General Merchandise

Sales of pet supplies (excluding pet food) reached $11.1 billion last year, an increase of 2% over 2010, according to a new Packaged Facts study. Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association expects annual spending on pet products to increase, especially in the convenience segment of the pet accessories segment.

Vetere said sales of products that help pets care for themselves — such as programmable feeding and drinking systems, automatic and battery-operated toys, self-cleaning litter boxes and self-warming pet mats — are on the rise.

DETROIT — Avanti is gearing up for spring 2013 by boosting its portfolio to include a variety of new greeting cards.

New to the Avanti portfolio are Valentine's Day cards enhanced with glitter and foil; Easter cards that showcase bright colors and characters; Mother's Day cards that are humorous and traditional; Father's Day cards that evoke a "saltier" style of humor; and graduation cards for grades kindergarten and older. Avanti also is launching new seasonal StandOuts cards and Avanti-branded cards that have been added to the company's A*Press collection.

NEW YORK — "MIA" usually stands for "missing in action," but according to published reports, some consumers south of the U.S. border take it to stand for something that Americans may consider cause for celebration.

ST. LOUIS — Nestle Purina PetCare Company is touting its newest pet food brand, Be Happy, as a brand that “celebrate[s] our pets as our happiness heroes.” In just three months, the brand’s Facebook page has grown to more than 100,000 fans. Be Happy is available in two varieties for cats — Deep Sea Duos Crunchies with Ocean Fish and Salmon Flavors, and Poultry Pair-adise Crunchies with Chicken and Turkey Flavors — and two varieties for dogs — beef and chicken.

SUPPLIER NEWS — A remedy for odors that lurk in trash cans has entered the market. Trash Dash, a new item marketed under the BestAir brand, is a sodium bicarbonate-based product that is designed to enhance indoor air quality and add a fresh scent to trash or recycling containers by absorbing odors. Available in citrus burst or lavender vanilla scents, BestAir Trash Dash is available in 8-oz. containers and carries a suggested retail price of $3.99 
to $4.49.


NEW YORK — Only 58% of consumer packaged goods executives view dollar stores as a strategic channel, according to Deloitte’s new "Dollar Store Strategies for National Brands" study. Deloitte advises that CPG companies may not be keeping pace with the explosive growth of the $56 billion dollar store industry, and should act now to maximize market share and profits.

In other survey highlights:

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday announced the launch of the "Taylor Swift Store at Walgreens," which will market a wide array of products from the six-time Grammy winner's branded merchandise line. Walgreens and select Duane Reade locations will provide a comprehensive, in-store selection of Taylor Swift music and merchandise.

The items will be available for purchase chain wide beginning the week of Oct. 8. The Taylor Swift-branded merchandise will incorporate artwork from her soon to be released album, "Red."

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart and Sears are eliminating layaway service fees, starting a layaway home-delivery service and new in-store mobile features for what the company expects to be the busiest shopping season since 2007.