I recently read a blog post here about the recession and the rebate checks the government will start sending out next month and how it will affect retail sales.  I was intrigued by what LSwino suggested with regards to what type of promotions other store owners will be running to obtain those rebate checks from their customers and also shocked by Sear's approach.

Then, this morning I received an email from Kayak.com, (my favorite travel site), and they were using the exact approach LSwino had listed in her post in their email marketing to me!  This email was titled - "Kayak Trip Ideas: "Tax-I" Into Your Ultimate Destination With Your Refund".  After reading their email I thought, I just had to post on this whole concept of retailers cashing in on tax refunds and government rebates.

Kayak's email didn't even offer any type of special promotion or discount with this messaging; they simply used the topic to suggest spending the refund on travel.  I thought this was clever because when I saw the email, (the subject line), I thought there would be some sort of incentive to using my refund check with them.  Even though there wasn't I was already in the email and reading their travel ideas. 

This was smart and a great way for the company to address a relevant topic with consumers without having to break their bank and offer a discount.  I also thought this was a better approach than Sear's, (offering 10% more only when handing over the customer's entire rebate check), for two reasons.  One, Kayak doesn't lose any more as they aren't offering any discount or promotion; and, secondly, they aren't forcing the customer to use their entire rebate or refund frivolously with them, which I think it more responsible.

Overall, I agree with LSwino that this is a good time to reach out to customers and use the tax time refunds and government rebate checks for creative marketing ideas whether they involve a discount/offer or not, it is a great way to catch customers attention and possibly cash in at a time when our customers might have some extra cash flow.