General Merchandise

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — For those who doubt that consumers and their smartphones are inseparable when it comes to shopping, think again. Mobile advertising company Verve Wireless conducted research and found that more than half of consumers are using their smartphones when shopping. The timing of the news is especially critical given the holiday shopping season is upon us and, clearly, holiday 2011 is shaping up to be the “tipping point” for mobile commerce.

ST. LOUIS — Joe McClanathan, president and CEO of the Energizer household products division, will retire in the first half of 2012, Energizer Holdings announced Friday. He will be succeeded by Alan Hoskins, VP Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corp. is launching Affresh Cleaners, a new line of advanced home cleaning products now available at Best Buy stores nationwide.

"Keeping the kitchen clean has historically been a big chore, so we designed the new line of Affresh Cleaners to combat everyday spills and residue while making cleaning simple," said Wendeline Ortiz, brand manager of Affresh Cleaners.

The new line includes:

EL PASO, Texas — Helen of Troy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all assets of Procter & Gamble's water purification brand.

The acquisition of P&G's Pur Water Purification Products company includes the worldwide Pur trademark, its current and future product line, assets related to the operations of the Pur business, manufacturing equipment and more than 200 patents. Pur's products, which include faucet mount systems and filters, pitcher systems and filters, as well as refrigerator filters, are sold throughout the United States.

EDISON, N.J. — Designer Greetings has unveiled its new redesigned website.

The greeting card publisher said the new site highlights its extensive greeting card line — which touts more than 21,000 designs — as well as boxed Christmas cards, boxed and packaged invitations and thank you notes, and a gift wrap line. Retailers have the opportunity to browse through the company’s history, achievements and customer testimonials en route to sampling its greeting cards, Designer Greetings said.

NASHVILLE — Mars announced that its pet care business has partnered with Rescue Bank to to enable more efficient delivery of pet food donations to animal shelters and rescues.

Mars Petcare, including Mars Petcare US, The Nutro Co. and Royal Canin, have teamed up with Rescue Bank, which "helps provide a reliable means for distributing wholesome, nutritious pet food that is approaching its “best by” date, benefiting both the manufacturers and nonprofit groups caring for pets in need."

DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark's Huggies brand has named nine grant recipients for its MomInspired program.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kodak is promoting its Facebook application and Kodak picture kiosks by offering consumers the opportunity to share life's special moments by turning their Facebook photos into high-quality printed keepsakes, the company said.