Center Store

UNION BEACH, N.J. — In partnership with the American Red Cross, beginning Nov. 6, the P&G Mobile Relief Center will be stationed in Union Beach, N.J., to provide showers, personal care kits, household products — including Bounty, Charmin, Tide and Dawn — and baby products, including Pampers diapers and wipes, to victims of Hurricane Sandy, Procter & Gamble announced Monday. This service will be free to all victims, responders and their families.

BOSTON — November is national moustache month — or Movember — and Gillette has kicked off its eMO’gency Styler Tour, a quest to help men master their most stylish Mo’s (moustaches).

The tour, which stops in New York City on Nov. 1, Chicago on Nov. 16 and Houston on Nov. 20, will provide complimentary curbside fine-tuning and styling services with Gillette’s Fusion ProGlide Styler, a 3-in-1 facial hair-styling tool that trims, shaves and edges.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart and Sears are offering free shipping for certain online orders as the holiday shopping season approaches.

Sears Holdings, the company that operates the two chains, said customers with orders of $49 or more from Kmart.com, Sears.com and MyGofer.com can receive free shipping. The company cited a recent "Sears Online Holiday Shopping Survey" that found most online shoppers listed shipping costs as their primary frustration with buying gifts online.

TORONTO — Target is supporting up-and-coming Canadian fashion designers through a partnership with the Toronto Fashion Incubator, the company said Tuesday.

Target announced the partnership with the incubator for the annual TFI New Labels fashion-design competition, the winner of which will receive a C$25,000 cash award and will get to have his or her exclusive collection sold in Target stores across Canada in 2014.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. – The Yankee Candle Co. today announced the launch of its latest limited edition collection — My Favorite Things, inspired by the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein song from the musical "The Sound of Music."

The collection features three new fragrances: Brown Paper Packages, Whiskers on Kittens, and Schnitzel with Noodles. Returning from 2011 are Bright Copper Kettles, Crisp Apple Strudel, and Warm Woolen Mittens.

ROCKVILLE, Md. – Big changes are underway in the market for pet goods, according to "Natural, Organic and Eco-Friendly Pet Products in the U.S.," a recently released study from market research firm Packaged Facts.

Hill's is reformulating Science Diet as a natural product line, and Nestlé Purina is coming on strong with Purina One Beyond. In addition, Walmart has launched Pure Balance as it first natural store brand.

Seasonal candy generates 40% to 45% of total category sales, according to data from the National Confectioners Association. Christmas candy sales are expected to track last year’s sales, but with Easter falling early this year, NCA recommends that retailers set Easter candy as Valentine’s Day products are taken down. 


Products with play value remain popular with consumers, but manufacturers say those with a “try me” feature have the strongest sell-through.

Drug stores saw a modest increase in air freshener sales last year, according to Mintel research — a lift likely due to sales of private-
label products. 


Sales were down elsewhere in the market in a category that has suffered from a shrinking economy and competition from scented candles and scented 
cleaning products.


Sprays and aerosols are most popular with consumers and have the most consistent use, followed by candles for burning, candles for decoration 
and plug-ins.