Business & Tech

Local Site Serves Up Deals With Charitable Donations

Groupon type site focuses on local deals and local charities.

A new site for local deals is offering up not just bargains, but is giving back to charities as well. 

LivingSmithtown.com is a Groupon type-site brings together local merchants and shoppers for sales, while offering up a chance to give back to a local charity. 

The site focuses on local merchants and people who work and live in and around the Smithtown area. Site owner Charles Baratta launched the same idea in Huntington about two years ago and said things are going well there.

“It’s a Groupon model, which is a great concept, but I thought it would be even better if it were on a local level,” said Baratta. “You get the value and you get to keep it within the community as opposed to Groupon, which spreads it out all over.” 

There are no upfront costs to the merchant, they just have to provide a deal that offers a 50 percent or more discount. Sales representative Linda Levick works with local merchants setting up the deal and arranging for pictures and video of the merchant to be set up on the site, where they are featured for about a day or so.

Recently, shoppers could take part in a deal with Figari’s Wine and Liquors and get $50 worth of wine for $25. Levick said it was one of the site's most popular deals. Before the deal is completed, customers pick a charity from a drop down box and a dollar is donated for each deal. The Smithtown Booster ClubSmithtown Guide Dog Foundation and ReesSpecht Life are among some of the charities to choose from.

“It is a great community thing,” said Levick. “Everything comes back full circle.”

LivingSmithtown.com covers the communities of Smithtown, Kings Park, Port Jefferson, Hauppauge, St. James, Nesconset, Lake Grove, Commack and Stony Brook. A deal is offered daily and sent via email to those who are signed up for the site.

Baratta said he is always looking for charities to partner up with and is what he finds most rewarding about the site.

“We’ve given back $19,500 since we have started. It’s a win-win for everyone.”   


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here