Content about World Wide Web

STAMFORD, Conn. — Pharmacy staff, law enforcement officials and loss-prevention personnel can follow updates about pharmacy robberies, burglaries and potential threats in their area through Twitter updates by a drug maker that developed a program to combat pharmacy crime.

As of Sept. 15, California became the eighth state in which Amazon.com will levy sales taxes on purchases made by residents in that state. Pennsylvania joined that group two weeks prior. Add to that the five states that don’t have any sales taxes, and that’s 13 states where national brick-and-click retailers are competing on a level playing field with the pure-play online retail juggernaut. 


DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced a new application built into Facebook that allows desktop computer users to print their favorite photos, complete with likes and comments, at any Walgreens location nationwide as part of a feature called PrintWorthy.

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Consumers are more comfortable sharing data with retailers than they are with social networks, especially if it enhances the shopping experience, according to a recent survey conducted by the E-tailing Group and MyBuys.

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.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday afternoon hosted a live chat on Twitter regarding its newly launched national Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative, an in-store training program designed to help people with disabilities gain retail employment, and how that program soon will expand.

LOS ANGELES — An all-natural, zero-calorie soda brand announced that an actor will take over its Twitter page on Thursday.

Zevia said from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., actor Max Greenfield, who stars in the Fox series "New Girl," will share thoughts and answer questions with raw honesty and without artificial flavoring or ingredients on Twitter, the company said.

NEW YORK — Aveeno has announced the launch of the Be An Active Natural fund to award individuals and organizations that are creating positive change in their communities.

Eight $10,000 grants will be awarded throughout the year to consumers whose work impacts the lives of others through one of these three categories:

• Inspiring others to see their natural and inner beauty;

• Educating about the values of an active and healthy lifestyle; and

With the help of YouTube and Facebook, several beauty and personal care companies are proving that Internet marketing can indeed be quite successful. One prime example is Orabrush, which makes an FDA-approved tongue cleaner. Through a series of YouTube videos, Orabrush went from an online-only offering to now being sold in 20,000 drug stores, supermarkets, discount stores and supercenters.


In a recent campaign, Walgreens used LocalResponse’s Direct Response to reach customers in-store to disseminate store promotions, such as flu shots and coupons for Kraft Foods’ Halls cough drops. Average click-through rates for Direct Response are greater than 50%, according to LocalResponse. Specifically, those consumers who “checked in” at their local Walgreens, be it through third-party apps like FourSquare, Google Places or Yelp, were targeted with a Halls-branded message.

BOSTON — A provider of rich media mobile and social merchandising found that less than one-third of the top 100 Internet retailers tout websites that are optimal for tablet commerce.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Recognizing that cardiovascular disease affects about 80 million people in the United States and is the No. 1 killer of Americans, CVS/pharmacy announced on Thursday that it is providing several free services, educational information and special product offers during February's American Heart Month.