Center Store

Impulse purchases are a big part of the electronic accessories segment for the drug channel. Drug stores see strongest sales in such commodity items as blister-packed cameras and camcorders, personal music players, headphones, iPod docks and blank media, according to TWICE’s Alan Wolf. A recent TWICE Top 100 Report said CVS and Walgreens saw a slight decrease in consumer electronics sales in 2011, while Rite Aid category sales were up nearly 6%.

LIVINGSTON, N.J. — Integrated Bagging Systems has introduced a new kind of disposable plastic glove.

New Inter-Fit hybrid gloves are made from a special formula with a unique polymer blend that gives the gloves the extra strength, stretchability and flexibility when performing various tasks, the company said. What's more, the gloves are free of vinyl, latex, powder and odor, making them ideal for those prone to allergic reactions. What's more, the gloves are 100% recyclable.

WILTON, Conn. — Sun Products has appointed a new chief customer officer.

NEW YORK — Duane Reade has further developed its leading edge “up market” store concept with the recent opening of its second flagship store in Manhattan’s Financial District. Located in the stately American Surety building at 100 Broadway, the 22,000-sq.-ft. store fits the rich history of the area while incorporating some of the most innovative ideas seen today in retail pharmacy.


Shoppers still are purchasing on impulse at the front end of the store. Data from SymphonyIRI Group indicated that more than half of consumers make unplanned purchases upon seeing products or deals in the store — a percentage that has remained unchanged during the past 18 months. In a recent survey of more than 1,500 consumers, 46% said they made an unplanned purchase during their most recent trip to the drug store. (For complete results, visit DrugStoreNews.com/c2b-mobile-insights)


ST. LOUIS — Energizer is showcasing some of its new products at this year's Outdoor Retailer show, which includes the company's new Light Fusion Technology line.

Sparked by consumer demand for more versatility, flexibility, durability and overall performance from their flashlights and lanterns, Light Fusion Technology lights transmit light throughout slim acrylic panels manufactured through a laser-etching process. The result is clean, uniform light and more compact form for easier packing and carrying, Energizer said.

Everybody loves a comeback story, and it looks as though the pharmacy retail industry has one of its own in the making as Rite Aid’s latest earnings report showed another strong quarter for the Camp Hill, Pa.-based chain, which has been steadily growing its sales and narrowing its losses for several quarters already.


“It’s actually an illusion that those boxers are separate entities. The separate entities are just the way we choose to perceive them. The boxers, you, me — we’re all part of the same quantum field. Think of the two boxers as ocean waves or currents of air — two tornadoes, say. They appear to be two separate things, but they’re not. Tornadoes are just wind. The wind stirred up in different directions. The fact is nothing is separate. Everything is connected.