NACDS TSE: Hot OTC products

BodiMetrics

A new consumer diagnostics tool called BodiMetrics that tracks six health metrics, and includes a medication reminder, will be available at Bloomingdales in September. Supported by an app available on both the iOS and Android platforms, the metrics BodiMetrics tracks include an EKG, pulse rate, blood oxygination, systolic blood pressure and temperature. The device also serves as a pedometer. Fitness expert Kathy Smith will be serving as a celebrity spokeswoman and will be making appearances at retail as the brand is sold into stores. Also by September, BodiMetrics hopes to have Food and Drug Administration approval for a device designed to enhance in-office, or in-clinic, diagnostics that includes a metric for sleep apnea. 

Bumps ’n Bruises

At this year’s NACDS TSE, Hyland’s showcased its 4 Kids Bumps ’n Bruises with Arnica. Arnica is a newer ingredient to the food, drug and mass arena, and it’s not just focused on pain, but also on bruising and swelling. The new homeopathic formulation combines the natural relief of Arnica with such modern product benefits as environmentally friendly packaging and toxin-free ingredients that today’s savvy mom appreciates. According to a recent Instantly Shelf Score survey conducted on behalf of Drug Store News, that packaging is resonating with consumers — 67% reported that the new kids pain-relief SKU stood out on the shelf.

Butterfly Health recently launched a men’s version of its Butterfly Body Liners for accidental bowel leakage, addressing a completely underserved market. According to the company, nearly 70% of people with ABL first experience it before age 60 years, and 90% of people with ABL experience light to moderate leakage. ABL is associated with such common conditions as IBS, diarrhea, obesity and diabetes. Men who have had colon or prostate cancer treatment are at especially high risk for ABL. Butterfly Body Liners have won two national innovation awards, the 2014 INDA Vision Award and a 2014 Edison Award. 

Smart Thermometer

It’s a new world for millennial moms taking care of their sick young ones. Coupling digital thermometer readings with the ability to track those readings on a smartphone is a trend tracked at this year’s NACDS TSE. TempTraq introduced a wearable digital thermometer that can continuously monitor body temperature for 24 hours and send alerts to mobile devices through the free TempTraq app. And the recently introduced Kinsa Smart Thermometer uses the phone’s display to track temperature, symptoms, medications, notes and pictures. The Kinsa app also maps and aggregates early indicators of illness to help reduce sick days through early detection and increased awareness.

help2heal Adhesive Bandages

The latest cause marketing offer in OTC aisles may be Help-2Heal, which at the 2015 NACDS TSE introduced a buy-one, give-one program for adhesive bandages. For every adhesive bandage the company sells, it donates one to resource-limited communities around the world through a partnership with Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment), which empowers medical providers in developing countries with the tools they need to treat their patients. It’s the kind of cause marketing effort that catches the eye of the millennial shopper. According to a Nielsen survey, more than 55% of consumers globally are willing to spend more for products making a social or economic impact, and more than half of those respondents were millennials.