From mental health to physical well-being, consumers show greater interest in over-the-counter health options. COVID-19 dramatically changed the health and beauty aids (HBA) category at c-stores. Three years later, the need for pandemic-related products has eased. Instead, seasonal illnesses push demand. From late fall into early 2023, Americans struggled with the triple-demic: new COVID variants,…
Water Purification Tablets
In preparation for hurricane season, EarthSafe will be bringing Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets to the United States with the new Aquatabs Emergency Kit for retailers located in the Gulf and Atlantic Coast states. Aquatabs kill 99.99% of microorganisms, viruses and bacteria to prevent cholera, typhoid, dysentery and other water borne diseases. The pre-measured tablets rapidly […]
What Are the Most Important Health & Beauty Products to Stock in 2022?
The COVID-19 pandemic left more than destruction in its wake: it also sensitized millions of Americans to the need to scrupulously guard their personal hygiene. While sales of hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes may have gone down as the COVID-19 pandemic fades from memory, the personal-care conditioning it brought about continues. Items like cold remedies,…
Health & Beauty Sales Bring Mixed Results
Last year marked another year with less-than-normal daily commuting to and from offices, and that resulted in mixed reviews for convenience stores’ health and beauty aids (HBA) category. “With a lot of customers working from home the last couple of years, they’ve had access to their own medicine cabinets, which has hurt purposeful trips to…
Gopuff Enters the Private Label Market, Launches ‘Basically,’ Brand
Digital delivery platform Gopuff announced the launch of its new private-label curated product line — Basically, — trademarked with the word followed by a comma. The new line’s intended to give customers access to high-quality snacks, water and home essentials at a value price. Basically, bottled water is the first product to be live on…
Should C-Stores Stock Travel-Size HBA Items?
There may be no single product sub-category in a convenience store that embodies the concept of convenience as well as travel-size health and beauty aid (HBA) items, which are designed to let consumers sprint through their lives without breaking stride. That’s why it makes so much sense for c-stores to keep them in stock. While…
McDade Products, G Medical Tests and Services Provide Retailers With at-Home COVID-19 Test Kits
In response to a national shortage of COVID-19 test options, Pittsburgh, Pa.-based McDade Products LLC has partnered with G Medical Tests and Services, a division of G Medical Innovations, to make several million FDA EUA-approved COVID-19 PCR collection kit tests available for retailers to sell by the end of January. McDade Products is a division…
What Are the Most Popular Health and Beauty Items at C-Stores?
When considering which health and beauty aid (HBA) products to sell at your c-store, keep in mind: Numbers don’t lie. Up-to-date, c-store-specific data is important in tracking ever-evolving consumer trends. So, what are the most popular, best-selling HBA products in convenience stores? According to NielsenIQ statistics for the convenience store channel for the 52-week period…
Should C-Stores Carry Makeup Products in Their HBA Section?
When over-the-counter medications and pain relievers sell more than eyeshadows and face creams, why should convenience store owners and operators incorporate makeup, skincare, and nail polishes into the limited space allocated for health and beauty aids (HBA)? While each business must make that determination, an overview of industry research might provide a convincing argument in…
How Can C-Stores Grow HBA Sales?
The health and beauty aids (HBA) category in convenience stores doesn’t fit neatly into traditional marketing and promotional packages like other c-store staples, despite heavy manufacturer advertising in print, on television and through social medial channels. It’s not like a loyalty program offering “buy 10 lip balms, get one free” will drive foot traffic. Sure,…