Sun Care

Whether or not the sun caused Punxsutawney Phil to see his shadow this morning, this is the time to consider ordering sun care deals from your wholesaler. Spring Break will be here soon. You will want to bump up your inventory of sun care and sunburn remedies in the first aid section and in secondary locations, like an end-cap or a free-standing display. If you have no room for a floor display you can remove an end-cap fixture and place the display in the end-caps place. Another option is to take the product out of the display and merchandise the product on the end-cap while using the header card from the floor display. For more on how to use header cards on an end-cap click here for a photo and one-page tip.

Display Pricing

Important reminder: Product shipped with either a floor display or a counter unit rarely comes with retail price stickers and if they do there is a good chance the retail price will be incorrect. Zone pricing does not show up on items shipped in a display.

Cupid Staffing

Valentine's Day is on a Thursday this year, just missing the traditional payday of Friday. Hard to say what will be your busiest days; for many Valentine's is a last-minute shopping event. Give some thought to having extra staff on hand and ready to go home if not needed on the Friday the 8th, Saturday the 9th and again in the afternoon of Wednesday the 13th.

Three Sentences, Three Tips

Invest some extra time keeping your Valentine cards straightened on those days as well. To guarantee even a better year next year, merchandisers and buyers will want to download the Valentine's Sales Worksheet. One more thing, do not train your customers to wait for a sale by discounting your Valentine merchandise before the holiday.

Don't Hide the Eggs

Each year a number of merchandisers will ask, how early can I put the Cadbury Eggs out on the shelf? My old answer was the day after Valentine's day. Because of competition, I now suggest you get them out as soon as they come in.

Buy What Sells

To create a better sell through of Easter candy, purchase more of the most popular candies, do not buy every flavor of candy available. For example, marshmallow Peeps are available in 6 colors; you will be fine inventorying two: pink and yellow. Stick to the basics: jelly beans, Cadbury Eggs, Peeps, Reese's peanut butter eggs, candy corn and you will have a better sell through.

Smells like a Deal

Roses are red, violets are blue, take advantage of this month's Front-end Marketplace deals so your customers smell as good as new. In February, two all-natural deodorant brands, American Provenance and Humble Brands, are offering a 20% SAVINGS plus FREE freight when ordering 24 pieces or more from their company. Order today on frontendmarketplace.com.

Nothing to sneeze at: Cough-cold products shift to meet trends

When consumers get the sniffles, they have many questions besides whether it's a cold or allergies, and whether they should take time off work. More and more, people also want to know which over-the-counter products are available, what they contain and which symptoms the medicines can relieve. If a child is sick, consumers worry about the correct dosage to administer, and whether the products are safe. Read more...

Manufacturers are growing the men’s grooming category with new products

It no longer is a taboo for men to take care of their appearance. Gone is the mindset that men are not interested in anything more than basic grooming options. In its place is a more evolved understanding that, given the opportunity, men want to buy products that help them look and feel their best. Read more...

Consumer demand paves path for the wellness category

What role will the vitamin, mineral and supplements category play with consumers going forward, especially as wellness becomes a larger concern for many of these shoppers? The answer, many VMS manufacturers hope, is that people will continue to look to the category as a source of nutrition and solution to the problems they face as they seek a healthier lifestyle. There is no doubt that VMS is at the center of consumer demands for products that will make them feel better and live longer. The $7.45 billion segment has long played a role with many shoppers who feel that what they put into their bodies is paramount to how they feel on a day to day basis. Read more...