General Merchandise

NEW YORK — Clarity, a Plantronics company, recently launched two new loud, easy-to-use cordless phones designed for people with hearing loss, low vision or mobility challenges.

The new Clarity XLC2 and XLC3.4 phones amplify incoming sounds, remove unwanted and distracting noises and provide interference-free communication to give users a customized listening experience. The phones also feature three tone settings, are compatible with hearing aids and include a loud speakerphone, while the XLC3.4 also features a caller ID screen, the company said.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is pushing Black Friday up by a day.

The retail pharmacy chain said Monday that it would offer deals starting on Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday is the name popularly given to the day after Thanksgiving, when retailers across the country offer deep discounts for the holidays, often prompting shoppers to line up at the store doors early in the morning and rush in once they open.

NEW YORK — Columbia Records and 20th Century Fox Television are slated to release the latest edition of "Glee: The Music, Volume 7" on Dec. 6.

The collection, which is available in both in standard and deluxe versions, includes such tracks as Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror," Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)" and Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night."

BETHEL, Conn. — Battery brand Duracell has launched a new program that is designed to help make the holidays a little less stressful for parents and provide a host of cool resources to help them more easily navigate the season.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble’s former chairman and CEO John Smale — who was instrumental in creating a new vision for P&G to be a truly global company focused on providing an even broader range of innovative products to the world’s consumers — died on Nov. 19. He was 84.

Current chairman and CEO Bob McDonald reflected on the influence Smale had on himself and others, "I will remember John most for his character and how he represented the soul of the company: Purpose-inspired, caring yet demanding, principled, and humble."

SPOKANE, Wash. — Zak Designs has introduced new on-the-go drinkware items that allow adults to bring out the kid in them.

Zak said its Metallix tumblers are made from durable materials and patented technology that creates an outside shimmer on the tumbler, while the HydroCanteen is made of BPA-free tritan material and feature a leak-proof lid and a carrying loop. Both on-the-go items are adorned with popular licenses from Disney and 20th Century Fox that provide adults with "new ways to show off their inner child," the company said.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kodak has entered a partnership with a provider of Web-based fulfillment for photo merchandising products to co-market a suite of preintegrated retail photo merchandising services.

Kodak and LifePics now offer retailers nationwide their private-labeled net-to-retail photo order fulfillment and in-store photo specialty gift catalog ordering. Kodak said its partnership with LifePics allows retailers that use Kodak photo-finishing equipment to offer consumers the convenience of ordering photos online and picking them up the same day at the retail location.

PHILADELPHIA — Kimberly-Clark has introduced new portable cleaning wipes designed to eliminate smudges from touchscreen devices.

Packaged in resealable pouches, new KimTech* wipes easily remove fingerprints, makeup and skin oil and grease, won't scratch glass surfaces and virtually are lint-free, Kimberly-Clark said.