General Merchandise

Customer loyalty has always been paramount for retailers, but as we wade into 2012 and beyond, it is becoming increasingly evident that retailers have a renewed focus on establishing a strong sense of loyalty and creating an engaging customer experience through cross-channel initiatives that are touching customers both in and — perhaps more importantly — out of the store.


Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Lewis Drug aims to be its customers’ “first stop for everything,” and the “Four Seasons” department in its newest store helps the chain fill that role.


The 4,000-sq.-ft. environmentally controlled room is a setting in which the chain can maximize its seasonal offerings throughout the year. In the winter months, Lewis kept the room at 45 degrees and displayed live Christmas trees and stands, wreathes, pine cones and twig dogwood branches, as well as shovels, snow blowers and other seasonal merchandise. 


OAKLAND, Calif. — Clorox has partnered with the National Association of Hispanic Nurses to launch a new healthcare resource for Hispanic families.

Clorox and NAHN said the Hispanic Nurses Network consists of Spanish-speaking nurses in Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, who will act as healthcare advocates to share health information and educate Hispanics on how to keep their homes healthy through media interviews at local outlets and Q&A sessions at Facebook.com/CloroxLatino.

BURBANK, Calif. — ABC Studios is set to release the first seasons for four of its newest shows on DVD just weeks after their respective season finales.

Dramas "The River," "Missing" and "Scandal," along with comedy "GCB," will be released in May/June. Each season one DVD collection will include exclusive bonus features, deleted scenes, blooper reels and featurettes from favorite characters.

CHICAGO — Nielsen and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business said they plan to offer comprehensive historical perspective on consumer purchases to all U.S.-based academic researchers for the first time.

FREMONT, Neb. — Natura Pet Products has launched a website that gives pet parents insight on where the company's pet food ingredients are sourced and how the formulas are made.

NEW YORK — Real Simple has rolled out a limited-edition line of licensed pet products.

The 23-product collection exclusively will be sold at Target stores nationwide through June. The collection includes:

• Pet Bowls with removable metal food and water dishes, which includes an air-tight press-down lid that seals food to keep it fresh and portable;

• Dry Food Scoop with 0.75-cup and 1-cup measurements, and feeding instructions;

DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark announced that Jan Spencer, a 34-year company veteran, is retiring.

Spencer, who serves as Kimberly-Clark's SVP continuous improvement, sourcing and sustainability, will retire July 1. No successor has been named at this time, the company said.