from the desk of Colleen Volheim, category research and analysis manager When was the last time you reviewed your product or product line and where it is in its lifecycle? It’s likely part of your annual planning, including a look at your market segment and share overall, as well as competitors’ positions, trends, consumer behavior, and … Read More
Beauty industry rebound…
…and how do I treat my maskne? by Fran Lewis, business development and marketing strategist In May, when the national mask and social distancing rules for those vaccinated were lifted, I was surprised at how quickly residential areas and businesses were to adapt. By the next day, post-mandate lift, my apartment complex in Milwaukee, WI … Read More
Understanding category performance within the independent pharmacy channel
from the desk of Colleen Volheim, category research and analysis manager The independent pharmacy channel is unique among its competing retailers in that it doesn’t have a headquarters that can provide comprehensive performance data to help you evaluate a particular category. To gain a cumulative overview, you have to seek out a trusted partner that … Read More
Data-empowered decision-making in the retail industry
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations Over the past 15+ months, new applications of analytics across the retail supply chain have been broadly implemented. From merchandising planning to retail pricing elasticity, demand recommendations to shopper personalization, analytics has taken a higher priority within many organizations. The worldwide health crisis put more emphasis on the … Read More
A brand’s e-commerce strategy should start with taxonomy
By Julie Bonnell, vice president operations In the world of e-commerce and product attributes, proper classification is paramount. Taxonomy is truly unique in that it’s not only about the products themselves, but about the vision a brand manufacturer has for its business and how that shapes the relationship with customers. For me, this quickly brings … Read More
Impress your retail partners with this visual tool
From the desk of Colleen Volheim, category and research analysis manager Heat mapping is a great tool to help build your case for deserving shelf space. Using sales data (in units or dollars), heat mapping highlights the top-selling products in a section or department. It’s a vibrant, visual way to depict the products that are … Read More
2019 new items by category
Did you know 70-90% of new CPG products fail*? What are the factors that contribute to a new item’s success? There could be a number of them related to trends, category, and timing, to name a few. For our June 2020 ROI e-newsletter for manufacturers, we spotlighted the timing of new product releases in 2019 compared … Read More
Back to the future of retail
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations According to an April survey from shopping rewards app Shopkick, CPG brands should be optimistic about the re-emergence of shoppers on the retail scene. Once stores reopen, 58% of respondents say they will shop as frequently as before the pandemic, while only 36% say they will shop less … Read More
A look at COVID-19 and HBW brands – past, present, and future
By Jen Johnston, CHHC, senior marketing services account manager It’s been a rocky few months for everyone, and manufacturers of health and wellness products have had their own set of challenges. Here is a quick look at where we’ve been, where we are, and where we might be going. Where we’ve been In the early … Read More
Repositioned 2019 New Items
We recently completed our annual review of new items introduced in 2019 to choose the top 50 products with greatest potential for longevity for Drug Store News. Fifty-two percent of the items selected were repositioned — items on the market previously that were rebranded, reformulated, or packaged differently, as well as new launches of products that have extended features of existing items … Read More