It's been awhile since Sears and Kmart have been considered leaders in retail thought. But let me take this opportunity for a shout-out to the great job that our friend CIO Timothy Kasbe and his team is doing, particularly as it relates to integrating social media, product comparisons, kiosks, and other tools to enhance the shopping experience with technology.

Yet with this article I would like to laud a different program which is not technology driven at all but has been in place for about 5 months now called Smart Assist. And it's very smart. The Smart Assist program gives unemployed Americans and their families a 20 percent discount off more than 1,500 regularly priced high-quality private label grocery and drugstore staples for up to six months.

Any Kmart customer who can present valid state-issued identification and a state-issued unemployment benefits enrollment confirmation is eligible to enroll in the Kmart Smart Assist Savings Card program http://www.kmart.com/smartassist.

Applicants who file for their state's unemployment benefits either before or after the program begins are eligible, provided they possess required documentation. Even if customers gain employment before their Kmart Smart Assist Savings Card expires, they can still use the card up until its expiration, regardless of their employment status so it helps them get back on their feet.

At checkout, cardholders are required to show their valid Kmart Smart Assist Savings card, their valid state-issued unemployment verification, and their state-issued ID for signature verification.

(As a private aside, this would be a terrific program format for a retailer to implement to help foster kids get needed school supplies, the kind of program we are trying to get started with the Retail Orphan Initiative).

Not only does this help customers in their time of need, but it builds goodwill for the retailer moving forward. And by extending the discount even after the cardholder gets new employment, Kmart not only helps the family get back on their feet, but helps get the family in the habit of shopping at Kmart again and buying private label products which provide higher margins than national brands.

Well done, Kmart! Its been awhile since any of us analysts have said so, but this program deserves a shout-out! May your tribe increase.