In theory, everyone wants to use “better for you” products, but whether the average consumer is willing to put the time and energy into finding those products can be the deciding factor. by Megan Moyer, corporate marketing manager, as appeared in Inside Beauty for Drug Store News Finding clean beauty products can be hard to navigate. A … Read More
By Colleen Volheim, category research & analysis manager, as seen in Chain Drug Review General merchandise is subject to the same challenges nearly all products are currently experiencing — supply chain issues and inflation. According to the NPD Group, April 2022 U.S. GM unit sales were 7% lower than a year ago, creating a 1% decline … Read More
By Colleen Volheim, category research & analysis manager, as seen in Chain Drug Review Planning for new product launches, existing product growth, or expansion — of a product line or into a new channel, market, or region — is best guided by market research, consumer feedback, and performance data. Extensive market research isn’t always easy … Read More
By Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations, as seen in Chain Drug Review According to a study released earlier this year by Kline and Co., “Cosmetics and Toiletries USA,” the U.S. beauty and personal care market surpassed $85 billion in retail sales in 2021, a rise of $7 billion from 2019 sales levels. This marks the … Read More
by Dave Wendland, vice president strategic relations, as seen on the IndiePet website. The importance of maintaining personal health has most definitely translated to the pet space, and owners are looking for brands to provide quality products with transparent claims and clean ingredients. Have you considered what wellness means to your shoppers? I like this … Read More
by Megan Moyer, corporate marketing manager, as seen on the IndiePet website. It’s not always easy for independent retailers to find their niche in the community. Many aren’t sure how to begin to figure this out. A place to start is to review your product assortment. Start by looking at your competitors, customers, and community. … Read More
By Sean Grudzinski, product research & analysis manager, as seen in Chain Drug Review Controlling the product journey all the way from planogram to the shopping basket isn’t easy but, to deliver the shopping experience you want for your customers, you must find a way. With the right resources (internal or trusted partners) you can … Read More
By Dave Wendland, for Forbes Agency Council, as appeared on Forbes.com I began talking about the concept of unboxed retail about five years ago. You may be scratching your head wondering what I mean by “unboxed retail.” The fact of the matter is that shopper behaviors have changed dramatically from their reliance on brick-and-mortar storefronts. Today’s shoppers are … Read More
By Megan Moyer, corporate marketing manager, as seen on National Grocers Association website Finding a niche in your community is a good way to build a competitive advantage. If you and your competitors carry many of the same brands and items, bringing in products that are unique to your store can be a strong differentiator. … Read More
By Julie Bonnell, vice president operations, as seen in Mass Market Retailers As the focus on e-commerce has been heightened the past few years, manufacturers and retailers have, in many cases, invested in their websites. In some cases, functionality needed streamlining, in others, content needed updating and/or improvement, and in others still, e-commerce had to … Read More