General Merchandise

Retailers remain bullish on the As Seen On TV category. “Almost every As Seen On TV product outperforms other product categories in drug stores,” said AJ Khubani, CEO of TeleBrands. “The products have sell-through rates that are at least 10% and can approach 30%.”

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has trimmed its financial outlook for its April-June 2012 quarter and has unveiled preliminary guidance for fiscal year 2013.

Speaking at the Deutsche Bank Global Consumer Conference in Paris, P&G board chairman, president and CEO Bob McDonald said, "we are making the necessary adjustments to our growth strategy to increase focus on our core business and to achieve more balanced growth across geographies, product categories and the top and bottom lines."

DALLAS — Huggies has tapped a U.S. Spanish-language television personality to provide Hispanic parents with tips, advice and a new webisode series on parenthood.

ATLANTA — Brawny has launched a national campaign and partnership with Wounded Warrior Project to help support and raise awareness of the needs of injured service members and their families across the nation.

LOS ANGELES — Saban Brands has announced the return of the Popples franchise.

The company said it will reintroduce the brand — which was popular in the 1980s — with the introduction of such merchandise as accessories, plush toys and more by fall 2013. By spring 2014, Saban Brands plans to introduce new Popples characters and expand merchandise to include publishing, stationery, party goods, crafting and more.

WASHINGTON — After a strong first quarter, consumers in May took a more practical approach to their spending. According to a National Retail Federation release on Wednesday, May retail sales (excluding automobile, gas stations and restaurants) decreased 0.3% seasonally adjusted from April but increased 4.8% unadjusted year over year, marking 23 consecutive months of retail sales growth.

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Nuk has expanded its portfolio to include two new products.

BETHEL, Conn. — Duracell announced that it has established a multiyear sponsorship with the National Football League.

The sponsorship builds on an agreement that Procter & Gamble has had with the NFL since 2009. Beginning with the 2012 NFL season, Duracell is allowed to use official NFL marks, including Super Bowl XLVII, Pro Bowl, NFL Draft and NFL Playoffs.