General Merchandise

DEERFIELD, Ill. — A new product is designed to allow people to carry their smartphone, money, photo ID, credit card and key in one container, and the company is giving thousands of them away for free as part of a limited-time offer.

Grab N Go Band said it would give one free band for everyone who signs up at its website, and the final number of giveaways is limited only by the number of backers of the associated Kickstarter campaign.

NEW YORK — Keeping counterfeit and diverted drugs out of the U.S. drug supply chain will require closing vulnerable regulatory gaps that risk letting them in, according to a new report by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is hiring a former CIA officer to give parents tips on looking for presents for children who might not be forthcoming about what they want.

The mass-merchandise retailer said it had hired Jonna Mendez as a "kids' gift detective." Mendez will appear in videos with popular mom bloggers who will work with her on looking for presents.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. — The Yankee Candle Co. has introduced a new line of holiday-themed scented candles, the company said Monday.

The South Deerfield, Mass., announced the introduction of four new holiday-themed Yankee Candle fragrances and five Pure Radiance fragrances, also holiday-themed.

The company said the fragrances are designed to evoke nostalgia for baking holiday cookies and celebrating with loved ones. The candles are available at Yankee's more than 500 stores, as well as gift shops and other retailers.

NEW YORK — Consumers are holiday shopping sooner and spending more this year due to a late Thanksgiving and shorter holiday shopping season, according to a new survey by American Express.

The latest American Express Spending and Saving Tracker indicates that shoppers will spend $1,260 this year — up $400 from last year — and 27% are already looking for deals and plan to finish before Dec. 1, from 24% last year. Thirty-seven percent expect to finish shopping the week before Christmas, compared with 33% last year.

CHICAGO — According to IRI's Q3 2013 MarketPulse survey results released Tuesday, 85% of American consumers were aware of the looming debt ceiling crisis and of the government shutdown, which is clearly impacting their views of their personal finances, including their approach to grocery shopping. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumers will take a conservative approach to spending this holiday season. According to NRF’s holiday consumer spending survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, the average holiday shopper will spend $737.95 on gifts, decor, greeting cards and more, 2% less than the $752.24 they actually spent last year. Despite this reduction in individual holiday budgets, NRF is forecasting holiday sales will increase 3.9% to $602.1 billion.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart will kick off the holiday shopping season by launching a new lease-to-own program in time for Black Friday, the massmerchandise retailer said Tuesday.

Kmart said it would launch the program through Whynot Leasing and make it available nationwide starting on Nov. 22. Sears, also part of parent company Sears Holdings, also is launching the program, making it available for more than 95 million items via Sears Marketplace, including electronics, home goods, jewelry and tools, as well as major brands and boutique items.