Merchandising

NASCAR is locking in its biggest ever retail promotion with the world's biggest retailer, with CNBC's Darren Rovell, and Brian Sozzi, Wall Street Strategies.

Perhaps you read earlier this month that Procter & Gamble sold most of its Zest soap business to a private equity company. After 60 years it was determined that this product line was no longer a strategic fit. Despite its various product extensions over the years (Aqua, Ocean Breeze, Marathon) and its combination tactics (Hair + Body), and the unique addition of ingredients (Hint of Honey), Zest no longer met Proctor & Gamble’s “secret sauce” criteria. No doubt this was a tough decision. I applaud the company for deciding to ultimately support their long-term brand purpose.

Bernadette Clark used to visit Wal-Mart twice a week. Now it's twice a month. She got fed up last year when Wal-Mart stopped stocking some of her favorite brands and she couldn't count on low prices.

Procter & Gamble and Target have paired up to offer customers savings on a number of products designed to help them keep those fitness resolutions. From Feb. 6 through March 16, Target guests can find in-store coupons on specially marked Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport, Febreze Extreme SPORT Odor Eliminator and C9 by Champion, Target's exclusive active wear line.

Product is King again. After using discounts and promotions to deliver the best holiday sales performance in six years, U.S. retailers will need unique merchandise to keep the momentum going.

Investing in customer-centric proprietary product development fends off consumer ennui and extends the brand experience in all the right ways.

Seeking to bring location marketing to a hyper-local level, retailers have begun to embrace digital signage as an effective tool at their disposal. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to issue new regulations and interpretations that impact retailers — both large and small — and their product suppliers.

Millward Brown revealed findings from a recent U.S. study that looked at why people continue to shop in stores despite the convenience of online shopping.

Like many women, I'm in lust with J.Crew. I just don’t know how it does it, season after season, catalog after catalog, offer after offer, email after email. It continually tantalizes me with merchandise that inspires me to stop everything and place an order. Who can resist?