Cross-Merchandising

New York City -- StoreBoard said Monday that Kinney Drugs has joined its in-store billboard network.

Under terms of the agreement, StoreBoard Media will place its billboards on the security pedestals at the entranceways to Kinney Drugs’ 94 stores in central and northern New York and Vermont.

From J.C. Penney to Target to Selfridges, retailers across the spectrum are giving over valuable floor space to in-store shops. Here are some interesting observations on the phenomenon from Joanna Felder, VP intelligence and brand strategy at Chute Gerdeman, Columbus, Ohio.

Shop-in-shops offer retailers the magic formula of flexibility, brand-enhancing cachet and the ability to attract new customer segments. The opportunity has never been better for young, entrepreneurial hip brands to find a mainstream home.

Specialty retailer Express expects to have its first stores in Latin America open by year end.

PHILADELPHIA — Pep Boys has been named as the exclusive distributor of Barett Jackson car care products within its new automobile restoration system.

The three-part automobile restoration system – which includes abrasives, paint and car care – is now available in at Pep Boys locations across the country and offers car collectors and enthusiasts an easy, unique way to complete the restoration of car projects from start to finish.

HUNT VALLEY, Md. — Procter & Gamble’s CoverGirl has partnered with musician P!nk, who recently wrapped her first print advertising campaign with the brand, which will debut in fall.

And the award for the world’s largest in-store display goes to Procter & Gamble for an Olympic themed creation the consumer products company dropped in the aisle of a Walmart store in American Canyon, Calif.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Whole Foods is spreading the word on the benefits of consuming organic foods and leading a healthy lifestyle, by teaming up with educational media brand, PBS Kids to launch the "Fantastic Organic" campaign.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — With new clothes and supplies topping the list of what most parents are shopping for during back-to-school season, it makes sense that OfficeMax and Old Navy would join forces to maximize their offerings, delivering savings for customers and sales for them.

JCPenney is not dead yet. New shops and free haircuts may help.

Retail pundits eager to write JCPenney’s obituary may want to wait until after the back-to-school season as the struggling retailer revealed several intriguing merchandising moves reminiscent of the tactics CEO Ron Johnson employed during his tenure running Apple stores. And in an unconventional buzz-building, traffic generating move the company said it would offer free haircuts to kids at its salons throughout August.

J.C. Penney Co.’s visual transformation has begun. The company has rolled out three shop concepts to nearly 700 stores nationwide. The shops, the first wave of many more to come, are dedicated to three brands: Levi’s, I Jeans by Buffalo, and The Original Jean Co. 

Click here to take a video tour of the new shops.