General Merchandise

Vaseline has unveiled its latest product, the Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Smoothing Body Butter. Made with 100% pure cocoa and shea butter, this product contains four times more emollients than any other lotion, according to the company. 

According to the Greeting Card Association, sales of the greeting card category — which they estimate to be between $7 and $8 billion — have held steady the past few years. 

Time-tested and generations approved, greetings cards continue to be one of the go-to ways people choose to express themselves. Despite having other options, consumers still prefer to note such occasions as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, births and deaths by giving traditional, store-bought greeting cards. 

This news may come as a bit of a surprise to some in the industry who, just a few years ago, predicted the category would take a different course. 

Officials at the Global Market Development Center think that retailers have a great opportunity to build sales through several key general merchandise categories, including gift cards, clothing, books and media, this holiday season.

GMDC says that a National Retail Federation study found that sales during the holiday season will increase by 3.4%, with online shopping becoming the most popular consumer experience for the first time in survey history.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gambled owned Puffs, is doing its part to ensure customers are choosing responsibly sourced facial tissue products. The company has strengthened its commitment to responsible forestry management by earning the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. The company also has partnered with the Rainforest Alliance, and will begin using this certified labeling on all tissue products. 

WAYNE, N.J. — A new all-in-one razor has launched from MicroTouch, the maker of Tough Blade and MAX. The MicroTouch SOLO, the latest introduction from the company is an economically priced tool that combines razor, edger and trimmer functions together to tackle any kind of facial hair with effortless precision.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo is getting into the holiday spirit by unveiling limited-edition consumables to fit any occasion. From salty to sweet and everything in between, the company is debuting more than ten items ranging from granola bars, to beverages and chips. 

For those who wish to get a jump on their mornings, PepsiCo will be offering new launches from Starbucks and Quaker that will include: 

PORTLAND, Ore. — Schmidt’s Naturals is kicking off the holiday season by introducing a limited-edition holiday collection with three scents made from quality plant-based ingredients. The goal of each scent is to offer consumers a nostalgic sensory experience, which the company hopes to achieve by offering scents that exemplify the season.