Content about Retail News

SHELTON, Conn. — Actively promoting an over-the-counter medicine outside of the retail box not only drives foot traffic, but it helps increase sales across households with a higher income and also more heavily indexed OTC product consumers, TABS Group CEO Kurt Jetta told attendees of a webcast covering a recent TABS Group Consumer Value Study. And while passively promoting at the shelf also pushes sales higher, the return on promotional investment is not nearly as robust.

Cider may be the most exciting new segment in the beer category. A recent report from Mintel indicated that in the United Kingdom, the market penetration of cider is now equal to lager.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp. is touting its latest offering to members: its own travel agency.

Costco Connection, the club retailer's monthly member magazine, featured on the cover a profile of Costco Travel, which offers travel packages to destinations ranging from Hawaii and Las Vegas to Europe and Tahiti.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has appointed Jeff Balagna as EVP and chief information officer, the Kmart parent company said Thursday.

Balagna was previously chief information officer for drug maker Eli Lilly and will be responsible for Sears Holdings' technology and infrastructure initiatives in its support centers and in-store.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Bipartisan legislation that would let pharmacists devote more time to Medicare beneficiaries and less to adjudicating claims with pharmacy benefit management firms was introduced in the U.S. Senate and won the backing of the National Community Pharmacists Association earlier this week.

As the editor of DSN, I decide what stays in print and what gets cut. Spatial limitations dictated that this snippet from our Amazon story had to go. But in the age of the omnichannel shopper, where every retailer competes against everyone else for a bigger share of the customer's wallet, how can you do an in-depth profile on the world's largest online retailer and not talk about omnichannel?

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.

REDLANDS, Calif. — Midwestern supermarket chain Hy-Vee is expanding its use of a mapping platform made by geographic information systems firm Esri to aid its real estate decision-making, Esri said Wednesday.

Esri said this would allow Hy-Vee to enhance its site selection, using location analytics that combine demographic and psychographic data.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — More than 300 independent community pharmacists from across the country met in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill Wednesday for the 2013 National Community Pharmacists Association Conference on Legislation and Government Affairs. The pharmacists conducted more than 500 meetings with congressional offices.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A campaign run by Midwestern mass-merchandise chain Meijer to raise money for food banks has netted more than half a million dollars, the company said.

Meijer said customers donated $184,230 during Simply Give Double Match Days to help food pantries around the Midwest stock shelves, and Meijer double-matched the donations for a total of $552,690.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens celebrated the official opening of its latest flagship store, located at Powell and O’Farrell streets in the heart of San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood. Like many of the flagships, the store, which opened at 10 a.m. Wednesday, is tailored to reflect the uniqueness of San Francisco at a location where Walgreens has been present since 1946.

MAULDIN, S.C. — Bi-Lo raised more than $550,000 to benefit nonprofit organizations within the grocer’s operating area across both its Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie banners. 

“Bi-Lo recognizes the important role that we and our loyal customers can play in solving issues and making stronger communities for everyone,” stated Melissa Adams, Bi-Lo Winn-Dixie’s manager of charitable giving.