Content about In this Issue

Beauty mavens are loving their beauty devices. As untapped potential exists in Asian and European beauty devices markets, the United States has retained its global market share lead with strong double-digit growth in 2012, according to recent research.

Consulting and research firm Kline Group stated earlier this year that the U.S. beauty device market grew nearly 20% in 2012, driven by both new product launches from existing marketers and new players.

The Hispanic opportunity represents a "new American reality," noted Roberto Ruiz, SVP strategy and insights for Univision Communications, last month at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association's Annual Executive Conference. Hispanic-Americans aren't assimilating into the American melting pot. "We're hearing people say they are '200% individuals' in our focus groups," Ruiz said. "100% American and 100% Latino."

According to research, ownership of smartphones and tablets in particular have grown rapidly over the past couple of years, and that has created a multi-headed omnichannel hydra of a customer who retailers across all channels are desperately trying to appease.

This month Walgreens announced that it would begin to offer chronic care services at its Take Care Clinics. Its biggest competitor, MinuteClinic, made a similar announcement about a year ago. With full implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the people paying the bills are going to get a good look at what retail clinics can do to lower costs and improve outcomes.

NEW YORK — What are the key trends driving sales of false eyelashes? What are the greatest misconceptions about false lashes? To answer these questions and more, DSNTV not only hit the streets of New York City, but also spoke with Kerri LoCascio of Kiss Products to gain greater insight into the segment, new innovation in the category and to see just how easy false eyelashes are to apply.

To watch the video, click here.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Polaroid unveiled its new concept, Polaroid Fotobar, here, in February, with plans to open at least 10 locations this year. The 2,000-sq.-ft. store is positioned both as a place to shop and a center for recreation and entertainment, allowing customers to release "trapped" photos and display them as premium-quality art. Customers can select pictures taken with their phones and wirelessly transmit them to a bar-top workstation for ordering prints or instantly uploading them to Facebook, Instagram, Picasa and other platforms.

Rite Aid's latest Wellness store concept features a new interactive Vision Center kiosk that allows customers to try new frames in the store and order prescription glasses and contact lenses for home delivery. It's not only an example of flowing self-diagnostic solutions into the self-care aisles, but it also keeps those customers in the store longer. And because it's positioned opposite the pharmacy, it can make that quick wait for the prescription that was just dropped off that much faster.

This year at the 5th Annual NACDS RxImpact Day, the voice of community pharmacy reached far beyond the office walls of U.S. senators and representatives as community pharmacy advocates — and even members of Congress — took to Twitter, Facebook and other social media.

"It definitely seemed that we had even better engagement in using Twitter at NACDS RxImpact this year than I think we've had at pretty much any other NACDS event," said Chris Krese, SVP marketing, communications and media relations for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Walgreens opened the doors to its latest flagship location last month in the nation's capital, bringing to District of Columbia residents and commuters the kind of retail pharmacy theater already familiar to citizens of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The health and pharmacy marketplace is undergoing rapid and fundamental transformation. To navigate profitably in tomorrow’s complex and shifting healthcare system, the pharmacy benefit management industry — along with the pharmacies and health plan payers allied with PBMs — are going to have to change and adapt as well.

Smart device usage has become an active part of in-store shopping. According to a recent poll of Accent-Health smart device owners, nearly 3-out-of-5 have used their phone or tablet to aid in product selection while shopping in-store. However, consumers are more likely to research their next TV on their mobile device than their prescription medication. According to AccentHealth VP market research, Natalie Hill, "When it comes to medical treatment, healthcare professionals remain the most trusted source for information.

It has been just over a year since Frank Scorpiniti took the helm at Canada's Rexall Pharma Plus. And, as the Canadian retail market continues to heat up, the company has officially taken the lid off a reinvention of its business, from its stores and its brand, to the products and services in its stores.