from canceling trips to filling boats by the masses—and finding repeat customers in the process!
Top Tips for Working with Groupon
👉 Embrace Partnerships: “Groupon turned things around for us. Their platform gave us the exposure we needed.”
👉 Leverage Discounts Wisely: “We saw immediate results once we offered deals through Groupon.”
👉 Focus on Customer Experience: “We’ve had a lot of repeat customers because they enjoyed their first experience so much.”
A deep connection to Jupiter’s nature and community
After 20 years in the US Army, Joe Smith came back home to Florida in 2011. Since then, he’s been living and working in the dive industry in the Jupiter area, where he’s found a true sense of belonging within the community.
Driven by his love for nature and the preservation of the beauty of Jupiter, he regularly participates in beach cleanups and events like the Palm Beach Dive Association Fundraiser.
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