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November 15, 2012
Not Your Mother's hair care now available at Ricky's NYC

Not Your Mother’s hair care is further expanding its distribution by adding Ricky’s NYC to its retail mix.

TAMPA, Fla. — Not Your Mother’s hair care is further expanding its distribution by adding Ricky’s NYC to its retail mix.

The “one-stop supershop for everything beauty,” is playing host to a diverse, cult-like following of clients from hip teenagers and their moms to celebrities and pro hair stylists. As of mid-November, Ricky’s NYC has brought in Not Your Mother’s full line of hair care in all its retail stores as well as its online store.

September 25, 2012
Changing the game of drug store merchandising

"You’ve got to skate to where the puck is going, not to where it’s been.” 
That’s how Bryan Pugh, who is Walgreens’ VP and chief merchandising officer, described how the merchandising department functions at Walgreens.

"You’ve got to skate to where the puck is going, not to where it’s been.” 


That’s how Bryan Pugh, who is Walgreens’ VP and chief merchandising officer, described how the merchandising department functions at Walgreens. It’s a fast-moving game. It’s got to be fluid. And if you lose focus for even one second, you stand the chance of being railroaded into the boards and becoming less of a force in the game. 


August 17, 2012
Q&A: Shot of energy

Drug Store News recently sat down with Tom Hadfield, CEO of AeroDesigns, to discuss the company’s new delivery system for energy — the AeroShot Energy— and the brand’s inherent point of differentiation.


Drug Store News recently sat down with Tom Hadfield, CEO of AeroDesigns, to discuss the company’s new delivery system for energy — the AeroShot Energy— and the brand’s inherent point of differentiation.


Drug Store News: What is AeroShot?


July 30, 2012
Health guides: 
Personalizing customers’ health-and-wellness experience

Incorporated into the new store formats currently being rolled out by both Walgreens and Rite Aid is a new store associate position with the primary function of proactively engaging customers in the OTC aisle. Walgreens calls them Health Guides; Rite Aid calls them Wellness Ambassadors.

Incorporated into the new store formats currently being rolled out by both Walgreens and Rite Aid is a new store associate position with the primary function of proactively engaging customers in the OTC aisle. Walgreens calls them Health Guides; Rite Aid calls them Wellness Ambassadors.

July 30, 2012
New DR store ‘ups’ up market

Duane Reade has further developed its leading edge “up market” store concept with the recent opening of its second flagship store in Manhattan’s Financial District.

NEW YORK — Duane Reade has further developed its leading edge “up market” store concept with the recent opening of its second flagship store in Manhattan’s Financial District. Located in the stately American Surety building at 100 Broadway, the 22,000-sq.-ft. store fits the rich history of the area while incorporating some of the most innovative ideas seen today in retail pharmacy.


July 30, 2012
Retail’s undeniable 
interconnectedness

“It’s actually an illusion that those boxers are separate entities. The separate entities are just the way we choose to perceive them. The boxers, you, me — we’re all part of the same quantum field. Think of the two boxers as ocean waves or currents of air — two tornadoes, say. They appear to be two separate things, but they’re not. Tornadoes are just wind. The wind stirred up in different directions. The fact is nothing is separate. Everything is connected. The shapes we see exist only in our own consciousness.”

“It’s actually an illusion that those boxers are separate entities. The separate entities are just the way we choose to perceive them. The boxers, you, me — we’re all part of the same quantum field. Think of the two boxers as ocean waves or currents of air — two tornadoes, say. They appear to be two separate things, but they’re not. Tornadoes are just wind. The wind stirred up in different directions. The fact is nothing is separate. Everything is connected.

July 12, 2012
Meda Consumer introduces new look across its Feosol portfolio

Brand strategy firm Little Big Brands on Thursday unveiled the new look for Meda Consumer Healthcare's Feosol line of iron supplements.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Brand strategy firm Little Big Brands on Thursday unveiled the new look for Meda Consumer Healthcare's Feosol line of iron supplements.

Among the changes, each SKU has the pill form embossed and anchors the design at the bottom of the pack. A mix of spot and matte varnish provides depth, dimension and interest on shelf.

June 27, 2012
Fitness icon Tony Little signs on with Celsius Holdings as brand ambassador

Celsius Holdings on Monday welcomed Tony Little, worldwide fitness icon and Fitness Hall of Fame Inductee.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Celsius Holdings on Monday welcomed Tony Little, worldwide fitness icon and Fitness Hall of Fame Inductee. According to the company, Little has been brought onboard to help further establish Celsius as a breakthrough fitness beverage and highlight the product’s one-of-a-kind features in upcoming marketing initiatives as Celsius' official Fitness Ambassador.

“Tony's partnership with Celsius will have a direct global impact on Celsius brand awareness as our Fitness Ambassador,” stated Gerry David, president and CEO of Celsius.

May 16, 2012
Social media a marketing platform for health care

Social media ranks as one of those technologies that has changed the world in many ways, allowing networking across the world, sharing of thoughts and events from people’s lives, embarrassment of public figures and, more recently, even helping to feed political revolutions. 


Social media ranks as one of those technologies that has changed the world in many ways, allowing networking across the world, sharing of thoughts and events from people’s lives, embarrassment of public figures and, more recently, even helping to feed political revolutions. 


It also has created a new platform for companies looking to get their products — and word of those products — out to a wider audience.


April 18, 2012
Study: Twitter, LinkedIn appropriate social media building blocks for retail marketers

The Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council on Monday published the final installment of its five-part report on social media, which suggested that grocery marketers significantly can leverage any social media participation by simply responding to tweets on Twitter and exploring the potential of professional networking site LinkedIn, where activity has been supercharged by the recession.

ATLANTA — The Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council on Monday published the final installment of its five-part report on social media, which suggested that grocery marketers significantly can leverage any social media participation by simply responding to tweets on Twitter and exploring the potential of professional networking site LinkedIn, where activity has been supercharged by the recession.

April 17, 2012
The present and future of customer loyalty

Customer loyalty has always been paramount for retailers, but as we wade into 2012 and beyond, it is becoming increasingly evident that retailers have a renewed focus on establishing a strong sense of loyalty and creating an engaging customer experience through cross-channel initiatives that are touching customers both in and — perhaps more importantly — out of the store.

Customer loyalty has always been paramount for retailers, but as we wade into 2012 and beyond, it is becoming increasingly evident that retailers have a renewed focus on establishing a strong sense of loyalty and creating an engaging customer experience through cross-channel initiatives that are touching customers both in and — perhaps more importantly — out of the store.

April 6, 2012
Latest Carmex art project: '365 Days of Lip Service'

Carma Labs earlier this year teamed with mixed media artist Lisa Pavelka to launch 365 Days of Lip Service, a collection of artwork created on the lids of 366 Carmex lip balm jars.

MILWAUKEE — Carma Labs earlier this year teamed with mixed media artist Lisa Pavelka to launch 365 Days of Lip Service, a collection of artwork created on the lids of 366 Carmex lip balm jars.

“We were thrilled to learn about the project and Lisa’s long-held preference for using the Carmex jar in her artistic creations,” stated Paul Woelbing, president of Carma Labs. “Carmex fans know that, in addition to being a great lip balm, we are dedicated to fun and inspiration. This is a great way to help us celebrate Carmex’s 75th anniversary.”

February 17, 2012
Homeopathy stocks kids’ cough-cold

The kids’ cough-cold space has become a significant category for homeopathic manufacturers. With the safety and efficacy of cough-cold medicines called into question several years ago, the category now is stocked with homeopathic remedies and reformulated/repackaged allopathic medicines.


The kids’ cough-cold space has become a significant category for homeopathic manufacturers. With the safety and efficacy of cough-cold medicines called into question several years ago, the category now is stocked with homeopathic remedies and reformulated/repackaged allopathic medicines.


February 17, 2012
Retailers go local for homegrown product mix

Outside of TV land and around the country, going local isn’t just a punch line for an evening comedy show or even a peculiarity of the weekend farmers market. It’s an increasingly popular merchandising strategy for retail chains.


In IFC’s hit comedy series “Portlandia,” there’s a sketch in which the two main characters order chicken in a restaurant. But they don’t just order: They ask which farm the chicken came from to make sure it’s sufficiently local and whether the chicken was raised according to their exacting standards. The waiter quickly responds with a portfolio featuring the chicken’s pre-mortem photograph, biography and name (“Collin”).


January 3, 2012
On hamburgers and health care

This is going to be a big year for retail clinics because this is going to be the year that payers really begin to engage with retail-based care on a meaningful level. 


This is going to be a big year for retail clinics because this is going to be the year that payers really begin to engage with retail-based care on a meaningful level. 


January 3, 2012
Q&A: At the front-end

The NCPA recently unleashed a new front-end program that has seen more than 20% growth in test pilots. 
Driving that program is 35-year retail veteran Gabe Trahan, NCPA senior director of store operations and marketing. Drug Store News caught up with Trahan to discuss the kinds of tools that can be 
accessed as part of the new program. 


The National Community Pharmacists Association recently unleashed a new front-end program that has seen more than 20% growth in test pilots. 
Driving that program is 35-year retail veteran Gabe Trahan, NCPA senior director of store operations and marketing. Drug Store News caught up with Trahan to discuss the kinds of tools that can be 
accessed as part of the new program. 


DSN: What are the primary elements?


January 3, 2012
Styling products create wave in hair care

Whether it’s creating beachy waves, sexy curls or modern ponytails, women aren’t shying away from styling their best fashion accessory: hair. 


Whether it’s creating beachy waves, sexy curls or modern ponytails, women aren’t shying away from styling their best fashion accessory: hair. 


Sales of styling products are on the upswing, according to the data provided by SymphonyIRI. The market research firm reported that for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 27 at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), sales of hair spray/spritz rose just shy of 1% to about $418.8 million, while sales of hair-styling gel/mousse rose 1.8% to about $642.7 million.


December 23, 2011
12 for 2012

Rather than take off for Christmas, the editors of Drug Store News took a look at the year ahead and the stories, issues and trends that will make headlines in retail pharmacy in 2012.

Rather than take off for Christmas, the editors of Drug Store News took a look at the year ahead and the stories, issues and trends that will make headlines in retail pharmacy in 2012.

December 19, 2011
Family Dollar getting executive suite in place before new store, expanded assortment push

Family Dollar Stores on Monday named Paul White to the position of EVP and chief merchandising officer. White will report to Mike Bloom, president and COO.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores on Monday named Paul White to the position of EVP and chief merchandising officer. White will report to Mike Bloom, president and COO.

“Through Paul’s leadership and strategic vision, Family Dollar has created a compelling mix of discretionary merchandise, which has led to a more fun place to shop for our customers,” Bloom said. “Paul’s promotion will help us continue to broaden our appeal and deliver greater value to our customers.”

December 5, 2011
Game change? 




It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It’s that kind of Dickensian double-speak that personifies the tone of the holiday forecasts this year — forecasts that have really been all over the board.



It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It’s that kind of Dickensian double-speak that personifies the tone of the holiday forecasts this year — forecasts that have really been all over the board.

December 5, 2011
Painting a bleak picture – bleak, but not hopeless

“Just 1-in-4 consumers expect their financial position to improve in the coming year.” That’s the way SymphonyIRI Group saw it in its recently released report “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a wild and crazy ride.”

“Just 1-in-4 consumers expect their financial position to improve in the coming year.” That’s the way SymphonyIRI Group saw it in its recently released report “The Downturn Shopper: Buckled in for a wild and crazy ride.” Among the highlights — or lowlights — of how consumers are responding to the pressure:


  • 49% visit the hair salon/spa less often;


  • 40% are trying fewer new products;


November 7, 2011
Who to follow

October sure was a busy month for news in the drug channel. It began in earnest on Oct. 1, the day CVS’ new president officially began his new job. Before the month was over, CVS’ chief merchant left to become president of Family Dollar, and his responsibilities would be carved up between three key executives.

October sure was a busy month for news in the drug channel. It began in earnest on Oct. 1, the day CVS’ new president officially began his new job. Before the month was over, CVS’ chief merchant left to become president of Family Dollar, and his responsibilities would be carved up between three key executives.

August 1, 2011
Discounters are go-to destinations for BTS shopping, survey finds

Discount stores will continue to dominate as the destination for the majority of consumers’ back-to-school dollars this year, according to a survey by Accenture on parents’ back-to-school shopping plans.

NEW YORK — Discount stores will continue to dominate as the destination for the majority of consumers’ back-to-school dollars this year, according to a survey by Accenture on parents’ back-to-school shopping plans.

The majority of parents (59%) will spend between $100 and $500 on back-to-school shopping this year, with 21% of consumers saying they plan to spend more than $500 this year. That’s down from 28% in 2010, indicating a decline in spending on the big-ticket items for school.

July 25, 2011
Segmentation strategies add up


The 19th century British writer William Hickson may have written, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again,” but he only had half the story. By all means, try again, but don’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results.



The 19th century British writer William Hickson may have written, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again,” but he only had half the story. By all means, try again, but don’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results.


July 5, 2011
McLane freshens up in-store offerings

Consumables have long been a major component of any drug store’s product mix, but where stores historically have limited their offerings to soft drinks, candy and beer, more of them now are selling fresh produce and prepared foods.


Consumables have long been a major component of any drug store’s product mix, but where stores historically have limited their offerings to soft drinks, candy and beer, more of them now are selling fresh produce and prepared foods.