Center Store

CHICAGO — Lately a number of mass merchandise retailers have been taking the little road and opening small-format stores in dense, urban areas. One of the most notable of these is CityTarget, which recently opened in Chicago.


CHILLICOTHE, Mo. — MidWest Quality Gloves has introduced a new Max Performance line of work gloves. The new product has design features based on the company’s customer research, including a suede leather palm with padded palm patches, a spandex back, fourchette finger design and an elastic wrist. The new features are designed to provide a form-fitting, high performance product. Suggested retail price on the gloves is $9.99.

CINCINNATI — Bounty has partnered with Fuji Senkei's new Web reality cooking contest.

From the creators of "Iron Chef," the "SuperChef Kids" Web series launched a massive search cross-country to find the talented kid chefs (ages 8 to 12 years) and challenged them to flex their culinary muscle for a chance to win the grand prize of $5,000. Teaming up with celebrity chef and co-host of ABC's "The Chew," Carla Hall, Bounty said it plays an integral role in all 15 webisodes, cleaning up the messes these amateur chefs leave behind.

SUPPLIER NEWS — Lysol has introduced its latest line of household products that highlights the versatility of hydrogen peroxide. The Lysol Power and Free line is comprised of a multipurpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and toilet and bathroom wipes. The Power and Free line may be used on a variety of surfaces with no rinsing needed. The lineup carries a suggested retail price range of $2.52 to $3.86 and is available in Citrus Sparkle, Cool Spring Breeze and Oxygen Splash scents.


As Seen On TV products have become a powerhouse general merchandise category. Products backed witha substantial television advertising move year-round with sell-through rates that industry sources say range from 10% to 30%. Several chains have upsized the space they devote to 
the category.


New products are crucial to the category, and manufacturers keep new items flowing to retail. The pet category, housewares and personal care products have been particularly strong segments within the category.

ATLANTA — Case-Mate has released a portfolio of cases for the new Apple iPhone 5.

As of Sept. 15, California became the eighth state in which Amazon.com will levy sales taxes on purchases made by residents in that state. Pennsylvania joined that group two weeks prior. Add to that the five states that don’t have any sales taxes, and that’s 13 states where national brick-and-click retailers are competing on a level playing field with the pure-play online retail juggernaut. 


Housewares have moved beyond the Christmas selling season at drug stores. The products are becoming a year-round category for the channel as drug chains find ways to tie in kitchen items, tabletop accessories and appliances to key selling seasons.