General Merchandise

PHOENIX — GMDC announced several conference date changes effective 2013 during its Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference held here this past weekend.

The HBW event will move to spring, and the GM Conference will take place in the fall.

Future conference dates are as follows:

• 2013 HBW Marketing Conference May 31 to June 3 in San Antonio;

• 2013 GM Marketing Conference Sept. 6 to 10 in Phoenix;

• 2014 HBW Marketing Conference May 30 to June 2 in Orlando, Fla.;

RIVER EDGE, N.J. — A new strength and conditioning program designed specifically for cheerleaders and dancers has made its way to DVD.

Train2Cheer offers a workout that is designed to increase cardio and muscular endurance, resulting in stronger cheer and dance performances. Train2Cheer is set to high-energy music and is hosted by its creator, Stacey DelPreore.

Train2Cheer, which includes a 60-minute workout video and bonus CD soundtrack, retails for $19.99.

ATLANTA — "Mad Men" costume designer Janie Bryant has been tapped as the latest spokeswoman for Downy Wrinkle Releaser.

In her role as brand spokeswoman, Bryant will be developing a guide on fabric care and will provide tips on looking good on the go, the company said.

PHOENIX — The Global Market Development Center on Monday announced its 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient: Terry Cox, retired group VP for Kroger.

New worries about the economy are affecting back-to-school shopping this fall. A recent National Retail Federation survey revealed that when shopping for back-to-school 2011, 44% of respondents said they were spending less overall, 37% were using coupons more often and half were shopping for sales more frequently.


Retailers promoted heavi­ly as consumers shopped late. Slightly more consumers said they would be shopping drug stores this year (21.1% versus 19.5% last year).

UWANEE, Ga. — The Brainy Brands Co. has introduced a new line of wooden toys for its Brainy Baby line.

Brainy Baby FlashCars will consist of wooden toys in the form of vehicles, including a school bus, fire truck, airplane and recycle truck, accompanied by flashcards that will cover a specific subject, such as letters, numbers, shapes and colors, and animals. FlashCars are set to hit the market in fourth quarter 2011, Brainy Brands said.

Brainy Brands said it expects to introduce other series of wooden toys in the future.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Church & Dwight has added a Sensitive Skin Plus scent detergent to its line of Arm & Hammer sensitive skin laundry detergents. The new detergent, which features a skin-friendly fresh scent that’s hypoallergenic and clinically tested to be good to sensitive skin, is a scented alternative to Arm & Hammer’s Perfume and Dye Free laundry detergent.


Americans spend three to four hours a day in the kitchen, so housewares — particularly kitchenware — can be a key gift category for drug stores. The channel had a 4.2% share of the housewares business, according to the International Housewares Association’s “2010 State of the Industry Report.” Much of the channel’s sales come from cookware, bakeware and kitchen tools.