RETAIL NEWS

MINNEAPOLIS — Target CEO Brian Cornell says stronger-than-expected back-to-school sales lifted the retailer in the third quarter, prompting the company to raise its fourth-quarter sales and full-year earnings forecast. 

CROMWELL, Conn. — I-Health launched a new product women can use to fight urinary tract infections. AZO Urinary Tract Defense features the only antibacterial UTI ingredient available without a prescription to help defend against the progression of an infection until a doctor can be consulted. The tablets also offer general pain relief to alleviate discomfort, the company noted. The new offering could be a boost to a slightly declining category. Sales of vaginal treatments were down 0.8% to $288.4 million for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 2 across total U.S. multi-outlets, IRI reported.

Frustrated watching specialty stores, online merchants and department stores siphon off a market they once controlled more than 50% of, mass marketers are firing back.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

To regain their dominance of the $16 billion U.S. beauty market, chains such as Walgreens, Target, CVS and Walmart are burnishing their images. Among the moves they are taking are:

Transformation happens NOT when something new begins but when something old falls apart. Transformation occurs through the process of letting go of the old and embracing the new, including a reorientation, said philosopher Richard Rohr.

The transformative companies are growing at a rate at least 10 times the pace of their competitors. What’s their philosophy and what makes them special?

Beer is still America’s No. 1 alcoholic beverage, but retail experts say that U.S. consumers are buying less of it as they turn to other alcohol types, such as hard soda, cider and wine.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

There are definitely several themes playing out across Drug Store News’ top 10 list of breakthrough brands, defined by those brands that have contributed the most impactful growth over an annualized period, in this case for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 2 across total U.S. multi-outlets, according to IRI.

(To view the full OTC Trend Report, click here.)

WASHINGTON - A study published online earlier this week in the Annals of Emergency Medicine reported that retail clinics opened near emergency departments had little effect on rates of low-acuity visits to them. And an accompanying editorial suggested that the primary effect of opening retail clinics is to increase health care use, not substitute for emergency department visits