In this Issue

Unilever’s V debuts vegan personal care line

Unilever launched Love Beauty and Planet, a new vegan personal care brand, featuring shampoos, conditioners, body washes and hair and body treatments. 

 

The products have mild cleansers and scents infused with ethically sourced essential oil or absolute, a highly aromatic oily mixture, like French heirloom lavender, Moroccan mimosa flower or Bulgarian rose.

 

The International Home + Housewares Show may just be a couple of months away, but Phil Brandl, president and CEO of the Rosemont, Ill.-based International Housewares Association said some interesting trends — propelled by innovative, design-driven products — are taking shape to impact several general merchandise categories in the following months. 

 

Consumers are more aware than ever of ingredients, not just in their foods but in products they put on their skin. Trends that are driving the skin care category include everything from natural and plant-based ingredients to millennials rejecting their baby boomer parents’ brands to the rise of Korean pop culture. Manufacturers say drug stores can thrive in the skin care category if they freshen up their assortments with innovative lotions, masks and cleansers targeted to the younger shopper.  

 

Since 1990, Cosmetic Promotions has offered its clients experiential marketing for beauty brands and retailers. With services that include product sampling, demonstrations, launch kits and sweepstakes, among other services, founder and CEO Joann Marks said the company’s aim is to help its clients save money and labor. 

 

Drug Store News caught up with Marks to discuss her company’s offerings and how its clients can set themselves apart from the competition. 

 

The Tobacco Plus Expo 2018 may still be weeks away, but it is already shaping up to be one of the premier events in the quickly evolving tobacco industry, a category that is in the midst of change as new products become available. TPE is the largest business-to-business tobacco trade show highlighting tobacco, vapor, alternatives and general merchandise products available in the ever-evolving market.

 

For retailers of such high-end consumer electronics as smartphones, tablets, e-readers, drones, digital cameras and fitness watches, the customer’s retail experience can be just as important as loss prevention. Often the look, feel and performance of a product on display in a store, including the ability to interact and fully experience features, such as menus and apps, can be crucial to a customer’s purchasing decision.