General Merchandise

’Tis the season for toy and electronics gifts. It’s no coincidence that it’s also the biggest time of the year for battery sales. Ramping up displays can help retailers optimize the season.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

MIDDLETON, Wis. — Spectrum Brands Holdings’ Rayovac battery division recently launched a new line of portable charging products, including the Rayovac 2-Hour Power mobile charging device, which provides instant power to Apple and Micro USB mobile devices. Other new products are the 7-Hour Back-Up Power Pack, the Phone Boost Keychain Charger and portable USB Car & Wall Chargers.

NEW YORK — According to a Credit Suisse analysis of the drug channel published Wednesday, drug stores are in for a challenging winter across the front-end with an embattled consumer continuing to hold back and the continued proliferation of dollar stores that are attracting value-driven trips to their channel. 

CHICAGO — Target will play host to a new series of educational events sponsored by Bump Club and Beyond, an event company focused on educating mothers and expectant mothers.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. — The Yankee Candle Co. will introduce the new holiday-inspired Snow Globes collection, the company announced Wednesday.  

WAUKESHA, Wis. — On Jan. 23, 2014 Hamacher Resource Group will offer its most popular workshop, "How to Grow Sales Within Independent Pharmacy," at its headquarters in Waukesha, Wis., the company announced Wednesday. 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Mass merchandiser Kmart is planning to roll out lease-to-own financing at stores around the country this holiday season, the Sears Holdings-owned chain said Wednesday.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Seattle drug store chain Bartell Drugs is offering custom printing in its stores through a pilot program with Kodak Alaris, the photography giant said Wednesday.

Kodak said a Bartell store in Seattle's University Village shopping center would offer consumers a full-service, digital-to-print media system with On Demand Books' Espresso Book Machine, integrated with Kodak Picture Kiosks. The pilot program marks the first time the system has been offered in a drug store environment.