Private Label

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples announced that it has teamed up with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Avery Dennison to create a new line of home office products.

The Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery product line will debut in early 2012 with more than 300 SKUs across multiple product categories, which will be sold exclusively at Staples.

Exclusive arrangements with celebrities can be a good thing, as long as the right celebrity is involved. Target appeared to pick a winner last year when it tied up with Food Network celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis to launch an exclusive line. Now, Consumer Reports has confirmed that at least one of the key items in the line tastes really good.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club has announced the availability of three new proprietary brands found exclusively at Club locations nationwide: Simply Right, Artisan Fresh and Daily Chef. 

The products under the three brands were previously all available under the Member's Mark brand. Sam's Club said it decided to break out the labels after research determining members' priority needs in health and wellness, fresh, flavorful meal solutions and everyday cooking.

PHOENIX — PetSmart has the announced the launch of a new collection from Martha Stewart Pets. The collection features innovative, cat-friendly feeding bowls and mats, a well-designed bed and a range of fun, stimulating toys made exclusively for PetSmart stores and PetSmart.com, the company reported.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday officially unveiled its new store brand, Nice!

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy officially has announced the launch of its exclusive beauty collection, Nuance Salma Hayek, developed in partnership with actress Salma Hayek.

The collection is comprised of more than 100 products within four categories — skin care, cosmetics, hair care and body — and is available only at CVS/pharmacy locations nationwide and online at CVS.com/NuanceSalmaHayek. Prices range between $2.99 and $19.99.

NEW YORK — Macy's has announced the launch of exclusive bedding line Bar III. Now available in 100 Macy's stores and on macys.com, items in the line are priced from $40 to $250.

Washington, D.C. – Back-to-school sales are expected to be flat this coming season, according to the 2011 Back-to-School survey, issued Thursday by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGresearch. The study showed that families with children in grades K-12 will spend an average of $603.63 on apparel, school supplies and electronics, a few dollars short of last year’s $606.40 average.