Content about Communication

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — In today's give-'em-what-they-want style of merchandising, in a market where savvy, omni-channel consumers can customize the what, when and where of the purchase, private label more and more ascends from being considered the cheapest product offering to being the best value product offering. 

ATLANTA, Ga. — SoloHealth on Thursday announced it has plans in place to expand its FDA-approved SoloHealth Station health-and-wellness digital kiosks to more than 2,500 store locations by mid-2013, scaling to more than 4,000 by 2014. 

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition added two keynote speakers to its annual meeting docket: Balz Frei, director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, and Lawrence Green, professor at the University of California at San Francisco.

The two speakers will keynote the first and last sessions, respectively, at the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s one-day scientific symposium, held Oct. 3 in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Social media is an important component of ongoing brand marketing, as well as any advertising campaign for a drug store retailer or brand. Integrated communications have the most impact because earned, owned and paid media reinforce and amplify the message. All channels feed off each other; the more frequently a potential customer sees or hears about a brand or retailer, particularly in more than one context or venue, the more likely she is to remember and purchase.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Mentholatum has announced the launch of its new Softlips Gloss line in pearl and coral shades.

This line extension expands on the Softlips "So You." campaign, which was launched last year with new packaging graphics, an updated logo, Facebook efforts and a new ad campaign.

With the popularity of lip gloss on the rise, the company stated that it wanted to provide its current lip balm and tint users, along with potential new Softlips consumers, with the option of color, SPF and shine in one product.

SALT LAKE CITY — Schiff has realized some sales success reducing its reliance on promotion across the joint health category — a category that has been defined by the prevalence of buy-one, get-one deals over the past few years — the company told analysts Thursday in a discussion on fiscal 2012 third-quarter results.

From 2000 to 2010, the U.S. Hispanic population surged 43%, far surpassing U.S. Census estimates.  With a growth rate more than four times that of the entire country, and an expected 2015 purchasing power well in excess of $1.25 trillion, the U.S. Hispanic population is a key market segment for retailers and consumer packaged goods companies seeking to expand their domestic customer base. The most successful companies will be those that can effectively engage these consumers and develop enduring brand loyalty.  

MINNEAPOLIS — Kantar Media on Wednesday reported that overall retailer advertising expenditures increased 1.6% and retailer participation in Free Standing Insert coupon promotion pages increased 30.7% over calendar year 2011, versus the corresponding year-ago period. Additionally, digital coupon events increased 40.4% during this period across the leading retailer websites monitored by Kantar Media.

Experts said that despite competition from electronic cards and rising postal fees, there still is a future for the paper greeting card category. Sean O’Malley, an analyst for Wedge Capital, estimated the industry saw 1% unit volume growth last year. He estimated 2011 greeting card sales were $2.5 billion to $3 billion. Nearly 80% of category sales are driven by women ages 30 to 50 years whose “habits die hard,” according to O’Malley. Premium cards and value cards are performing best.

SPOKANE, Wash. — Zak Designs has introduced new mealtime products ideal for college students.

The new Back to College line, includes durable dinner plate, individual bowl and 24-oz. tumbler, along with a 14-oz. double-wall travel tumbler and 25-oz. Tritan water bottle.

Each of the items are available in Muppets characters or Hello Kitty, Zek Designs said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Beauty brands rapidly are moving ahead with their social and mobile strategies to allow viral campaigns and create new consumer relations opportunities. But there’s no cookie-cutter approach, and brands are experimenting with what approaches work best for their business, according to a new report by consulting and research firm Kline.