Mass Market Retailers articles from April 2003

Mass Market Retailers archives from April 2003

Ahold seeks delay. (Industry News).(in release of 2002 financial results for up to 6 months, Netherlands)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... AHOLD SEEKS DELAY: Ahold NV will ask shareholders at its May 13 annual meeting for permission to postpone release of its 2002 financial results for a maximum of six months from a May 29 deadline. The company still plans to announce the results...

New Rite Aid credit. (Industry News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW RITE AID CREDIT: Rite Aid Corp. is launching a new $2 billion senior secured bank facility that will mature in April 2008. Proceeds will be used to repay the chain's current $1.37 billion senior secured facility and its $107 million...

Weis sets expansion. (Industry News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... WEIS SETS EXPANSION: Weis Markets Inc. will invest $72.4 million to build four superstores and remodel or expand 19 others, according to chairman Robert Weis. The capital budget also calls for expanded technology investments as well as ongoing...

Ingles names execs. (Industry News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... INGLES NAMES EXECS: ingles Markets Inc. has named James Lanning president, replacing Vaughn Fisher, who retired in December 2002. In addition, Larry Goetsch has been appointed to the new position of vice president of direct-store-delivery (DSD)...

PriceSmart ceo exit. (Industry News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... PRICESMART CEO EXIT: Gilbert Partida has stepped down as president and chief executive officer of PriceSmart Inc., a San Diego-based operator of membership wholesale clubs in Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. He has also resigned from the...

Strategic flexibility. (Spotlight).(how retailers can achieve strategic flexibility, US)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Retailers operating in the current environment of high uncertainty face a painful paradox, says Carl Steidtmann, chief economist for Deloitte Research. They have to formulate and execute strategies in order to compete, hut any...

Sammons is next ceo at Rite Aid.(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. president and chief operating officer Mary Sammons will become chief executive officer effective June 25. Bob Miller, currently chairman and chief executive officer, will remain chairman until his term on...

Fleming seeks capital; shipments are delayed. (News).(US)
April 21, 2003... LEWISVILLE, Texas -- Fleming Cos. was forced to delay shipments to some customers in the weeks following its Chapter 11 filing, as it arranged financing for payments to its suppliers. Interim president and chief executive officer Pete...

War, weather, calendar hit sales. (News).(Retail trade sales, US)(Illustration)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Retail sales took a pounding in March as war, weather and a calendar shift combined to keep consumers at home. A survey of 79 retail chains conducted by Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd. indicates that year-over-year sales at stores...

Realignment, restructuring to continue at Kmart. (News).(US)
April 21, 2003... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart Corp. has slashed its headquarters staff, including several senior management positions, as part of its strategic restructuring plan. The troubled retailer has also identified the candidates for a new board of directors...

Dollar General names Perdue ceo. (News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. has named David Perdue Jr. chief executive officer. Donald Schaffer, who had held that position on an interim basis since November 2002, will continue as president and chief operating officer. ...

Sears weighs sale of credit card unit. (News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. is considering selling off its credit card business so it can focus on its retail operations. Sears' credit and financial products business manages the the eighth-largest credit card...

N.Y., California cite Wal-Mart for selling toy, real guns. (News).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is under fire for its sales of toy guns, and real ones. New York state attorney general Elliot Spitzer has filed suit against the giant retailer, charging that it sells toy guns without the distinctive...

Scoreboard. (Money News).(Retail firms' quarterly sales data, US)(Illustration)
April 21, 2003... SCOREBOARD Net Quarter Dollar % Income RETAILERS Ended Sales Change (Loss) Albertsons (1) 01/30...

Albertsons declares quarterly dividend. (Money News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... ALBERTSONS DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: Albertsons' board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 19 cents per share. The dividend will be payable on May 10 to stockholders of record at the close of business on April 15.

Dollar General to buy back stock. (Money News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... DOLLAR GENERAL TO BUY BACK STOCK: The board of directors at Dollar General Corp. has authorized the company to repurchase up to 12 million shares of its outstanding common stock. Purchases may be made in the open market or in privately...

Duckwall-Alco Stores reports record results. (Money News).(fiscal year ended 2/2/03, US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... DUCKWALL-ALCO STORES REPORTS RECORD RESULTS: Duckwall-ALCO Stores Inc., which operates 260 full-line discount and hometown variety stores in 21 central states, announced record sales and higher earnings for the fiscal year ended February 2,...

Target announces 143rd straight dividend. (Money News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... TARGET ANNOUNCES 143RD STRAIGHT DIVIDEND: Target Corp.'s board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of 6 cents per common share, payable June 10 to shareholders of record on May 20. The second quarter dividend will be the company's...

Sears stock buyback totaled $400 million in 2002. (Money News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... SEARS STOCK BUYBACK TOTALED $400 MILLION IN 2002: According to its annual report, Sears, Roebuck and Co. repurchased $400 million of its common stock in 2002. As of December 28, 2002, the company had $1.25 billion remaining under its...

Biggest gainers. (Money).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 21, 2003... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 03/28/03 vs.02/28/03 Change Nash Finch 7.90 +3.07 +63.6 drugstore.com 3.99 +1.19 +42.5 Delhaize ...

Biggest lossers. (Money).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 21, 2003... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 03/28/03 vs.02/28/03 Change Fleming 0.62 -145 -70.0 BJ's 11.50 -2.48 -17.7 Value City...

Most active. (Money).(retail store chains' stock activity, week ended 2/28/03, US)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
April 21, 2003... MOST ACTIVE Vol. (000) Asa% Changevs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 03/28/03 Shares 02/28/03 BJ's 6,175 8.3 +156.0...

Operating earnings off at BJ's. (Money).(fiscal 2002, US)
April 21, 2003... NATICK, Mass. -- The presence of a significant unusual item in the prior year allowed BJ's Wholesale Club to post sharply higher net income for fiscal 2002. However, operating earnings declined for the year and fourth quarter in the wake of...

Kroger hangs tough. (Spotlight).(financial results, fiscal 2002, US)
April 21, 2003... CINCINNATI -- Although adjusted income was a shade lower in the fourth quarter, Kroger Co. posted an improvement for the full year ended February 1, as efforts to keep operating costs in check and lower interest expense countered the effects of...

Big Lots gets back into black for year. (Money).(fiscal 2002, US)
April 21, 2003... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Closeout retailer Big Lots Inc. reversed a prior-year loss and moved solidly into the black in fiscal 2002 on the strength of a double-digit gain in sales and sharply improved operating ratios. And despite slowing sales...

Mass retailing stocks mixed in March. (Money).(US, 2003)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Mass market retailing stocks were mixed during March, with discounters registering the best performances. From February 28, 2003, to March 31, 2003, MMR's discount chain index jumped 7.7% to end the period at 2,877.7. At the...

Longs takes action in wake of disappointing results. (Money).(fiscal 2003, US)
April 21, 2003... WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- With rising expenses and impairment charges squeezing operating results, Longs Drug Stores suffered double-digit declines in adjusted net income for both the fourth quarter and fiscal 2003 year ended January 30. The...

A clear raison d'etre. (Opinion).
April 21, 2003... Boots PLC's recent decision to pull the plug on its 12 Wellbeing Services Centres closes a chapter in the reinvention of the drug store for the 21st century. It is, however, far from the end of the stow. The Nottingham, England-based...

Dollar stores' time has come. (Opinion).(Column)
April 21, 2003... Overnight it seems, dollar stores have become the most successful segment of the mass market retailing industry. Not just the most successful, but arguably the most intriguing--and possibly the most confusing. Ask any 10 people what...

A disparity between promise reality. (Opinion).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The majority of investments in supply chain technology have not paid off in bottom-line improvements, a recent survey by the supply chain-focused consulting firm Capital Consulting and Management Inc. (CCMI) shows. The...

Retailers should be prudent in exiting Chapter 11. (Opinion).(Column)
April 21, 2003... In recent years a desire to "get back into the game" has led many financially distressed retail companies to attempt a hasty exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. However, given the high rate of failures among post-Chapter 11 retailers,...

`The biggest one-stop shop in the country'. (Opinion).(National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference)(Column)
April 21, 2003... At the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, we feel pretty comfortable boasting about our Marketplace Conference because we think it can be considered the biggest one-stop shop in the country. Retailers and suppliers assessing that...

Tesco drops posts. (Global News).(cuts 10 positions from its board of supermarket directors, UK)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... TESCO DROPS POST: Britain's largest supermarket chain, Tesco PLC, has eliminated half of the positions on its 20-member board of supermarket directors in an effort to improve its supply and logistics network. The board constitutes the second...

Carrefour expands. (Global News).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... CARREFOUR EXPANDS: Carrefour SA has asked five banks to float a new syndicated loan, including a 1.5 billion euro, 5-year tranche and a 1 billion euro, 1-year tranche. The move came just two weeks after the retailer announced plans to triple...

Sainsbury sales rise. (Global News).(fiscal 2002, UK)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... SAINSBURY SALES RISE: J. Sainsbury PLC reported a 3.4% increase in sales for fiscal 2002. Comparable-store sales rose 2.3%. According to chief executive officer Peter Davis, the company has made progress on its transformation program, including...

Mexico probe ends. (Global News).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... MEXICO PROBE ENDS: Mexico's Federal Competition Commission has closed an investigation into alleged monopolistic practices by Wal-Mart de Mexico (Walmex) and other retailers, citing insufficient evidence. The Commission had acted on reports...

Woolworths profit. (Global News).(2002, UK)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... WOOLWORTHS PROFIT: Woolworths PLC, the British general merchandise chain, beat analysts' preprofit expectations despite slowing sales in fiscal 2002. Net profit totaled 38 million [pounds sterling] ($59.7 million), compared with a 46.4 [pounds...

Coles Myer earnings in first half exceed expectations. (Global).(2003, Australia)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australian retailer Coles Myer Ltd. has announced that net profit for the first half of the year ended January 26, 2003, rose 2.5% to $130.9 million. After eliminating the one-off impact of tighter accounting rules,...

Ahold puts division up for sale. (Global).(to divest South American operations)
April 21, 2003... ZAANDAM, the Netherlands -- Beset by accounting scandals and reporting errors, Ahold NV plans to divest all of its South American operations in order to trim its 12.3 billion euro debt load. The world's third-largest retailer is already in...

Carrefour shows its savoir-faire. (Spotlight).(France)
April 21, 2003... PARIS -- Carrefour celebrated its 40th anniversary here last month with a three-day party the likes of which mass market retailing has never seen--and possibly never will again. The celebration took place at the exposition center at Le...

Ito-Yokado lowers profit projections. (Global).(Japan)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... TOKYO -- Japanese supermarket operator Ito-Yokado Co. last month lowered its profit projection for the year, saying that losses on store closures and remodelings, as well as higher-than-expected operating expenses related to new financial...

Boots will target core business. (Global).(to cut back noncore operations and discontinue its Wellbeing Services, UK)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... LONDON -- Boots PLC is cutting back on its noncore operations and will eliminate its Wellbeing Services. Withdrawing from all Wellbeing Services aside from dental care is part of the company's strategy of increasing its focus on its core...

Metro bucks tough environment. (Global).(Germany)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... DUSSELDORF, Germany -- German retailer Metro AG said late last month that its sales will increase by about 5% this year. Chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Koerber, who earlier in the month had his contract renewed until the beginning of...

Industry heavyweight enters diet category with innovation and insight: Leiner Health Products, an industry leader in self-care products, offers consumers new and innovative ways to diet. (Q&A).(Bob La Ferriere discusses Leiner's strategy, US)(Interview)
April 21, 2003... An interview with Bob La Ferriere Leiner Health Products EVP Marketing and Sales Q: Traditionally Leiner Health Products has been a player in the VMS and OTC categories--why have you decided to enter the diet segment at this time? A:...

Government steps into battle for Safeway. (Global).
April 21, 2003... LONDON -- The five-way race to acquire Britain's fourth-largest supermarket chain, Safeway PLC, has slowed to a crawl after the government ordered a full investigation into all but one of the bidders. The reviews are expected to take at least...

Wal-Mart joins Seiyu board. (Global).(5 Wal-Mart executives appointed to Seiyu board of directors, Japan)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... TOKYO -- Shareholders of Japanese retailer Seiyu Ltd. have approved the appointment of five executives from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to the company's board of directors. Wal-Mart presently owns 37.7% of Seiyu. The new appointees include John...

The myriad faces of Carrefour. (Global).(holds expo in Paris, France)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... At Carrefour's 40th anniversary exposition in Paris last month the retailer's 2,200 attendees from around the globe were invited to inspect the newest innovations from throughout Carrrefour's global empire. Individual booths highlighted fresh...

The Carrefour way. (Global).(exposition helps employees learn about the firm)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... The best-practices emphasis gave the Carrefour staffers who attended the retailer's 40th anniversary exposition an opportunity to learn what's working best for the retailer in its various operations around the world. To that end, they were...

Scripto's Nascar line of writing instruments. (Merchandising News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... SCRIPTO'S NASCAR LINE OF WRITING INSTRUMENTS: Scripto-Tokai Corp. has introduced a line of officially licensed NASCAR writing instruments featuring such race car drivers as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Jarrett. A special offer...

Revlon Moisturous lip color. (Merchandising News).(US)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... REVLON MOISTUROUS LIP COLOR: Revlon Inc. has introduced Moisturous lip color in 24 glistening shades designed to resist fading, feathering and bleeding. The emollient, gel-based formula features a triple-patented technology that provides...

Two `Stanley' titles available on DVD and VHS. (Merchandising News).(Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... TWO `STANLEY' TITLES AVAILABLE ON DVD AND VHS: Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc. has announced distribution on DVD and VHS of two Playhouse Disney animated Stanley titles--Hop To It and Spring Fever. The educational videos aimed at preschool...

Adams & Brooks candy combo bags. (Merchandising News).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... ADAMS & BROOKS CANDY COMBO BAGS: Adams & Brooks Inc. has announced plans to introduce in July two large combo bags of candy with Halloween graphics--Yum Factory and Candy Cosmos. Yum Factory includes a mix of such chocolate and chewy candy as...

Nicotine-free smoking cessation product. (Merchandising News).(NatraBio introduces NicoRx)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NICOTINE-FREE SMOKING CESSATION PRODUCT: NatraBio, a division of Botanical Laboratories Inc., has introduced NicoRx, a two-part, nicotine-free smoking-cessation product. Part one involves a mint-flavor anticraving gum designed to help with...

Nighttime teeth whitener. (Merchandising News).(Colgate-Palmolive Co.)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NIGHTTIME TEETH WHITENER: Colgate-Palmolive Co. has introduced Colgate Simply White night, a teeth whitening gel product to be applied once at night for 14 days. Selling for $14.99, the product uses polymer technology, allowing the gel to...

Magestic introduces Kutkit styptic swabs. (Merchandising News).(Magestic Drug Co.)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... MAGESTIC INTRODUCES KUTKIT STYPTIC SWABS: Magestic Drug Co. has introduced Kutkit styptic swabs, a liquid product for use in stopping the bleeding from shaving nicks as well as minor cuts and scrapes. Selling for $3.49, the 12 individual...

TLC'S `Trading Spaces' TV series on DVD. (Merchandising News).(Artisan Home Entertainment)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... TLC'S `TRADING SPACES' TV SERIES ON DVD: Artisan Home Entertainment has released on DVD Trading Spaces, a popular television series broadcast on The Learning Channel (TLC), selling for $19.98. Artisan Home Entertainment, 2700 Colorado Ave.,...

New Product Showcase to debut at Juvenile Products show. (Merchandising).
April 21, 2003... MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. -- The 2003 International Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) Show will launch a New Product Showcase. The showcase will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., May 2 through May 4, and will be located on the...

P&G ready to acquire Wella AG. (Merchandising).(Procter & Gamble Co.)
April 21, 2003... CINCINNATI -- Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) is set to take control of German hair care firm Wella AG in a transaction worth 6.5 billion euros ($7 billion). Coupled with its $4.9 billion purchase of Clairol in 2001, P&G's acquisition of Wella...

It's `retailtainment'. (Spotlight).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- One challenge virtually all retailers in the mass market confront is the fact that shopping is viewed as dull by many consumers. One response, typified best perhaps by Target Stores, is focusing on providing clean, neat and...

Big Lots touts thrill of closeout shopping. (Merchandising).(national advertising campaign)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Big Lots Inc. has launched a national advertising campaign designed to sell more consumers on the thrill of closeout shopping. The retailer has produced four new 30-second commercials featuring comedian Jerry Van Dyke. A...

Global shoppers connect with brands. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- According to an ACNielsen study, global consumers connect with brand franchises that symbolize trust, offer a specific expertise and group products logically. "Expertise, trust and logically related categories are the three key...

Rockline, Mexico's Mabesa team up on store brand diapers. (Merchandising).(Rockline Industries Inc., Grupo P.I. Mabe S.A. de C.V. launch joint venture Valor Brands L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Rockline Industries Inc. has joined forces with a Mexican company to produce store brand diapers and training pants for North American retailers. The two manufacturers have launched a joint venture company called Valor...

Study backs JointFlex efficacy. (Merchandising).(SmartScience Laboratories Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- SmartScience Laboratories Inc.'s JointFlex is effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain, a recent clinical study suggests. The results of the research, which were published in the March 2003 issue of Journal of...

Noritsu helps retailers in photo. (Merchandising).(Noritsu America Corp. to provide in-store promotional materials)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... BUENA PARK, Calif. -- Retailers do not benefit from their ability to offer prints from digital media unless their customers take advantage of the service. With that in mind, Noritsu America Corp. is providing retailers with an extensive...

Low prices key for Albertsons. (Merchandising).(pricing, promotions to boost sales)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons Inc. will continue to emphasize pricing and promotions as part of an ongoing effort to boost same-store sales, which fell 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2002. Chief financial officer Felicia Thornton told analysts...

In beer, wine and liquor, pricing is only part of the puzzle. (The IRI Quarterly).
April 21, 2003... While it is estimated that one-half of beer, wine and spirits purchasers will actively shop for deals, pricing is only part of the complex path toward increased profits. Strategic merchandising and retail execution are playing the leading roles...

It's `beachfront property'. (Front End).(the area by the check out counter)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- The front end, that last few feet of space in the area around the checkout counter, is sometimes referred to as the most valuable real estate in mass market retailing, and with good reason. Steve Burbridge, vice president of...

Front-End Focus study is revisited after five years. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- The first results of a long-awaited follow-up to the 1998 landmark "Front-End Focus" study have been released, and they underline the intensified competition for display space that characterizes the front end. The "Front-End...

Diversity, self-checkout, education shape approach. (Merchandising).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- A greater diversity of products, more and bigger beverage coolers, fewer magazines, a growing number of self-service checkout lanes and an expanding attempt to deliver information and influence shoppers' purchase behavior are among...

Candy, gum, mints flex their muscles. (Merchandising).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- The confectionary category (candy, gum and mints) commands more display space at the front end than any other. It is a major contributor of checkstand sales, profits and placement dollars for the nation's mass market retailers. ...

In digital world, batteries a must. (Front End).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- In the digitally connected, always-on world of the 21st century, battery consumption is likely to continue rising. From the personal digital assistant (PDA) to the portable CD player, electronic devices demanding portable power are...

Snack Food gets staple status. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- It was unusual to find snack food products at the front end of food, drug and discount stores a decade ago, but that is no longer the case. Today 64% of supermarkets include salty snacks in their checkstand product mix, and the...

Cameras, film a logical fit. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Film and single-use cameras are among the fastest-growing products at the front end, according to "Front-end Focus 2002," a new front-end study sponsored by Time Distribution Services, Dechert-Hampe & Co., Masterfoods USA and Wm....

Magazines compelling as ever. (Front End).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Magazines continue to be one of the top performers at the front end in supermarkets, discount stores and chain drug stores, but the category faces a number of challenges to its continued success. "Magazines use space very...

MPA lauds retailers for excellence. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- In order to boost category performance at the front end and throughout the store, the publishing industry is encouraging mass market retailers to adopt best practices in their merchandising efforts. Three retailers singled out...

New technology call for radical changes: kiosks, self-checkout offer advantages and create challenges for retailers. (Merchandising).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Technology promises to dramatically change the way customers are serviced and products are merchandised at the front end of mass market retail outlets. Some of the changes will require both retailers and their suppliers to make...

Distribution undergoes sea change. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... EW YORK -- There may be big changes in the offing for the frequently criticized distribution system that supplies publications to mass market retailers' front-end display racks and in-line fixtures. Comag Marketing Group president and...

Beverages fight for placement. (Merchandising).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Chilled soft drinks have earned a position in the front-end merchandise mix at most supermarkets, drug stores and discount stores over the past several years. Now other segments in the beverage category are fighting for space in...

Magazine buyers big spenders in supers. (Front End).(according to research commissioned by Magazine Publishers of America)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Magazine buyers are particularly valuable customers in the supermarket channel of mass market retailing, and the front end is the favored location among the highest-frequency purchasers of magazines. Those are among the key...

Time-pressed shoppers may decide not to buy. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Time has always been a critical issue for mass market shoppers, and it is only becoming more so with each passing year. Research indicates that three-quarters of time-pressed shoppers make their purchase decisions in six seconds or...

So many segments do so well. (Grooming).
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Grooming products encompass a diverse range of product categories from nail clippers to razors, from deodorants to after-shave lotion. But it is somewhat surprising that so many segments of the business are showing so much vitality...

Cross-merchandising means impulse sales. (Merchandising).(shaving items, depilatories can be cross-merchandized with sun care products)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Because of the strong impulse sales potential of many items in the grooming-products field, suppliers agree that many of the categories lend themselves well to cross merchandising tactics. Disposable razor blades, for example,...

As always, on-trend intros create interest, build sales. (Merchandising).(new products from Del Laboratories Inc., Neutrogena Corp., A.P. Deaville)(Brief Article)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- New products are the lifeblood of many categories, and there has been a steady stream of such items in the grooming arena. Among the most recent introductions is a line extension from Neutrogena Corp., the Neutrogena Men Power...

`Bare look' is in; depilatories hot. (Merchandising).(depilatory market continues to grow)
April 21, 2003... NEW YORK -- Although it has cooled off from its torrid growth rate of a year ago, the depilatory category continues to play an important role in the beauty care set of mass market retailers. According to Bill McMenemy, executive vice...