SmallBusinessNewz

Ask anyone: it's so, so nice to receive that $600 tax rebate check.  And it's so, so easy to start comparing the $600 to the price tag of whatever random product or service you want most.  But a new report indicates consumers may not try to send the money on to small businesses.

Gasoline and food bills are going to receive a fair amount of attention, according to new National Retail Federation findings.  People plan to pay down debt, save, invest, and take care of medical bills, as well.  It wouldn't be surprising if mortgages also get mixed in.

If your small business doesn't operate in one of those categories, you might be feeling a bit nervous.  There's good news, though, as the NRF found, "Consumers still plan to spend about forty percent of their tax rebate checks, sending $42 billion back into the economy . . ."  That's not exactly a "careful" amount of money.

At this point, then, it's just a matter of convincing consumers to cut loose a little.  Don't be afraid to mention the stimulus checks; Phil Rist, Vice President of Strategy for BIGresearch, stated, "Some retailers are helping customers stretch the value of their rebate check further by tacking on an additional ten percent to gift cards purchased or holding special in-store promotions."

The government already took care of the hard part.  Just try to keep the money moving.