RETAIL NEWS

NEW YORK — Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier this week signed a series of bills to help reduce the number of smokers in New York City by 160,000 by 2020, in part by banning the sale of tobacco products in retail pharmacy outlets by 2018.

NASHVILLE – ­Retailers are opening 4,080 more stores in 2017 than they are closing and plan to open over 5,500 more in 2018, according to a new research report from IHL Group.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Market researcher Kalorama Information on Wednesday estimated there is a $17 billion market for telehealth worldwide in its recently published study "Telehealth and Patient Monitoring Markets."

The reasons for using telehealth are many, including improved access to healthcare for patients in remote locations; cost effectiveness; and patient demand. But the concept hasn't taken off, Kalorama noted, at least not yet.

ARLINGTON, Va. — In response to Hurricane Harvey (now Tropical Storm Harvey), which has brought devastating flooding to southeastern Texas, chain and associate member companies of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores have mobilized in collaboration with public health partners and emergency preparedness authorities to meet the ongoing needs of people in Texas affected by the storm.

Retail pharmacy operators have responded to the emergency with everything from donations and supplies to generators and mobile food trucks.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Could fitness trackers and apps connect retailers to consumers in a whole new way? Daymon, a team of private label merchandising and marketing consultants, seem to think so.

The Daymon team tested a few products to find out, as evidenced by the infographic below, including the Walgreens Striiv activity tracker and the Higi app.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — The Rite Aid Foundation announced Wednesday the rollout of its KidCents Safe Medication Disposal Program, a new program focused on reducing drug accessibility, medication misuse and accidental poisoning among children and adolescents.