PMO_Promo P&I_: Retailers Go After Economic Stimulus Rebate Dollars

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In Today's Newsletter
April 30, 2008

> Retailers Go After Economic Stimulus Rebate Dollars
> Best Western Lures Harley Riders with Rewards
> California Pizza Kitchen Rolls Out Thank You Program
> Delta Starts Rewards Program for Fidelity Investors
> American Express Creates Cardmember Travel Site
> Barilla Teams Up with Scholastic for Book Offer
> From the Wires
> Postscripts
> Correction


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Top Stories

Retailers Go After Economic Stimulus Rebate Dollars
By Amy Johannes

Supervalu is using
direct mail and
store circulars to
promote its bonus
offer on gift cards.

Retailers want a big chunk of the economic stimulus rebate checks that began mailing this week, and they are offering lucrative incentives to bring people into stores.

For example, Wal-Mart is cashing economic stimulus checks for free, with no in-store purchase required. The retailer is also refunding the purchase fee on its Wal-Mart MoneyCard, a re-loadable prepaid Visa Debit card, when any portion of the economic stimulus check is loaded onto the card.

Sam's Club locations are also cashing checks for free for its members. It will also offer an economic stimulus bonus via a $40 gift of membership on select product purchases from May 11-31.
Read more of this story

Best Western Lures Harley Riders with Rewards
By Richard Tedesco

Best Western International is finding loyal guests in a whole new audience under a partnership with Harley-Davidson Inc.: motorcycle enthusiasts.

More than 1,000 of the hotel chain’s 2,100 locations in the U.S. and Canada have been designated as “rider-friendly.” Motorcycle riders can access special services, such as wipe-down towels when they check in and a wash station for free. Some locations offer bikers sunscreen and lip balm.
Read more of this story

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Our new Gas Cash™ program reimburses consumers with free gallons of gasoline while providing you with a 50% - or more - per-gallon discount per reward distributed. Email kkrefetz@tpgla.com or call 1.310.279.5005 to find out more about how this new and innovative offer works.

California Pizza Kitchen Rolls Out Thank You Program
By Amy Johannes

California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. is thanking customers for their patronage with a new program that offers giveaways ranging from meal discounts to cash prizes.

The restaurant chain is handing out 2 million thank you cards to customers dining at its full service locations nationwide through May 16. Each table will receive an envelope containing a prize with the check. The sealed envelopes can only be opened by a manager upon the customers’ return.
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Delta Starts Rewards Program for Fidelity Investors

Delta Air Lines and Fidelity Investments are launching a new mileage rewards program for investors opening new, non-retirement brokerage accounts with Fidelity.

Beginning this month, Delta SkyMiles members who open new Fidelity accounts receive an air mileage bonus based on the size of the account.
Read more of this story

American Express Creates Cardmember Travel Site
By Richard Tedesco

American Express has launched a Web site intended as a community where cardmembers can share their travel experiences.

Members Know (www.membersknow.com) lets Amex cardholders share their travel experiences with each other. It also gives people a conduit to communicate with editors from Travel + Leisure magazine, which is owned by American Express Publishing Corp.
Read more of this story

Barilla Teams Up with Scholastic for Book Offer
By Amy Johannes

Barilla has partnered with children’s book publisher Scholastic for a free book with the purchase of Piccolini pasta, a new product just for kids.

A copy of “More Spaghetti, I Say” is offered to shoppers who buy two boxes of Barilla Piccolini with proofs of purchase. The offer is open to the first 5,000 people through December.
Read more of this story

From the Wires

Take a Picture of an Ad, Earn a Reward (NY Times)

Loyalty Works Quickly (WSJ)

Can a Coupon Live Inside a Cellphone? (NY Times)

Mall Networks Launches Virgin Health Rewards Program (Bizjournals)

Postscripts

UNO CHICAGO GRILL: is offering special incentives in its restaurants tied to Mother’s Day. Participating locations will distribute holiday coloring cards and crayons to young guests from May 6 to May 11. Visitors who complete their cards will receive a prize for a free kid's meal on their visit. The cards can be taken home and given to mom on her special day. On May 11, Mother’s Day, Uno’s will take digital photos of families. People will receive their photograph with a few weeks of their visit, the company said.

BLIMPIE: is celebrating its 44th anniversary in Atlanta and North Georgia with a sub giveaway. People who visit participating locations May 2-4 and buy a 22-ounce drink will receive a free sub sandwich. More than 100 eateries will participate in the offer. A list of stores hosting the giveaway is available at http://www.Blimpie.com.

SPAFINDER.COM: has promoted Steve Kane to senior vice president, gift sales, a new post. Kane will continue to head all corporate and retail sales for SpaFinder gift certificates and gift cards. He also will continue to direct sales for the SpaFinder gift collections and other spa lifestyle products. Kane joined SpaFinder in March 2007, heading up the company’s gift program. Prior to that, he worked at Schifter + Partners, where he was in charge of launching high-profile fashion accessories brands (Lamb, Harajuku Lovers and Jill Stuart).
Read more of this story

Correction

In the April 16 issue of Promo P&I’s article “Promotional Product Sales Hit Record at $19.8 Billion” spending on promotional products was three-quarters larger than Internet display advertising, not three times larger.

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Michael McKelvie
Gift Cards and Reward Cards

Bob Bell
Tie-in Partnerships

Dave Hunt
Rebates

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