Unlimited car washes, unlimited talk time, unlimited theme park visits, and now unlimited flying. In this all-you-can-eat world, does unlimited really work?

Jet Blue certainly thinks so. Today, Jet Blue announced it’s All-You-Can-Jet program that allows for unlimited flights for $599 a month. The promotion begins September 8th and will end on October 8th as a test on whether this is a viable long term program. This promotion brings up an interesting concept that consumers everywhere seem to be buying into: getting a good deal. More importantly, consumers think they are getting a good deal; some will, but most will not. Just like the unlimited talk time plans that mobile providers have introduced, the deal only makes sense if you would otherwise exceed the other available offerings. Because of this, some users are able to save money, but most others end up overpaying for what they use, but still feel as though they are getting a good deal and justify their purchase that way.

Having a low price is not always the key, although it will attract attention, but value seems to carry a greater weight in the mind of consumers. Sure, a cheap airline ticket is great, but if it only gets you a trip to the next nearest municipal airport, it does not have much value.

This economy is training consumers to not just be price minded, but to be value minded. Bringing value, whether it is in the quality of the product or service or if it is in the experience the consumer has, is a smart position to strive for as a retail company. Keep price in mind, but keep value as the focus.

We are all trying to save money right now. You don’t have to read the latest consumer indexes to know that we aren’t eating out as much, we aren’t traveling as far from home, we aren’t making as many unnecessary purchases, it’s a pretty clear indication of how we feel about our money, or is it?

It turns out that while we are trying to save, we don’t mind being generous to charitable causes. Today, the supermarket chain, Fresh & Easy announced the return of their school donation program simply based on customer feedback. The program was received so well by customers last year that the requests poured in for a sequel. Customers are given the opportunity to donate to a school of their choice while also being able to provide a $1 donation from the supermarket for every $20 that they spend. The school that raises the most funds will also receive an additional $5,000 on behalf of Fresh & Easy.

Stater Bros. markets also have joined in on the charitable causes. They started a promotion in June to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. Customers were given the opportunity to purchase a $1 paper ballon upon checkout as as a donation. Collectively the 166 stores managed to rase $266,429 for the organization.

Many consumers who were surveyed said that the current economic times have made them more aware and conscience of what they have and what others do not, prompting them to reach out and give a little.

Nothing relieves the pain of a heat wave like a nice cold lemonade, especially one made with Citroen by Ketel One Vodka.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve have the privilege of working on Ketel One’s new in-store summer display which landed in stores last month. The concept was to take the fond memory of the lemonade stand we all have from when we were kids and add some of our new adult beverage tastes. Having an in-store display of this caliber can attract customer attention and encourage them to not only purchase a product, but purchase an experience.