NEWS ROUNDUP 1994-07-11 (1)

Rubbermaid to Buy Brush Maker

id's board of directors has approved the acquisition of privately held Empire Brushes, Greenville, N.C., for an undisclosed number of Rubbermaid common shares. Empire, with about $65 million in annual revenues, produces brushes, brooms and mops for home and commercial use. Joseph Gantz will continue as president of Empire, which has been managed by three generations of the Gantz family since 1909. The board has also authorized the repurchase of up to 10% of the firm's outstanding shares over a period of up to five years.

Kiwi Offers Shine Wipes for Shoes

DOUGLASSVILLE, Pa. -- Kiwi has introduced Shine Wipes in individually packaged towelettes to give a bright shine to all colors of finished leather or vinyl shoes. The 2-by-2-inch towelettes are in see-through packaging and small enough to fit into a wallet, handbag, glove compartment or desk drawer. Suggested retail price is $1.99 for a 10-pack.

American Tourister Has Hairsetter

BEACON FALLS, Conn. -- The new American Tourister Travel Hairsetter has a set of electric heated rollers that can be ready to use in under two minutes. The set contains six ribbed rollers and clips in large and medium sizes, offers automatic worldwide voltage (100 volts to 240 volts) and fits into a soft carrying case. The retail price is $27.49.

Rayovac Carding AA Batteries

MADISON, Wis. -- Rayovac has introduced alkaline and heavy-duty AA batteries in six- and 12-packs designed for ease of merchandising. A six-pack card of AA alkaline retails for $3.49 to $3.99 and 12-packs retail for $5.99. The six-card pack of heavy-duty sells for $1.99 and the 12-pack retails at $2.99. The new packages fit current merchandising displays and fixtures while meeting the growing consumer demand for that battery size, Rayovac said. Rayovac is also merchandising a value-added Workhorse flashlight with two batteries and a one-ounce can of WD-40 lubricant spray.