Generally Speaking

Grocery Headquarters honors those companies that have gone above and beyond innovating the general merchandise space with a 2015 General Merchandise Trailblazer Award. In today’s consumerist society, curious customers are always on the hunt for the latest, greatest invention promising to solve all of their problems or make their lives easier. Quite often, such products can be found in the general merchandise aisle. Demand for certain general merchandise categories has seen growth over the past few years, say industry observers, and grocery retailers that nurture the category will see long-term benefit in the form of a satisfied, loyal consumer base. Ensuring that the selection of products stores stock is able to provide consumers with what they are looking for is a challenging, yet key piece in the general merchandise mix. This month, Grocery Headquarters recognizes the companies that bring spark and innovation to this category with the 2015 General Merchandise Trailblazer Awards. American Greetings American Greetings is a manufacturer of social expression products, including the popular lines American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus. The company also makes paper products under its DesignWare party goods, American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-wrap and boxed cards lines. To keep its product lines intriguing, American Greetings continues to innovate within the space; recent new creations include Warm Fuzzies gift bags, Yakety Yaks gift bags, and Looney Loot and Turbo Button gift card holders. American Greetings’ mission is to make the world a more thoughtful and caring place by creating expressions of happiness, laughter and love, say officials for the Cleveland-based company. This past March, the company launched ThankList, a social movement encouraging others to thank those in their lives for the role they have played. “Creating more meaningful connections between people isn’t simply something we believe in—it’s something we are actively doing,” says John Beeder, president and COO. “ThankList is the perfect way to demonstrate that practicing gratitude is easy and impactful.” Avanti Press When Rick Ruffner arrived at New York’s National Stationery Show in 1980 with a collection of photographic stationery cards, there were plenty of naysayers telling him that his concept would never work. However, they were wrong, as 35 years later, Avanti Press is one of the most innovative, successful brands in the greeting cards industry. Greeting cards forge human connection and oftentimes people prefer to do so through humor. This is one way that Avanti is able to separate itself from the competition. “Nobody else takes funny quite as seriously as we do,” says Marc Trobman, vice president of business development for the Detroit-based company. “With our high impact, one-of-a-kind look, we deliver a branded humor solution that also transcends boundaries of age, gender and ethnicity.” The company is focused on bright and unique imagery, utilizing ink, glitter, flocking and emboss. Avanti stands out through its unique cards, including the recently expanded BLANK Self-Expression line, which uses new paper stock and vivid imagery. Its latest innovation is the BIG Funny collection, featuring die-cut, 11-inch characters. Big Time Products Like so many great ideas, the concept for Big Time Products was born from a sketch friends made on a napkin. Started in 2003, the company’s co-founders were “determined to provide superior hand protection at consumer-friendly price points through innovative product merchandising and design,” says Tim Stapleton, president, U.S. sales. Big Time Products has been successfully meeting consumers’ needs ever since. “Executing new product development while anticipating the needs and desires of next year’s consumers,” is what keeps Big Time Products ahead of the trends in the hand protection category, Stapleton adds. This year, the company redesigned its Digz brand of garden gloves. Designed with vibrant colors and fashion forward patterns, the product is tailored to fit a woman’s hand. Additionally, on the Signature and Gardener styles, the thumb, pointer and middle finger are now enhanced with Touchscreen Technology, allowing consumers to use technology with the gloves on. The Rome, Ga.-based company’s Firm Grip, True Grip and Grease Monkey brands feature the same innovative technology, making consumers’ lives easier. Bradshaw International The Bradshaw company started as a simple family beekeeping and honey business back in 1905; the same pioneer spirit that started it all carries Bradshaw International to this day. The original honey delivery truck used by R.D. Bradshaw & Sons has been restored and sits in the Bradshaw showroom, a reminder to all that customer service is always a top priority in the company’s culture, say officials for the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based company. “We have always prided ourselves in being able to meet whatever needs our customers have,” says Tom Barber, vice president product development. “Part of our strength in this industry, which has helped us to stay competitive all these years, is that we take great care to listen to our retail partners and what they need to be successful. When they win, so do we.” The goal of Bradshaw International today is “To become the premier supplier of kitchenware in partnership with our customers.” The company’s GoodCook brand is an industry leader in tools, gadgets and bakeware, officials add. “Chances are there is a GoodCook gadget in most consumers’ kitchen drawer right now,” says Barber. “That means that one of our products is helping consumers prepare their food better so they can cook easier. That’s really what we’re all about.”   Butler Home Products Started in 1947 as Easy Day Manufacturing Co., Butler Home Products has withstood the test of time, in part due to the dedication of its founders. “Even in the beginning, the company was known for innovation—either in products, merchandising, packaging or advertising,” says Michael Silverman, senior vice president, marketing. Currently, Butler’s products span five categories in the cleaning section—tools, household gloves, sponges, lint rollers and laundry accessories. Officials for the Marlborough, Mass.-based company say that this is helpful for retail partners, allowing them to build business in synergistic categories. It is through this, and partnering with retailers and licensors, that the company has managed to sustain continued success for more than 50 years. “We value our customer partnerships and listen to our partners–engaging them in the entire process. Whether we are supplying one category or multiple, we find ways to make it all work together,” Silverman adds.   Candle-Lite Candle-Lite, a 175-year-old business, currently accounts for about 30% of the candle category in the food and drug market. Founded in 1840, Candle-Lite is the oldest continually operating candle company in the U.S., say officials for the Cincinnati-based company, and has been able to maintain that title through its commitment to innovation, community and sustainability. Candle-Lite’s Leesburg, Ohio facility manufacturers 98% of the company’s products, all of which are designed, developed and tested in the U.S. The company’s latest innovation—the Royale Classics line, launched this year—is designed with an upscale look and sophisticated blend of fragrances to appeal to Bath and Body Works shoppers, says Don Kauffold, vice president of business planning and marketing. Of note, specialty candles are a segment that is growing in grocery. “Sales in grocery were up slightly over last year so there is some growth momentum,” says Kauffold. “Grocery can capitalize on it by continuing to sell candles to more of their candle buying shoppers.” Contigo Meeting and exceeding consumer expectations is one way to ensure a company’s success—just ask executives from Contigo. “Our product offerings include meaningful innovations designed to address all the challenges facing today’s on-the-go consumers—from stopping leaks and spills and retaining heat, to accommodating popular new drinking styles and beverages,” says Todd Starr, vice president of marketing and product development. “It’s this commitment to identifying consumer needs, engineering the best possible product and then continually perfecting it that sets Contigo apart and allows us to produce the best drinkware solutions for our customers.” Contigo’s patented AUTOSEAL technology—which is currently the No. 1 selling line of travel mugs in the U.S., say officials for the Chicago-based company—stops all leaks and spills. This, and the company’s other popular innovations, are designed to create solutions for customer needs, officials add, which is what keeps its products at the top of consumers’ lists.   Cool Gear International Constantly innovating and developing new products, Cool Gear International has remained on the cutting edge of the industry since it was founded at the turn of the century. The company’s first line, EZ-Freeze freezer gel products, designed to keep food and beverages cold on the go, was just the start of the Plymouth, Mass.-based company’s solution-based product lines, which only continue to grow. “Cool Gear is excited to take innovation, design and quality to an even higher level since joining Igloo Products Corp. this past December,” says Rebecca Staaf, marketing manager. “Together, Cool Gear and Igloo are market leaders and enjoy one of the most robust portfolios of intellectual property in hydration, food storage and insulated coolers.” Most recently, tapping into the flavored-water trend, Cool Gear released Aquaburst, a 20-ounce flavor-infusing hydration bottle. The bottle’s flavor pod holds enough to refill the bottle with flavored water eight times, say officials. Cool Gear prides itself on making its products “equal parts accessory and hydration bottle,” adds Staaf, with its on-trend graphic designs like those displayed on the popular coolgearcan.   Design Design A business more than 25 years old, Design Design began with a passion for creating design-driven products that connect people to people, say officials for the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company. This passion and innovation remains the cornerstone of the business today. Design Design offers a full-line of products in six key categories including greeting cards, paper tableware, gift packaging, cocktailing, stationery gifts and birthday candles. “Understanding how people connect is what differentiates us from the competition,” says Phil Cowley, chief marketing officer for Design Design. “Every aspect of our product is developed with this mindset. We understand that providing relevant product choices for the consumer is the key factor in market share growth in the general merchandise category. We can provide our retail partners a unique proposition by aligning their vision with a dynamic range of products and solutions to increase basket size and maximize space to sales performance.” Design Design artists and creative directors travel the world to research the latest trends in fashion and interiors to stay relevant in the industry. In 2015, the company plans to connect more people with fresh innovations to the letterpress greeting card market as well as release additions to its product offerings in the cocktailing, gift packaging, stationery gift and birthday candle categories. FM Brown’s Sons FM Brown’s Sons, a rare sixth generation family owned business, started out producing small feed and flour in the early 1900’s, and has since grown into an international manufacturer of companion pet and wild bird food. The Sinking Spring, Pa.-based company’s goal is continued long-term endurance in the marketplace, and it is with this in mind that decisions are made. “We continually strive to be at the leading edge of the industry by expanding and updating our facilities, including a recently purchased 18-acre property on which we plan to build a state-of-the-art distribution center and company offices,” says Cecil Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing. Additionally, the company stays at the top by “maintaining the most current quality control certifications; providing excellent headquarter and retail support; and producing the cleanest, most nutritious, and highest quality products, in the most attractive packaging on the market,” Campbell adds. The current focus is updating product packaging from lay-flat bags to five sided bags, which better let retailers display the product from multiple angles. Gartner Studios Gartner Studios, a Stillwater, Minn.-based subsidiary of Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner Companies, which also includes the brands Russel Hazel, Mara Mi, and Duff Goldman, develops innovative products with the mission to help families celebrate life’s events. Under the Gartner Studios brand, the company produces invitations, paper partyware, giftwrap, gift bags, thank you notes and more. In 2010, the company expanded its portfolio by adding the Duff Goldman product line. “It was natural to add cakes, and cake decorating products to the company’s product line, to help families celebrate special occasions,” says a spokesperson for the company. With unique decorating tips, fondant smoothers, icing pouches, cake pans and more, Duff products are designed to make it easy for the home baker to perfect their craft, officials add. GE Lighting GE has long been a leader in the lighting space, and with the new energy-efficient standards introduced in January 2014, the company continues to guide consumers’ choices. GE is a leader in LED lighting, one of the best energy-efficient choices, say officials for the East Cleveland, Ohio-based company. “From the first A-line ENERGY STAR-qualified LED to its latest GE reveal LED, GE Lighting has developed high performance LED lighting, delivering practical LED lighting solutions for consumers under the brand name they trust,” says John Strainic, general manager, consumer lighting, GE North America. GE offers easy to understand packaging and educational information to further inform consumers’ choices. Additionally, the company released its innovative LED energy-savings calculator to help consumers understand the savings in familiar terms. “By collaborating with grocery partners, we are able to make the lighting aisle experience simpler and more intuitive,” adds Strainic. “Switching to energy-efficient lighting, like LEDs, requires consumers to change the way they’ve lit their home for more than 100 years, and we need to help guide them to better understand why LED lighting is the best lighting option, and ultimately, help them grasp that LED is where lighting is headed.” Ideavillage Ideavillage was launched in 1999 with a mission to design innovative products—to be merchandised in high-traffic areas of retail stores—to create a destination area for consumers. It is by following consumer trends and demand, and continued innovation, that the company has become one of the top general merchandise brands in stores today. Recent innovations, like the Copper Fit Compression Sleeves and Back Support with Brett Favre, designed to provide relief for sore muscles, play into the current consumer focus on health and wellness. Another unique launch is the Snackeez Two-in-One Beverage & Snack Cup, which provides portion controlled snacks and a beverage in one convenient item; kids love them because they are licensed with Frozen, Minions and Star Wars, officials for the Wayne, N.J.-based company add. “All of our products are priced to provide a great consumer value, all products are independently tested to substantiate our claims and health benefits and all products are designed for optimum quality,” adds Ron Boger, company president/COO. InvenTel Yasir Abdul started InvenTel in 2011 after 15 successful years in the direct response industry, including with “As Seen on TV” retail outlets and the OEM brand. Under Abdul’s leadership, “InvenTel focuses on developing, branding and marketing smart, innovative products that solve everyday problems,” says Stephanie Sierra, marketing director for the Rockaway, N.J.-based company. InvenTel’s focus is on products that can solve consumers’ problems, and its most recent successes are no exception. The Magic Finder helps to keep track of items—simply leave it with the item that needs to be located and pair it with an Apple or Android app. The app then works to find a lost item via radar tracking or activating an alarm. Another recent product, the Dash Cam Pro, is a digital and audio recorder meant to be kept in the car, to keep a record of what happens on the road. Its features include a rechargeable battery, night mode, photo mode and a date/time stamp. “At InvenTel we choose to be extremely selective in the products that we deliver, taking our time, and combined expertise, to fully develop the product, from ‘good idea’ to retail placement,” Sierra adds. “We’re not afraid to test products that are outside of the traditional, and we always try to keep up with current trends in the marketplace.” Multipet International Twenty years after the company’s inception, Multipet International has successfully become a household name, by working to change the pet product aisle from one frequented by impulse shoppers to a destination section. Through the years, Multipet has been able to stand apart from the competition thanks to its continuous product innovation. This year, the company launched its Catnip Garden line, based on customer request for North American-grown catnip. Specifically from this line, the Catnip Cup—a product resembling a K-Cup, designed with a lid to release a measured amount of catnip—has received an excellent response, say officials for the Moonachie, N.J.-based company. Multipet has several additional line extensions planned throughout the year designed to please customers. “The original textures, sounds, and designs are the motivation behind consumer and retailer loyalty to the brand,” says Leslie Yellin, executive vice president. A socially responsible company as well, Multipet gives back to the world around it by donating to pet rescue organizations, adoption centers, rehabilitation facilities and retired military working dog agencies, officials add. In honor of an employee fighting breast cancer, the company launched a Breast Cancer Awareness Loofa dog toy, and donates to breast cancer research; the yellow ribbon “Support Our Troops” Loofa dog toy works to raise awareness for the military working dog. Omega Paw Pet supply provider Omega Paw continues to innovate the space with unique products geared towards enhancing the lives of its customers’ furry friends. The company achieves this by the reverse engineering of its products. “We start by identifying a need or gap in the marketplace,” says Terry Hannaford, CEO of the St. Marys, Ontario, Can.-based company. “We then try to design an ideal product to fit that need. As a result our starting point is not the other products on the market; instead our starting point is the gap in the market itself. This approach gives us a freedom to innovate and try things that have not been tried in the past.” An example of this is Omega Paw’s new Bathease system, set to launch in the second half of 2015. The system, designed to make it easier and more enjoyable for pet owners to bathe their dogs, comes with a unique applicator that allows the owner to both bathe and brush their dog at the same time. Omega Paw is also able to stay ahead of its competition by keeping on the edge of the trends in the pet space. For example, Hannaford says that the humanization of dogs has been happening for more than 15 years, and he sees the trend moving to cats. Omega Paw’s Meowtinis products—healthier cat treats—appeal to consumers adopting this notion. Whink Products Founded in 1947 by Joe Gunderson and Bob Seggarman, Whink Products’ first successful launch was the iconic Whink Rust Stain Remover, which remains a top selling product today, say officials for the Eldora, Iowa-based company, adding that according to Nielsen, it accounts for 90% of liquid rust stain removers sold in grocery stores. Whink’s latest product to hit the market is its Whink GSR (GameStain Remover). Targeting hunters and others who participate in active outdoor activities, this heavy-duty laundry stain pre-soak is designed to remove tough stains. The GSR contains BORAX and stain-blasting enzymes, no UV brighteners or added fragrance, and is safe on colorfast washable fabrics and in all water temperatures. “GSR is available as shelf stock or in a colorful display for truly seasonal sales,” says CEO, Steve Throssel. “Its tasteful camouflaged label and its distinctive red cap make it a sure winner in arenas that support outdoor activities.” Whink also demonstrates its leadership through its commitment to the environment. The company participates in river cleaning and habitat replenishments. This year, it is helping save the Monarch Butterfly by acting as a seed drop-off for milkweed plants, necessary for the butterfly’s survival. World’s Best Cat Litter World’s Best Cat Litter was founded with one simple goal: To help people solve their litter box problems with less litter and less hassles, so they can get back to enjoying life with their cats. In 1988 a process to compress naturally absorbent corn into concentrated granules for odor control and quick-clumping, easy-scooping cleanup was discovered. The founders of World’s Best Cat Litter’s parent company, Kent Pet Group, based in Muscatine, Iowa, recognized in this the potential to transform cat litter. “For years, pet parents were stuck with clay litter, which left behind odors and a mess in the litter box. World’s Best Cat Litter is the only litter that harnesses the concentrated power of corn for a cleaner litter box with less litter,” says Jean Broders, senior band manager. The brand’s dedication to ongoing innovation has led to a family of formulas that combine the concentrated power of corn with added plant ingredients to enhance odor control and clumping ability, while giving shoppers choices that fit their lifestyles. This commitment to innovation goes beyond the litter box with GiveLitter, an online program to support cat shelters. “We developed GiveLitter to partner with our fans and help get the word out about animal welfare issues, promote pet adoption and donate free cat litter to shelters,” Broders says. “Cats have shared our lives and homes for thousands of years,” she adds. “World’s Best Cat Litter is proud to be innovating solutions that make life better for cats and their humans.”