Packaging

By Juli Spottiswood, [email protected]

WAYNE, N.J. — Babies“R”Us is partnering with mom and fashion icon, Heidi Klum, for an exclusive collection of affordable luxuries for little ones, adding to its growing assortment of differentiated product offerings. This new collection, Truly Scrumptious by Heidi Klum, will be available at Babies“R”Us stores across North America and online at Babiesrus.com beginning this fall. 

The Brentwood, Tenn.-based farm and ranch retailer saw same-store sales increase 11.5% in the first quarter ended March 31. Net sales increased 22% to $1.02 billion.

Net income for the quarter was $40.3 million, compared to net income of $18.3 million in the same quarter last year.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is partnering with Norah Jones for a deluxe edition of her fifth studio album, “Little Broken Hearts.” The Target deluxe edition of “Little Broken Hearts” is available now for pre-order at Target.com/NorahJones and will be offered at Target stores nationwide beginning May 1.

Los Altos, Calif. -- Survey results released Thursday by catalog shopping app Catalog Spree showed that 89.8% of American shoppers would prefer to receive their catalogs digitally and would opt out of the paper versions if they could receive a digital copy instead.

The survey also revealed that more than half (55.1%) of respondents would prefer all of their catalogs in digital form. Today, some 19 billion catalogs are mailed in the United States each year.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — American Greetings is launching a new line of cards featuring designs from noted artist Mary Engelbreit later this year as part of an ongoing collaboration. The greetings will be included in seasonal programs beginning this Halloween and sprinkled across everyday programs by the end of the year.

NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble has introduced Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, the world’s first e-ink device with patent-pending lighting technology.

The GlowLight, according to Barnes & Noble, is especially good for bedtime reading as it offers just the right amount of light without disturbing one's partner.With a soft, adjustable glow, GlowLight gives bedtime readers just the right amount of light for reading, without disturbing a sleepy spouse. According the company, the e-reader also displays well in daylight.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bi-Lo and Coca-Cola have partnered with the USO to support its Operation Phone Home program, which connects troops deployed overseas with their families back home through, among other things, a private phone network. For every rotisserie meal bundle sold at all Bi-Lo stores, Coca-Cola will donate $1 to OPH, which buys troops about 20 minutes of talk time.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — BJ's Wholesale Club is capitalizing on the growing demand for locally-grown produce by launching its "Farm to Club" program in each of its 195 clubs in 15 states. Rolling out this spring and summer, the Farm to Club program includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that will be clearly marked with a special "Farm to Club, Locally Grown" seal.

If you’re like me and watch more TV than you should, you’ve probably seen the unusual new Target commercials with the hot air balloon. These “Color Changes Everything” spots feature a troupe of lively individuals landing in a hot air balloon (which, when seen from above, sports a gigantic version of the distinctive Target bullseye logo) and cavorting through an urban setting in acrobatic fashion, magically transforming the clothing, accessories and household goods of the people they encounter into stuff that is brighter, hipper and generally cooler and more fun.