HRG updates industry-standard Fine Line Classification system
HRG has completed its semiannual update of its Fine Line classification system for health, beauty and wellness, home health care and general merchandise products with notable adjustments to reflect industry changes.
The March 2023 updates include modifications that support the Fine Lines mission of improving the shopping experience, increasing reporting capabilities and supporting merchandising strategies, HRG said.
The home diagnostics category has expanded to better represent how it has grown. Specifically, Fine Lines have been added to represent the variety of at-home tests now available. Many general merchandise subcategories have been added, expanded or consolidated. Categories affected include baby clothing, gifts, hair accessories and household products.
HRG’s team of analysts continually reviews the Fine Line classification system to determine whether modifications are necessary based on consumer market changes, emerging categories and subcategories or to reflect merchandising trends.
The Fine Line system classifies HBW, HHC and GM products into categories, subcategories and product segments and is used across the retail supply chain. Categories are organized by 2-, 3- and 4-digit fine lines by HRG’s analyst teams to offer more refined reporting capabilities, facilitate analysis of product performance and to segment the placement of products.
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HRG releases updates to Fine Lines twice a year, in March and September. Updates to the HRG Fine Line system may consist of description changes, re-categorization of items and additions or deletions of categories and/or subcategories.