Winter Holidays

NEW YORK — A new collection from leader in luxury nail polish company, essie has been unveiled. The go-to nail brand for beauty professionals, celebrities, and fashion icons has introduced six new shades that were inspired by the glitz and glamour of the upcoming holiday season. 

Colors ranging from ruby red to magenta purple, with a little sparkle and shine will be available along with the brand’s speed.setter and gel.setter top coats – to complete the consumer’s manicure. The new shades being introduced are:

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — FedEx and Walgreens on Monday announced that FedEx package pickup and drop-off services are now available at more than 7,500 Walgreens locations in all 50 U.S. states. The milestone comes 10 months after the companies announced a long-term alliance agreement to offer convenient access to FedEx pickup and drop off at thousands of Walgreens locations across the country.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Hershey’s adds a new flavor to its collection for the first time in 20 years. The Hershey's Gold Caramelized Creme Peanuts & Pretzels bars feature a caramelized crème flavor with salty peanut and pretzel bits, topped off with a creamy and crunchy finish.

CHICAGO — Winter is coming, and with it the sneezes and sniffles, the wheezes and coughs that typically make for a robust cough-cold season. According to a Neilsen blog post from Wednesday, more than half (59%) of annual over-the-counter cold and flu medications were purchased between November 2016 and January 2017, according to Nielsen retail measurement sales for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 26, 2017.

Overall, dollar sales grew 7% during last year's 2016-17 cold and flu season, compared to the 2015-16 period, Nielsen reported.

Online sales are expected to go through the roof on Cyber Monday, growing 16.5% over last year.

That’s according to a report from Adobe, which predicts that Cyber Monday will generate $6.6 billion in sales, making it the largest online shopping day in history. Online sales on Thanksgiving Day are expected to increase 15% to $2.8 billion.

Adobe expects that total online sales for the holiday season will be $107.4 billion, an increase of 13.8%. In-store retail is expected to grow 10%.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has unveiled a multi-pronged holiday strategy that emphasizes convenience, expanded assortments, price discounts, speedy deliveries — and in-store fun. The company said it will throw three themed parties at its stores (for a total of 20,000 parties chainwide) over the course of the season. At the parties, which will include product demonstrations, customers will be able to test (and, in some instances, taste) top holiday items.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets has launched the company’s annual fundraiser, Food For All. Running from Nov. 1 through Nov. 22, the campaign works with customers and associates to raise money in support of nonprofit organizations serving individuals within the local community.

KENNEBUNK, Maine. – Tom’s of Maine, creators of toothpaste for adults set out to use their expertise and success in making effective, natural toothpastes to construct an offering for children. The Silly Strawberry Natural Children's Toothpaste resulted from this effort and 25 years later, the company is celebrating the anniversary of the product's launch.