Mass Market Retailers articles from January 2003

Mass Market Retailers archives from January 2003

Wal-Mart P.R. bid OK. (Industry News).(acquisition of Puerto Rican chain Supermercados Amigo)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... A federal judge has allowed Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s acquisition of Supermercados Amigo to stand, overturning a decision by the Puerto Rico Justice Department to pursue antitrust action to block the discounter's acquisition of the island's...

Rite Aid credit pact. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Rite Aid Corp. has amended its senior credit facility in order to facilitate optional repurchases of its publicly traded debt and its senior secured notes that are due in 2006.

NYSE delists Kmart. (Industry News).(New York Stock Exchange)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Kmart Corp. has been delisted by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) last month after its share price failed to rise above $1 for 30 consecutive days. The delisting marks the first time in 84 years that the discounter's stock was not listed on...

Tesco on-line soars. (Industry News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Tesco.com, the on-line arm of United Kingdom food retailer Tesco PLC, made more than 110,000 grocery deliveries during Christmas week and attracted more than 2.5 million visitors last month.

Reranking at Nasdaq. (Industry News).(Whole Foods Market added to stock index)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. has reranked its Nasdaq-100 Index and has added natural and organic food retailer Whole Foods Market Inc., which had a market capitalization of $2.7 billion at the time of ranking, to the index.

Coughlin MMR Retailer of Year. (MMR Retailer of the Year).(Tom Coughlin of Wal-Mart)
January 13, 2003... "Tom Coughlin manages Wal-Mart one store at a time, and one person at a time, better than anyone at this company ever has." --David Glass, former president and chief executive officer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- A...

Super-Pharm's Koffler honored. (MMR International Retailer of the Year).(Leon Koffler)
January 13, 2003... HERZLIYA PITUACH, Israel -- For his achievement in bringing North American-style chain drug retailing to Israel and, more recently, to Poland, Leon Koffler has been named MMR's International Mass Market Retailer of the Year for 2002. ...

EPC is the wave of the future.(electronic product codes, Auto-ID Center)
January 13, 2003... Last month some 150 retailers, supplier executives and technocrats gathered quietly and with little apparent fanfare at the Westin Hotel in Cincinnati for two crowded days of discussion, speculation, observation and deduction. At the end of the...

Xmas sales disappoint everyone.
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- There's no other way to say it: The holiday selling season that ended two weeks ago was a disappointing one--at best. Several factors contributed to the season's lackluster sales, but the dominant cause was the shortened number of...

Albertsons completes changeover. (News).(conversion to Albertsons-Osco stores)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... OMAHA, Neb. -- Albertsons Inc. has completed the conversion of all of its stores here to Albertsons-Osco combination food and drug units. The $30 million project included the conversion of seven traditional Albertsons units into...

Kmart still sees Chap. 11 exit. (News).(bankruptcy reorganization)
January 13, 2003... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart Corp. expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this summer even as a round of store closings by the discounter last year and recent price markdowns negatively impacted third quarter results. The chain,...

Ingles President, CEO Fisher announces retirement. (News).(Vaughn Fisher of Ingles Markets)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... ASHVILLE, N.C. -- Vaughn (Vic) Fisher has retired from his position as president and chief operating officer of Ingles Markets Inc. Ingles operates 199 supermarkets in six Southeastern states. The company also runs 77 neighborhood shopping...

Fleming heads Walmart.com. (News).(John Fleming)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... BRISBANE, Calif. -- Walmart.com chief operating officer John Fleming has been been promoted to president and chief executive officer of the discounters's Internet operation. "The walmart.com program has continued to improve under John's...

New FDA regs have pros, cons. (News).(Food and Drug Administration rules on food health claims)
January 13, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Food processors and distributors have hailed a move by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing food products to carry health claims without definitive proof of the benefits. But the agency's action has drawn criticism...

Winn-Dixie debuts Baby Rewards. (News).(loyalty program)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. has introduced a Baby Rewards Club that includes discounts on merchandise, entries into sweepstakes and other special offers. "Winn-Dixie is committed to first-class customer service," says Al...

Profit outlook revised downward by Costco. (News).
January 13, 2003... ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- With sales growth slowing, Costco Wholesale Corp. has revised its earnings projections downward and scaled back its capital investment plans for the year. Analysts have responded by cutting their earnings forecasts for the...

Food 4 less unit. (News).(Las Vegas, Nevada)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... LAS VEGAS -- Kroger Co.'s Food 4 Less Supermarkets Inc. unit has opened its eighth store in Clark County here. Featuring a state-of-the-art design, the new East Tropicana Ave. location offers supermarket quality with a wide selection of...

Walgreens, Mayo Clinic extend, expand venture. (News).(health information on Walgreen web site)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. will continue to provide health information from the Mayo Clinic on its web site under an extension of the content agreement between the two entities. The extended and expanded agreement that runs until 2009...

Revlon gets $150 million infusion. (News).(rights offering)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- Revlon Inc. has announced a proposed $150 million cash infusion to fund its growth plans. The proposal calls for MacAndrews & Forbes, an investment firm wholly owned by Ronald Perelman, to back a $50 million rights offering by...

Wal-Mart contemplates appeal in Oregon suit. (News).(unpaid overtime case)
January 13, 2003... PORTLAND, Ore. -- A federal jury here last month found Wal-Mart Stores Inc. guilty of forcing its employees to work unpaid overtime. The decision, which covered 400 current and former workers from 18 stores in the state, found that from...

Tough holiday season leaves mark on retail. (News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- The slowest holiday sales growth in decades may force some United States retailers to shutter stores or even file for bankruptcy protection, especially if consumer confidence keeps declining, say industry analysts. Specialty...

Kmart goes Chap. 11, retrenches. (News).(bankruptcy reorganization)
January 13, 2003... TROY, Mich. -- Kmart Corp., once the nation's largest discount retailer, had to settle for a more dubious distinction in 2002. The company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing was the largest ever by a retailer. The move was attributed to...

What made news in 2002. (News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Two thousand and two was a tumultuous time for mass market retailers. The year brought new faces in top management, a Chapter 11 filing, market departures and the demises of a deep-discount drug store chain and a regional discounter. In short,...

Ames loses battle to regain viability. (News).(Ames Department Stores Inc. to close all stores)
January 13, 2003... ROCKY HILL, Conn. -- Add Ames Department Stores Inc. to the roster of chains that have tried to struggle through bankruptcy but that have ultimately failed. Ames through in the towel in 2002, announcing in August that it planned to liquidate...

Albertsons exits four markets. (News).(Houston, San Antonio, Memphis, Nashville)
January 13, 2003... BOISE, Idaho -- Albertsons Inc. announced last March that it would be exiting four major markets representing a combined $1.3 billion in sales. Sales in Houston, San Antonio, Memphis and Nashville did not meet the company's standards for return...

Supers struggle as discounters make gains in food. (News).(impact on national chains)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- How big an impact is the discount store industry's aggressive push into food having on the nation's supermarket chains? If recent stagnant growth rates in the supermarket channel are any indication, the impact is quite big, indeed....

Wal-Mart taps Turner to revitalize Sam's. (What Made News In 2002).(Kevin Turner to head Sam's Club warehouse operations)
January 13, 2003... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- It is always news whenever anything happens at the world's largest retail company. When the leadership changes atop one of its biggest units, that news makes headlines. Such was the case with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s...

Muddled economic outlook raises questions for retailers. (News).
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- President Harry Truman once told a reporter that he wanted to hire a one-armed economist so he would never be able to begin a sentence with the words, "On the other hand...." No doubt, President Truman would have found current...

Phar-Mor, deep-discount drug store pioneer, folds. (What Made News In 2002).
January 13, 2003... YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- In a mass market retail environment that seems less and less hospitable to all but the largest of chains, another scrappy contender succumbed in 2002. Phar-Mor Inc., which at its height numbered almost 300 stores, could not...

Changing of the guard at ShopKo. (News).(ShopKo Stores president William Podany resigns)
January 13, 2003... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- After seven-and-a-half years as the primary force driving ShopKo Stores Inc.'s merchandising efforts William Podany bowed out early in the second quarter. Citing personal reasons, Podany stepped down from his positions as...

Smooth transition under way at Walgreens. (News).(succession planning)
January 13, 2003... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- There may not be a company in the chain drug industry--indeed, in all of retailing--with as long a tradition of thoughtful, well planned management succession as Walgreen Co. Starting with members of the Walgreen family...

Fleming decides to exit retail. (News).
January 13, 2003... DALLAS -- The year 2002 brought about a major shift in the business strategy of Fleming Cos., with the wholesaler deciding last fall to divest its retail operations in order to focus on its core wholesale distribution business. The divestiture...

Scoreboard. (Money News).(retail sales, income)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... SCOREBOARD Quarter Dollar % RETAILERS Ended Sales Change Albertsons (1) 10/31 8.66 bil -4.2 Costco (2) 11/24 9.01 bil +8.6 Family Dollar 11/30 ...

Kmart in compliance with credit terms. (Money News).(bankruptcy agreement terms)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Kmart Corp. says that despite recent delays in filing monthly and quarterly financial statements with federal regulators, it remains in compliance with its $2 billion bankruptcy agreement.

Wal-Mart to sell $10 billion in debt securities. (Money News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. filed a plan with the Securities and Exchange Commission last month to sell up to $10 billion in debt securities. The retailer says it will use the proceeds from the shelf offering for corporate purposes, including capital...

Sobeys to purchase outstanding shares. (Money News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Canadian food distributor Sobeys Inc. has said it will purchase up to 300,000 common shares of its stock over the next year. The buyback would represent 0.45% of the company's more than 66 million outstanding shares. Executives say the purchase...

Shopko retires $100 million term loan. (Money News).(ShopKo Stores)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... ShopKo Stores Inc. last month said it was voluntarily retiring the $100 million term loan portion of its credit facility with Fleet Retail Finance Inc. The retirement of the loan portion of ShopKo's credit facility reduces the total or the...

Albertsons to repurchase $500 million in stock. (Money News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Albertsons Inc.'s board of directors last month approved to purchase up to $500 million of the company's outstanding common stock this year. The plan comes on the heels of the chain's $1 billion buyback program that ended December 31. Under...

Ingles declares quarterly cash dividend. (Money News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Supermarket chain Ingles Markets Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16.5 cents a share for its Class A common stock and 15 cents a share for its Class B shares.

Biggest gainers. (Money).(retail stock prices)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... BIGGEST GAINERS Close Change % Stock 12/13/02 vs. 11/29/02 Change McKesson 26.88 +0.96 +3.7 Smart & Final 5.40 +0.13 +2.5 Big Lots 13.00 ...

Biggest losers. (Money).(retail stock prices)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... BIGGEST LOSERS Close Change % Stock 12/13/02 vs. 11/29/02 Change ValueCity 1.88 -1.33 -41.4 drugstore.com 1.67 -0.39 -18.9 Dillard's 16.16...

Most active. (Money).(retail stock trading)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... MOST ACTIVE vol. (000) As a % Change vs. 1 Wk. Ended of Total 1 Wk. Ended Stock 12/13/02 Shares 11/29/02 Duane Reade 1,813 10.7 +261.1 Costco ...

Kroger in a slump. (Spotlight).(sales and earnings for third quarter of fiscal 2002 )
January 13, 2003... CINCINNATI -- With sales growth continuing to decelerate, Kroger Co. saw adjusted earnings before onetime items slump in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Blaming the weak economy and rising unemployment, management cut its forecast for 2003 to...

Slim profit recorded by ShopKo. (Money).(third quarter 2002 sales/earnings information for discount store operator ShopKo Stores Inc.)
January 13, 2003... GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Aided by improved gross margins and lower interest expense, ShopKo Stores Inc. overcame continued sales declines to edge into the black during the third quarter. The adoption of an accounting change earlier in the year...

Special items lift Dollar General net. (Money).(third quarter fiscal 2002 financials)
January 13, 2003... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Adjusted net income failed to keep pace with double-digit sales growth as Dollar General Corp. found operating costs difficult to rein in during the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Moreover, in the face of an uncertain...

Net up, sales off at Albertsons. (Money).(third quarter fiscal 2002 financials)
January 13, 2003... BOISE, Idaho -- Despite a drop in sales, Albertsons Inc. parlayed gross margin improvement, a lower tax rate and the impact of noncomparable items into bottom-line growth in the third quarter of fiscal 2002. On an adjusted basis, however,...

On-line shopping now a viable option. (Opinion).(Editorial)
January 13, 2003... While most brick-and-mortar retailers were hard-pressed to generate significant sales gains during the holiday season, on-line merchants continued to make headway in winning the hearts and minds of American consumers. Although-the estimates of...

Better food labels on the horizon. (Opinion).(FDA adopts 'reasonable consumer' standard to examine food labels)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... WASHINGTON -- By adopting the Federal Trade Commission's standard for food advertising last month, the Food and Drug Administration moved a step closer to providing American consumers with more informative label information, the Grocery...

Analyst anticipates year of slow growth. (Industry Leaders Look Ahead).(opinions of Ira Kalish on retail and economy in 2003 )
January 13, 2003... LOS ANGELES -- This year promises to be one of slow growth, says Ira Kalish, chief economist and director of retail intelligence for the consulting firm Retail Forward Inc. Given that likelihood, he expects consumers to maintain a value...

AG's Weiss: `I'm optimistic ... (Opinion).(economic outlook of Morry Weiss, chief executive officer of American Greetings)
January 13, 2003... CLEVELAND -- Morry Weiss, chief executive officer of American Greetings Corp., is convinced that 2003 will be a year of opportunity and promise and that silver linings abound--provided the few dark clouds either lift or remain in the...

Always a place for supers. (Opinion).(CEO of Pathmark Stores Inc sees supermarket format remaining constant; Pathmark plans)
January 13, 2003... CARTERET, N.J. -- Sales gains are going to be as hard to come by in 2003 as they were in 2002, predicts Pathmark Stores Inc. chief executive officer Eileen Scott. Supermarket sales and earnings have been constrained by the state of the...

Coles Myer earnings. (Global News).(target for 2002/2003 earnings is 425-435 million Australian dollars)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Coles Myer confirmed its 2002/2003 earnings target of between 425 million and 435 million Austrailian dollars (about $238 million and $244 million). The retailer projected "satisfactory" holiday sales. Analysts said that a subpar performance...

German hours shift. (Global News).(cabinet okays extension of Saturday shopping hours)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... The German cabinet approved proposed legislation allowing retailers to open four additional hours on Saturdays, hoping the move will lift the economy. Saturday hours will be extended until 8 p.m., but a Sunday ban will remain. The proposal,...

Aeon profit rise. (Global News).(supermarket concern's financials for third quarter 2002)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Japanese supermarket chain Aeon Co. reposed its operating profit for the third quarter ended November 20 grew 6.4 billion yen (about $768 million) thanks to a pickup in same-store sales and cost-cutting moves. Same-store volume rose 1% after...

Carrefour offering. (Global News).(public tender offer for Centros Comerciales Carrefour designed to simplify structure)
January 13, 2003... Carrefour SA shareholders approved a capital increase for the funding of the public tender offer launched by the company for shares of Centros Comerciales Carrefour, its Spanish subsidiary. The deal will simplify the company's structures and...

Auchan loyalty card. (Global News).(Auchan Luxembourg debuts Auchan Card)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Auchan Luxembourg has launched a free Auchan Card allowing customers to save money in virtual accounts. Purchases of selected items at an Auchan hypermarket will build up money in an account for subsequent in-store purchases. The money can be...

Boots will shake up top ranks. (Global).(chief executive Steve Russell to be replaced; chairman John McGrath plans to retire in summer)
January 13, 2003... NOTTINGHAM, England -- Boots PLC will replace chief executive Steve Russell "in order to drive strategic change faster," chairman John McGrath announced last month. Russell, 57, has been chief executive of the British drug chain since...

Carrefour reaches crossroads. (Spotlight).(potential company options explored in report by Retail Forward Inc)
January 13, 2003... PARIS -- Having surmounted the biggest challenges of its expansion drive of recent years, Carrefour SA, the world's second-largest retailer, is now faced with the task of polishing its bottom line and finding new sources of growth. That is...

German shoppers pull back. (Global).(retail setback results in chain stores gaining ground)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... BERLIN -- The face of retailing in Germany is changing, those who watch retailing in this country say, with shoppers' recent reluctance to buy forcing small shops out of business and helping chains tighten their grip on the market. Experts...

Asda unveils George sportswear. (Global).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... LONDON -- Asda is reportedly readying for a major push of its George brand into sportswear. To bolster the launch the retailer is debuting a subbrand called George Performance, which includes T-shirts, shorts, ski wear and track suits made from...

Ahold sells natural product unit. (Global).(to NBTY Inc.'s subsidiary Holland & Barrett)
January 13, 2003... ZAANDAM, the Netherlands -- Ahold NV has agreed to sell its wholly owned subsidiary De Tuinen (The Garden), a chain of 65 natural product stores located throughout the Netherlands, to nutritional supplements manufacturer and marketer NBTY Inc....

Comerci gets ready to battle Wal-Mart. (Global).(Controladora Comercial Mexicana buying 5 hypermarkets, intends further purchases/partnerships)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... MONTERREY, Mexico -- Comerci intends to follow up its recent acquisition of five hypermarkets in Mexico with an aggressive pursuit of mergers or partnerships with other supermarketers in the country to take on market leader Wal-Mart de Mexico...

Wal-Mart ups stake in Japan's Seiyu. (Global).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... TOKYO -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc has increased its stake in supermarketer Seiyu Ltd., making it the chain's largest shareholder and laying the groundwork for a foreign company to take control of a top Japanese retailer for the first time. ...

Revlon's Passion Punch colors for spring 2003. (Merchandising News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Revlon Inc. has announced plans to introduce in its Passion Punch collection for eyes, lips and nails in March. The line includes such products and shades as eye sheen in bronzeberry mist and apricot mist; brush-on shine lip gloss in punchy...

Irish Spring Icy Blast deodorant soap. (Merchandising News).(Colgate-Palmolive Co)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Colgate-Palmolive Co. has expanded its Irish Spring line to include Icy Blast deodorant soap. Available in a 4.5-ounce bar and 3-, 6-, 8-and 12-bar packs, the item ranges in price from $1.99 to $5.89. Colgate-Palmolive Co., 300 Park Ave., New...

Totally Nutty line of foot care products. (Merchandising News).(pH Beauty Labs)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... pH Beauty Labs has launched its Totally Nutty foot care line including five products--cocobutter foot soak, walnut shell foot scrub, shea nut foot scrub, cocomint foot lotion and shea butter heel cream. Formulated with nut oils and shea nut...

Pentel to launch Carnival automatic pencil. (Merchandising News).(Pentel of America Ltd)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Pentel of America Ltd. has announced plans to introduce the Carnival automatic pencil in April 2003. Aimed at `tween' girls, the slim, lightweight barrel will be available in five sparkling colors--smoke, blue, green, pink and violet. The...

Rembrandt stain removal mouthwash. (Merchandising News).(Rembrandt Oral Care Products)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Rembrandt Oral Care Products, a division of Den-Mat Corp., has introduced its intense stain removal mouthwash containing Amysil. Selling for $5.99, the mouthwash, which is alcohol- and sugar-free, is formulated to be gentle on gum tissue....

K&M introduces Wild Explorers brand of toys. (Merchandising News).(K&M International Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... K&M International Inc. has introduced its Wild Explorers line of nature-themed toys. Key items include: interactive plush, highlighting such plush toys with electronic features as the boa conductor musical snake and tune toes musical frog; play...

LDS introduces O-T-C wart-removal product. (Merchandising News).(LDS Consumer Products)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... LDS Consumer Products has announced plans to introduce this spring an over-the-counter wart-removal product called Wartner. LDS, the U.S. distributor, plans to roll it out in April. Wartner offers a method for freezing common warts at home...

Cover Girl Outlast Pearls collection. (Merchandising News).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Procter & Gamble Co.'s Cover Girl brand has expanded its Outlast all-day lip color line to include the Outlast Pearls collection with PermaTone, combining color with a shimmering finish. Available in 14 hues, the color coat and top coat, sold...

U.S. camera unit sales (monthly and year-to-date comparisons through August 2002). (Merchandising).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... U.S. Camera Unit Sales (Monthly and Year-to-Date Comparisons Through August 2002) Changes Vs. Year Earlier Type of Camera Aug-02 Year-to-date Analog -22% -24%...

Kmart woos Hispanics. (Spotlight).(Will launch exclusive Thalia line for 2003 back-to-school season)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- Kmart Corp. officials are hoping that a line of clothing and accessories inspired by a Mexican pop star will win the loyalty of an important demographic while creating another franchise like Martha Stewart or Joe Boxer. The...

Del readies major line extension. (Merchandising).(Del Laboratories will extend Sally Hansen brand into face and color cosmetics)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Del Laboratories is taking its Sally Hansen brand, one of the industry's best-selling nail care lines, into the face and color cosmetics arena. The 106-SKU collection of foundations, powders, concealers, eye products and...

Adams sold to Cadbury. (Merchandising).(Cadbury Schweppes PLC agrees to buy Pfizer Inc's Adams confectionery business )(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- Cadbury Schweppes PLC has agreed to acquire Pfizer Inc.'s Adams confectionery business for $4.2 billion. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2003. Pfizer also says it will divest its Schick-Wilkinson Sword...

Consortium set to unveil myriad items. (Merchandising).(Chain Drug Consortium)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... BOCA RATON, Fla. -- In the coming months the eight members of the Chain Drug Consortium will be given the chance to offer a wide range of products under an exclusive brand name. According to group members, the consortium will rush a wide...

What's sold on-line at Christmas. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Books, prerecorded entertainment, apparel and electronics were the top-selling products on-line this holiday season, a recent report finds. According to the eSpending Report from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Harris Interactive...

The IRI quarterly. (Merchandising).(Mass merchandisers need to differentiate to take advantage of consumer cross-shopping)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... While consumer spending has been one of the continuing bright spots in the nation's economy, where people shop and why continues to shift. Supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchandisers, supercenters--nearly everyone has found some benefit in...

Health, wellness call shots. (Merchandising).(Sales in personal care appliance sector are driven by wellness and health concerns)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- Health and wellness concerns are driving sales in the personal care appliance category. Retailers and vendors say that aging baby boomers in particular are becoming more proactive about their health and are seeking devices that...

Waterless vaporizers have advantages. (Merchandising).(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Waterless vaporizers represent a new and welcome addition to the vaporizer segment of the personal care category. The vaporizer has long been the weapon of choice for millions of people who are challenged to breathe...

Sharp pricing on power brushes. (Personal Care).(Many power-assisted toothbrushes are now comparably priced with some manual toothbrushes)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- As the price points on power-assisted toothbrushes have come down to a point where many models are now comparably priced with some manual brushes, the segment has become one of the best-performing areas in the personal care...

Relief for tired, aching feet. (Merchandising).(Personal care appliance vendors offer various foot appliances)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- Personal care appliance vendors are doing their best to make sore feet a thing of the past. Conair Corp., for example, has developed a foot bath product that can only be described as a whirlpool spa for the feet. "One of...

Heat therapy finds myriad uses. (Personal Care).(Heating pads become staple of personal care appliance sector)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- Because they can be used to provide relief from a variety of aches and pains, heating pads have become a staple of the personal care appliance category. Proven to ease the discomfort associated with everything from muscle...

Ceramic technology, ions hottest in dryers. (Merchandising).(Conair Corp offers hair dryer with ion "port" on barrel; notes other developments)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK -- The average woman spends 20 to 30 minutes blow-drying her hair every day, and the makers of electric hair dryers keep developing technologies to make that time more productive. Two of the hottest trends in the category involve...