Study Finds Retailers Not Utilizing Social Media To Its Highest Potential

Many companies are missing an opportunity to utilize social media channels to drive sales growth because of a misunderstanding of what consumers want out of those channels, a recent study by IBM finds. The study says a majority of consumers say the top reasons they interact with companies via social sites are to receive discounts and make purchases, yet companies rank those as the least likely reasons customers will follow them. Instead, businesses overestimate consumers’ desire to interact with the companies, believing consumers hope to feel... 

Patent Magic Plant Company Expands Its Line With Two New Offerings

The folks behind the Patent Magic Plant, a product that grows and reveals a hidden message upon blooming, have come up with yet an even more unique twist on their popular item. “We have two new offerings in our product line, the ‘Dance With Me’ plant and the ‘TouchyMutchy’ plant,” says company founder, Erez Hadad. The Dance With Me is a seed that grows into a plant in about four weeks. “Once it’s grown, whenever you play music the leaves of the plant will sway to that music,” Hadad says. “It comes in a recyclable... 

As Household Budgets Tighten, Gas Prices Steering Shoppers To Dollar Stores

A new survey shows that rising gasoline prices could make the spring selling season a tough one for retailers. But what might be bad news for major stores could turn out to be a blessing for small, independent retailers. “The American shopper was extremely cautious before, and now I’d say they are extremely worried,” says Britt Beemer, president of America’s Research Group, which conducted the recent survey. But, Beemer adds, this spring, more Americans plan to stretch their dollars by shopping at discount chains rather than the pricier... 

Groovy Candies Taps Into Nostalgia With the Brands Everyone Grew Up Enjoying

With the demand for retro products at an all-time high, Ohio-based Groovy Candies is perfectly situated to fill a growing need. “We started back in 1999 with the simple idea of promoting some candies we grew up with as kids,” says Nick Marra, president of the company. “We brought back Atomic Fireballs, Pumpkin Seeds, Candy Cigarettes and a few other items, and it just took off,” he recalls. The company also got a boost after being featured on the “CBS Morning Show” with Bryant Gumbel. “Once that hit, orders came pouring in,” Marra... 

Retailers Finding Ways To Cope as Cotton Prices Rise

Higher costs for cotton have skyrocketed over the last several months, forcing manufacturers and retailers either to eat the price hikes or pass them along to their customers. Clothing retailers say they are trying to wring as many costs as they can from their operations to keep a lid on clothing prices, but they also worry charging more for a pair of jeans or a shirt will hit consumers particularly hard at a time when they find themselves already burdened with higher food and gasoline costs. Cotton was recently priced at $1.97 per pound, compared... 

Upbeat: U.S. Consumer Spending Was Up More Than Forecast in February

Consumer spending in the U.S. rose more than forecast in February as incomes climbed, helping to bolster the expansion in the world’s largest economy. Purchases increased 0.7 percent, the most since October, after advancing 0.3 percent the prior month, Commerce Department figures show. The U.S. added jobs for the sixth consecutive month in February and the unemployment rate fell to the lowest level since April 2009, helping cushion Americans from higher food and fuel prices, Bloomberg.com reports. Spending is contributing to the recovery, which... 

Report: Convenience Stores See Peak Traffic During Morning, Evening Rush

Both morning and evening commutes are a peak time for super heavy users of convenience stores to visit, while moderate and light users tend to visit more during the evening commute. That’s according to new research on convenience store business by research company The NPD Group. NPD’s Convenience Store Monitor, which tracks the consumer purchasing behavior of more than 51,000 convenience store shoppers in the U.S., identifies super heavy users as those who visit c-stores an average of 22.0 times a month, heavy users visiting 9.6 times a month,... 

Monster Trendz Accessorizing the World, Accessible to Customers

Back in the day, a lot of people used to follow the iconic rock band The Grateful Dead all around the country for the music. Matt Huusko, CEO of wholesaler Monster Trendz, did that as well, but also found it a great way to make some cash as an 18-year-old fan. “I’d set up a five-foot-long table and sell jewelry to the groupies as they were filing in to the shows,” he recalls. “I started out making about $800 a day, and was soon pulling in $1,000 to $2,000 a show. That was a lot of money for a kid.” Huusko soon realized he could actually... 

Consumer Sentiment Fell in March as Gas Costs, Japan Tsunami Take a Toll

Consumer sentiment in the U.S. dropped more than forecast in March, affected both by higher gasoline costs and the results of Japan’s twin disaster of an earthquake and tsunami. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment decreased to 67.5, the lowest level since November 2009, from 77.5 in February, the group reports. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had projected a reading of 68. “Consumers are concerned about the rise in gasoline and food prices,” Ward McCarthy, chief financial... 

M&B Products Debuts ‘Potty Rock,’ Shows Dogs Where to ‘Go’

Training a dog to “go” where you want it to has never been easy, but a Buffalo, MN company has taken some big strides to do just that. M&B Products manufactures the Potty Rock(tm), a scent-infused block that once placed in the location of your choice, attracts dogs to urinate and defecate in that area and in doing so keeps them off neighbors’ lawns and out of gardens. The Potty Rock(tm) works well on both puppies and older dogs and males and females. “We had a place in Florida and one of our older dogs got loose and soiled a neighbor’s... 

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