Content about General Merchandise

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar on Thursday announced it is expanding its holiday selection to include hundreds of toys and gifts retailing for $10 or less. 

"We know our customers look to Family Dollar to help them celebrate the holidays," stated Michael Bloom, Family Dollar president and COO. "This year, we are proud to offer an expanded selection of items to make this holiday season even more memorable and budget-friendly."

LONDON – The makers of Aquatina, the collapsible pocket drinks bottle, have launched its successor, Ohyo, the company announced on Thursday.

Ohyo, currently available from Ohyo.me, has a pop-out spout so the product can be used one-handed, making it suitable for children, commuters and gym users.

With more people working from home, the office products category continues to expand. For the past year, sales of office supplies were up 4%, according to NPD analyst Lora Morsovillo, driven by sales of writing implements, mailing and shipping supplies, and office essentials, including paper clips and 
rubber bands.


Morsovillo said the trend toward personalization is evident in the category, creating more demand for products like coordinated pens 
and folders.

ATLANTA — A majority of retailers say delivering a consistent customer experience is their top priority this holiday season, according to a new survey.

Supply chain and retail technology provider RedPrairie released results of its "Holiday Hiring Snapshot" survey of 250 big-box, specialty, grocery, convenience store and food service retailers based in the United States, finding that nearly 60% cited the importance of consistency, with 29% saying they would hire more seasonal workers this year than last year.

MINNEAPOLIS – The pranksters at 30 Watt have introduced a new way to fool family and friends this holiday season, with a fake new product that supposedly solves the issue of hard-to-reach electrical devices — Connect-A-Cord, 50 one-foot sections of cord — the company announced on Monday.

With 50 separate cords, Connect-A-Cord is a new solution to tangled cords, the product's box claims. The product's packaging also boasts that it comes with an optional contractor case for tangle-free storage.

ALLEGAN. Mich. — Business for OTC store brands is expected to boom in the coming year, Perrigo chairman and CEO Joseph Papa told analysts discussing the private-label manufacturer's first-quarter results during a conference call Wednesday, even as the growth rate across the entire OTC category slows. "What we are seeing though, is the continued acceleration of store brand as being the reason why we're seeing the growth in our OTC category. For us to have a 9.4% growth in our OTC category, we think is a strong indication," Papa said. 

UNION BEACH, N.J. — In partnership with the American Red Cross, beginning Nov. 6, the P&G Mobile Relief Center will be stationed in Union Beach, N.J., to provide showers, personal care kits, household products — including Bounty, Charmin, Tide and Dawn — and baby products, including Pampers diapers and wipes, to victims of Hurricane Sandy, Procter & Gamble announced Monday. This service will be free to all victims, responders and their families.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. – The Yankee Candle Co. today announced the launch of its latest limited edition collection — My Favorite Things, inspired by the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein song from the musical "The Sound of Music."

The collection features three new fragrances: Brown Paper Packages, Whiskers on Kittens, and Schnitzel with Noodles. Returning from 2011 are Bright Copper Kettles, Crisp Apple Strudel, and Warm Woolen Mittens.

 FAIRFIELD, Conn. — In response to Hurricane Sandy, GE on Monday gave $1.1 million to support relief and recovery efforts throughout the Northeast of the United States. The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund was the recipient of $1 million, GE reported. The additional $100,000 dollars was given to the United Way of America for them to direct to local communities.

FAIRFIELD, N.J. — Telebrands’ new Lint Lizard should be a hot holiday item. The 40-inch vacuum attachment is designed to specifically clean a clothes dryer’s lint catcher and outer vent. It attaches to almost any vacuum host and features a long, 
flexible neck. 


Lint buildup can be a big problem for clothes dryers. Too much lint buildup can clog a dryer and cause its motor to burn out as the dryer is forced to work harder. Better cleaning allows a dryer to run more efficiently. The lizard retails for $10.99.

LOS ANGELES – All American Pet Co. announced Tuesday that its innovative branded line of PAWtizer antibacterial wipes and spray will be available on all Giant Eagle supermarket shelves within the next two weeks.

Drug stores saw a modest increase in air freshener sales last year, according to Mintel research — a lift likely due to sales of private-
label products. 


Sales were down elsewhere in the market in a category that has suffered from a shrinking economy and competition from scented candles and scented 
cleaning products.


Sprays and aerosols are most popular with consumers and have the most consistent use, followed by candles for burning, candles for decoration 
and plug-ins.