General Merchandise

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Greased Lightning has added a multipurpose cleaner to its lineup of household cleaning products.

The mulitpurpose cleaner, the company said, delivers the same cleaning power as the brand's flagship Super Strength product, known for its degreasing capabilities, but comes in a fresh spring rain scent.

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. — A new device designed to offer home climate and aroma control has hit the market.

New Honeywell with Febreze Freshness Cool and Refresh fan brings together Honeywell's ability to circulate stagnant indoor air while utilizing Febreze Set & Refresh scent cartridges that are designed to refresh a room by eliminating odors, Honeywell said. What's more, a single scent cartridge can last up to 30 days, depending on the fan speed that's used.

Move over dump bins, endcap displays and newspaper circulars and make room for the new high-tech kid on the retail block — digitization.
Smartphones and the concept of digital coupons may not be so new, but what is relatively new to the mass market and becoming increasingly pervasive throughout the industry is the use of mobile technologies and social networking platforms — by both retailers and manufacturers — to customize offers for today’s shopper.

ST. LOUIS — Energizer is making its Ultimate Lithium last longer than ever with a new retooled formula.

The Ultimate Lithium AA batteries now last up to nine times longer in digital cameras (compared with Energizer Max batteries), while Ultimate Lithium AAA batteries also last up to nine times longer in high-drain digital cameras. Similarly, Energizer Advanced Lithium AA and AAA batteries last up to six times longer in digital cameras.

The improved Ultimate Lithium AA batteries now are appearing on store shelves nationwide, the company said.

DALLAS — Eighty-two-year-old independent Dougherty’s Pharmacy is operating a pharmacy inside the Forest Park Medical Center, which it opened in August. The pharmacy’s decor includes Italian tile wall treatments, a wavy wall behind the cash wrap and works by local Dallas artists.

Consumer electronic accessories are a big business, and drug stores increasingly are grabbing more share. In 2011, mobile phone accessories sales totaled $1.24 billion, up 10% from 2010, according to NPD Group.


NEW YORK — 1990s playtime staples Floam and Gak are making their return to store shelves.

NSI International and Nickelodeon said both of the items have been reformulated with new manufacturing technologies and include new ingredients, and are phthalate-, latex- and BPA-free. Nickelodeon Floam is a texturized molding compound, while Nickelodeon Gak is stretchy and squishy collectible goo.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has brought innovation to the laundry detergent category with Tide Pods, a three-chamber unit 
liquid-dose detergent that cleans, fights stains and brightens all in one premeasured product. Tide Pods, the first product of its kind on the market, contain three chambers that separate the components so they remain stable and potent until the moment they mix in the wash. The 3-in-1 product reduces steps, making laundry simpler and less time-consuming.