NACDS at the Hub

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) will hold its annual Total Store Expo in Boston from August 5-9 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. At the Expo, retailers will have the opportunity to browse the latest innovations in the drug store sector and attend business insight sessions on topics including the future of chain drug store technology, pharmaceutical trends and how retailers and suppliers can collaborate on new item launches. 

One of the highlights will be Vision 2027, which will provide insights into the future of retailing and trading-partner collaboration through interactive platforms. This year’s participants will include: Digital Foodie; Esight; Eventable; Everfave; Fun Global Retail & Technology; GSK Consumer Healthcare; Inturn; Kantar Retail; Nielsen; Retsku; The Shark Group; Shopik; Trendalytics; and Wigo Analytics. 

The show floor will be full of exciting new products including breakthroughs in the pharmacy, personal hygiene and greeting card categories. Here’s a look at some of the companies that will be showing at this year’s Total Store Expo. 

 American Greetings

American Greetings will introduce cards from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel. The Cleveland-based company will also feature P.S. Hello – There’s a card for that?, a line that focuses on unconventional occasions like getting a driver’s license or new pet. The line will hit shelves this summer and will retail at $2.99 each. Also to be showcased are new design innovations in the justWink line, which targets Gen Y consumers who are reaching relationship milestones with “sweet, sassy, smart and sophisticated” cards. 

Other items in the lineup include: Light Me Ups, birthday cards featuring a music and light show; Twirly Tops, birthday cards featuring quirky illustrated characters with a spout of bright-colored hair that spins along to a song; Big Talkers, birthday cards featuring fan-favorite characters in a 360 die-cut format with multiple audio clips; Whirly Wishes, Mother’s day cards featuring two characters that stand and spin as they sing upbeat songs; Necktie Notes, Father’s Day cards featuring clip-on, musical necktie on an illustrated dress shirt design; Chill Outs, a new collection of cards with themed refrigerators that open up to reveal singing and dancing characters; Hyper Pop-Up, pop-up birthday cards featuring high-quality audio, synchronized lights and small animatronics with the power to produce motion, vibration and other sensory effects; Remote Control Wishes, birthday cards featuring funny photos of furry friends that are ready to dance along to a song with the click of a button; Fun House, Halloween cards with a displayable pop-up design, music, lights, and motion; Deck the Paws, an innovative Christmas card concept featuring singing animals in tacky felt holiday sweaters; Twirly Treasures, a line of music and motion gift card holders; Surprise Endings, a card featuring three doors that open one by one to reveal a bouncing, singing character that holds a gift; and Wish Wonders, a new collection of gift bows. 

Diva International

Diva International will be showing the DivaCup, which is made of 100 percent healthcare grade silicone and is free of chemicals, plastics and dyes. 

“Sales of The DivaCup in dollars and units are growing at double-digit rates, thus contributing real growth to the category,” says Daniela Masaro, brand marketing manager for the Kitchener, Ont., Canada-based provider of body-friendly, wallet-friendly  and environment-friendly feminine care products. “For retailers, the brand generates higher sales dollars and higher profit margins than traditional feminine hygiene products. The DivaCup also delivers higher dollar spend from each consumer, capturing an entire year’s worth of spend from each customer. These retailers also generate higher sales and higher profits for their business.”

 With a proposed marketing spend of $3.5 million on the DivaCup and DivaWash for 2016, Masaro says that plans are to grow consumer demand. The company will also continue to create and execute retailer specific and “geo-targeted” advertising to drive consumer demand to retail partners.

Hallmark

Hallmark will have products from their premium brand, Hallmark Signature, on display and will be debuting a Signature Spanish Collection and Signature Kids Cards. Some of the Kansas City, Mo.-based company’s card innovations for 2016 and 2017 include Holiday Huggables for holiday 2016, Marquee Lights for Valentine’s Day 2017, and Lighted Paper Flowers for Mother’s Day 2017. An addition to Hallmark’s booth will be a card-sending station where attendees can send cards to their friends and loved ones. 

“Every year, we enjoy partnering with NACDS for Total Store Expo,” says James Melton, vice president and general manager, national accounts. “The Expo provides a great opportunity to engage with our customers face-to- face in a unique environment. Our goal for NACDS is to provide retailers with experiences that showcase Hallmark’s reputation as the very best. Not only will retailers be able to view our card innovations and latest premium-card designs, they will be able to talk to greeting card artists and experience the emotional impact of picking out and sending a greeting card on-site via our card-sending station.”

Hyland’s

Hyland’s will be will be highlighting several new items across the baby, children and adult categories. The Los Angeles-based company will debut Hyland’s Baby Day and Nighttime Teething Tablets Value Pack and its new Hyland’s Baby Mucus Cold Relief, which is intended to provide natural relief of common cold symptoms including mucus and congestion in babies as young as six months. Hyland’s will be highlighting Hyland’s 4 Kids Day & Nighttime Cold ’n Mucus Value Pack and Hyland’s 4 Kids Cold ’n Mucus Nighttime. Company officials say these products have been specially formulated for kids ages 2–12 to naturally relieve common cold symptoms, including mucus and congestion during the day and night. In the adult sector, Hyland’s will present the new Hyland’s Good Morning, which is a natural, caffeine-free alertness aid designed to help users regain the day after a sleepless night. 

“Good Morning’s exclusive formulation addresses both the mental and emotional aftermath of a sleepless night and provides effective and safe relief of drowsiness, and fatigue without caffeine or other stimulants,” says Les Hamilton, president. 

Idea Village

Idea Village is hoping to capitalize on its fourth quarter 2016 and first quarter 2017 at Total Store Expo. The Wayne N.J.-based company will be featuring its Luma Lights and American Aviator Watch. Idea Village will also tout its holiday program for the year; a selection of Wham-O Your Choice toys for the Christmas Season, which will be supported with major TV advertisements.

 “Ideavillage is a leading consumer products company that fuels consumer demand with tremendous TV and Print advertising,” says Ron Boger, president and COO of Idea Village. “We are the home of a long list of No. 1  products in the industry per Nielsen. The list includes the top compression brand with Copper Fit, the top female and male trimmers and the top wet shavers, Micro Touch and ToughBlade.” 

Majestic Drug

Majestic Drug, a  third-generation family owned company, recently banded together its oral care line into a cohesive brand block, “Dentist On Call,” which it will present at the show. 

“These products are all the same great formulas our customers have come to rely on with a graphic designer’s face-lift,” says Melinda Cali, national sales manager at South Fallsburg, N.Y.-based Majestic Drug. “We have also redesigned our personal care line and have some great new surprises in store. Majestic Drug’s booth will be an exciting new destination this year at NACDS.” 

The Dental Care lineup includes Dentemp, along with a dozen quick and inexpensive solutions for “life’s little dental problems,” Cali says.

​Profoot

Foot care company Profoot plans to feature its PROFOOT and PROcure brands. “Our goals at NACDS Total Store Expo are to increase awareness of our growing First Aid brand PROcure and strategize with our retailer partners on how to bring growth and innovation to Footcare,” says vice president of  sales, John Vayianos. “Increasing distribution of our two PROcure products is key to driving brand awareness as we’ve been supporting them with all forms of digital media as well as PR efforts to great success. We look forward to more retailers taking advantage of this growth time for our newest brand.” 

 Unilever

Unilever will be featuring its TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume collection. Launched earlier this year, the line is specifically formulated to work together—in reverse—to provide a salon-quality solution to achieving soft, voluminous hair, company officials say. The Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based company will also continue to showcase its work on the Vaseline Healing Project, which aligns with its Brands with Purpose. The Vaseline Healing Project is an aid effort in partnership with Direct Relief and every Vaseline lotion or jelly purchase in 2016 will support Direct Relief to deliver Vaseline Jelly, medical supplies and dermatological care to help heal the skin of people affected by poverty or emergencies across the globe. 

Universal Beauty Products

Universal Beauty Products will  feature its key men’s brands including Beard Guyz Grooming products, a natural and organic line of specialty grooming products for men with facial hair. The Glendale Heights, Ill.-based company will also highlight Van der Hagen Shaving products and the Jamaican Mango & Lime brand for multicultural hair care, including its Black Castor Oil line.

“Beard Guyz total line of specialty beard care products and new additions, Van Der Hagen will be introducing several new collections in our wet shave program,” says Howard Brauner, vice president of new product development. “We have expanded our razor offerings to include new handle designs, and colors; an expansion of our shaving brushes; new shaving sets as well as expanding our Shave Prep offerings with new shave soap scents and our Natural & Organic Shave Oil.” 

​Uniweb

Uniweb will showcase its pharmacy systems, flex and checkout counters, retail retro-fit fixtures and adjustable work desks. The Corona, Calif.-based company will debut consultation rooms, which is the newest addition to Uniweb’s modular line. The rooms are designed to provide private spaces to help clients receive answers to their medical questions, receive inoculations and process transactions. The product is highly customizable at an affordable price, with options in dimension, glass or solid doors, texture and color, say company officials.

 “At NACDS we will highlight how Uniweb’s customer-first philosophy, dedication to innovation and quality provides our customers with unmatched products and support.” says Cindy Davidson, president. “We offer infinite design possibilities: custom metal finishes, trim strips, décor panels, solid surface, laminates, wood and wood veneers, dry wall facings, decorative metals, glass, tile, awnings, special lighting, signage and many others. Add these custom design features to Uniweb’s interchangeable components and accessories, and you receive endless options to complete or restyle your project.” 

Wahl Clipper Corp.

Wahl officials will be on hand to discuss the new advertising campaign for trimmers and clippers, which has the theme “real guys, real grooming” featuring cafe style restoration and volunteer firefighters. 

“The cultural trends toward DIY, shorter hair and facial hair have helped our category and, as the category leader, we’ve helped the growth in helping consumers trade up despite tough economic times.” says Steven Yde, divisional vice president of marketing for the Sterling  Ill.- based company. “We continue to move the middle of the categories up as we introduce new high end products into the market place such as the Elite Pro and our Stainless Steel Li Trimmer.” 

Wahl also plans to highlight its pain relief massager line and pet grooming with its pet clippers and shampoo.

“One of retailers’ biggest opportunities is to add a Wahl Pet Clipper to their pet line up,” Yde says. “As a segment in pet grooming, clippers are the second largest category in dollars next to shampoos, with far less distribution.”