Supermarkets are gearing up for their annual run at Christmas video sales.
Retailers told SN they will bring in a variety of products, including new programs like one from Disney, old stand-bys like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and shippers of selected products put together by distributors and other suppliers.
"The Christmas movies always do well," said Laura Fisher, video coordinator, Martin's Super Markets, South Bend, Ind. "We always try to make sure that we've got the basic titles out there like 'Rudolph,' 'Santa Claus Goes to Town,' the 'Grinch,' and all those. But also the newer Christmas titles that are coming out because people like to get new stuff for their kids. I think these are great stocking stuffers," she said.
"We will really push all videos for sale this Christmas holiday season," said Darlene Kiefer, services coordinator, Seaway Food Town, Maumee, Ohio. "We are coming out with a 12-page color brochure and we are also going to feature video in our November sweepstakes, offering a special prize to customers who buy video. We want to have it in the stores by the end of October and through December," she said.
"It's good to see the new selection available from Disney this year with the new Mickey Mouse feature movie, another new Winnie the Pooh title and also the live action title 'Home for the Holidays' from last Christmas," said Clifford Feiock, video coordinator, Nash Finch Co., Minneapolis. "It looks to me like an excellent assortment."
Feiock said he also would bring in a program from Sony that includes familiar titles like "Rudolph" priced under $10. "Anytime you can get below $10, that makes sense," he said.
B&R Stores, Lincoln, Neb., also will bring in the Disney program, and also a pallet display from Dart Distributing, Chaska, Minn., said Bob Gettner, B&R's video buyer/coordinator. "It's a disposable pallet with audio tapes, CDs and video. Those are very populal and reasonably priced. We will refill that several times before Christmas," he said.
"Christmas videos do very well for us," said Maria Boye, video buyer, Angeli's, Iron River, Mich. "We order in a large quantity for sell-through. We also create two large sections of Christmas tapes for rental, put them in two sections, and they do very well. But sell-through does well and particularly the classic cartoons," she said.
"I am mainly going to focus on the Disney program," said Brenda Vanover, director of video operations, K-VA-T Food Stores, Abingdon, Va. "It's got a real strong rebate from General Mills which I think is going be real good for us." K-VA-T also will bring in "Jack Frost" from Warner.
Although K-VA-T keeps its sell-through product within its secured video departments, that does not deter the retailer from cross-merchandising. "We use shelf talkers throughout the stores, especially around the rebate items," said Vanover.
Craig Hill, video specialist, Harp's Food Stores, Springdale, Ark., expects stores to put out large, prominent displays of video during the holiday selling season. "In some of the stores, we've got a lead video clerk and their forte is building big displays," he said.
"Supermarkets historically do very well with seasonal product," said Bill Bryant, vice president, sales, grocery and drug, Ingram Entertainment, La Vergne, Tenn. "There is very high demand for it."
