General Merchandise

CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Pacific Shore Holdings, Inc., introduced the new Thermal-Aid Zoo animal "Mini's". The Thermal-Aid Zoo animals are a 100% natural therapeutic, heating/cooling plush animals specifically designed for kids, to reduce swelling, ease pain and give kids of all ages a "huggable" pal year round, the company stated. The Mini's are smaller versions of the original Thermal-Aid Zoo animal, which the company founder Matthew Mills calls the "next big collectable."

OMAHA, Neb. — Sergeant's Pet Care Products has created an innovative product called Vetscription PetSTOP! behavior correction spray for dogs and cats to help modify destructive or aggressive behavior. This new spray combines noise and a specially developed pheromone mist to provide quick, effective results. The spray's patent-pending pheromone mist is longer-lasting than noise products alone, so it helps redirect the pet's attention and behavior, and reminds pets not to re-engage in negative behavior, such as excessive barking, chewing or pulling on a leash.

According to a July 2013 poll of more than 500 AccentHealth viewers with children of school age, kid's annual physicals and back-to-school shopping go hand-in-hand. Approximately 75% of respondents take their child for a back-to-school physical. Of those, 4-out-of-5 do so at least four weeks before the first day of school-the time at which the majority of viewers indicate their back-to-school shopping kicks off.

The pervasiveness of Facebook and Twitter has not killed the greeting card and gift wrap category. "Managers are telling us that the category continues to hold its own and, in some cases, is growing nicely," said Mark Deuschle, VP business development and chief marketing officer at the Global Marketing Development Center. "Greeting cards remain not only a top trip driver, but also one of the most profitable categories in the drug store environment," said Sabrina Wiewel, VP of Hallmark's chain drug team.

Numbers can be deceiving in the baby category. While overall category sales are down, the drug channel is seeing nice increases in specific segments within the category. The numbers suggest that drug retailers could be missing an opportunity.

"Toy dollar sales are up 4% in the drug store channel," said David Luth, principal at Radian Group, a market research firm. "The chains that do the best in this category are those that make an intentional decision to be in the business. That doesn't mean that they have to devote 80 ft. to the category, but if they devote 20 ft., they should do a great job with the space they give it. They have to have the right toys at competitive prices."

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Hot Cherry Pillow has been introduced to consumers seeking therapeutic relief from neck pain, backaches, sore muscles or tired feet. Using real cherry pits inside a fabric cover, the heated pillows provide muscle relief and emit the enticing aroma of cherry pie, according to the company.

NEW YORK — Last month, Schoolies, a line of preschool books and flash cards published by Priddy Books, a division of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, launched into mass, book, specialty and online retailers across the country in time for the back-to-school seson. Now, the company is set to launch nine new titles for spring 2014.