General Merchandise

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — With shoppers looking for ways to buy things more conveniently, it's clear that the age of the multichannel consumer is well under way, and retailers would be wise to respond in kind. Many of them have already done so.

According to retail consulting firm Upstream Commerce, convenience ranks at the top of reasons why consumers shop online, and as recent news has shown, this is just as true for supermarkets as it is for anyone else.

LOS ANGELES — With the holiday shopping season approaching, one group has released a guide to goods produced domestically.

The Made in USA Foundation announced the latest edition of the "All-American Holiday Gift Guide," which shows readers how to buy American-made Christmas and Hannukah gifts, ornaments and cards, with sections on toys, jewelry, games and other items for men, women and children. Co-published with Made in USA Certified, the 115-page guide also includes food-related items, such as chocolates, blenders and stoves.

QUINCY, Mass. — Stop & Shop is opening a new store that will include new features that emphasize customer experience, the company said.

Stop & Shop, a division of the U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Ahold, said the Wayland, Mass., store would include nine complementary electric car charging stations, as well as numerous energy-efficient features. The store's grand opening is scheduled for Nov. 16.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jondo-USA, a maker of personalized photo and decor products, is making it easy for consumers to create and order framed prints from their smartphone and digital camera photos with the new Snapbox framed prints.

SnapBox products will be available for pick-up and pay at 12,000 retail locations, including Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs, with free shipping to those locations.

WHITING, Ind. — An online consumer survey shows that nearly half of consumers go into brick-and-mortar stores with their smartphones to research items without buying them and then looked for the same item at a lower price online.

The 2,361-adult survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin.com between Sept. 18 and 20, found that 43% of smartphone and tablet owners have engaged in the practice, known as "showrooming."

NEW YORK — Midwestern supermarket-pharmacy chain Hy-Vee announced Tuesday the opening of two new convenience stores in Iowa and Missouri.

A Hy-Vee spokeswoman told Drug Store News that the 4,350-sq.-ft. Iowa store in the town of Waukee includes a gas station and an attached Caribou Coffee shop with a drive-through, and stands on the site of a Hy-Vee store currently under construction.

The Liberty, Mo., store is on the site of an existing Hy-Vee location.

SOUTH DEEFIELD, Mass. — Yankee Candle has launched Pure Radiance Crackling LumiWick, a scented candle featuring a natural wood LumiWick that creates an extra-wide crackling flame with a soft, radiant glow.

When lit, the candle form creates an ambient crackling wood fire experience.

Pure Radiance, launched earlier this year, has a modern design, custom soy wax blend and innovative LumiWick technology for a wide flame and consistent burn. The Crackling LumiWick with etched bark glass will be available in three Pure Radiance fragrances this holiday season.

Universal Home Studios will make its irreverent comedy "Ted" available on Blu-ray combo pack, DVD and On Demand on Dec. 11. The comedy, directed by “Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, stars Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis. The foul-mouthed lead character, an oversized teddy bear named Ted, is voiced by MacFarlane.