General Merchandise

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Global Marketing Development Center’s latest report on next practices is urging retailers to rething their in-store and online strategies to adapt to how consumers are shopping in order to stay competitive.

My daughter and I were experimenting in the kitchen the other evening — cooking up what was sure to be a masterpiece. Reaching into the lazy Susan in the spice cabinet, I had a eureka moment.

To be honest, this is not the first time that this fleeting thought has crossed my mind. But it resurfaced with a vengeance when my daughter commented about the lazy Susan, “This is so cool. Everything I need is just a quick spin away from being right in front of me.”

At the Drug Store News/Mack Elevation New General Market Summit, Mack Elevation managing director Dan Mack told attendees, “The New General Market is a mindset — it’s not defined by demography or skin color or religion or sex or sexual orientation — it’s driven by a mindset of inclusion.”

CHICAGO — IRI on Tuesday announced that Crossmark has selected IRI as its preferred data provider.

“IRI’s robust tools and technology as well as its strength in retail partnerships make it an ideal resource for Crossmark,” stated David Newman, chief insights officer for Crossmark. “We are confident that leveraging IRI tools will ensure Crossmark delivers on our client promise to provide a smarter way to faster growth.”

In April, Drug Store News and Mack Elevation co-hosted the third annual New General Market Summit. The one-day thought leadership event examined the changing face of the American shopper — driven not only by the growth of multicultural and millennial consumers but also by the influence these consumers are having on all consumers — and how the best brands are able to connect on an emotional level, as well as build community and advocacy with an ever-more diverse consumer.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This Father’s Day, Hallmark is looking to capitalize on growing interested in virtual reality. The company has launched virtual reality greeting cards that take the recipient through a  360-degree viewing journey that’s tied to the theme of the card — surfing, motorcycle racing, skydiving and car racing.

SOLON, Ohio and SAN FRANCISCO — Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing has acquired a technology company that has been changing how retailers discover new suppliers.

The company on Tuesday announced the acquisition of RangeMe, which streamlines new product discovery in a way that ECRM said will complement the foundation it has laid in helping buyers discover new products and improve category planning effectiveness.