Why Retailing Will Never Be the Same Again, and What to Do About it
from Forbes
We're all acutely aware that the Internet and the recession are ravaging the newspaper business and raising the possibility of its extinction. But meanwhile a much bigger industry, the $4 trillion U.S. retailing business, is also being radically reshaped by the Web and the economic downturn. It's happening far more subtly, but the ultimate impact will be just as profound, both for retailers and for the manufacturers that sell through them. More    

Optimize Marketing Across Multiple Channels
from CIO Today
As contact centers play an important role in the marketing efforts of a company, many struggle to optimize online and offline marketing campaigns across a number of new marketing channels. Aberdeen has published a new study that examines the efforts of Best-in-Class companies. In executing their marketing efforts, companies tend to keep silos of information in separate channel-centric technologies. When combined with distributed marketing efforts, the organization discovers increased challenges to managing multichannel marketing efforts. More    

Product Showcase: CritterTrail® CritterTrail® habitats are designed for the health, security and comfort needs of your hamster or gerbil. Innovative features encourage interaction between owners and their pets. CritterTrail® is the only brand with Super Protect™ antimicrobial technology built-in to ensure a cleaner environment. Expandable Fun-nels™ and connectable accessories encourage activity and exercise. More info

Stimulate Your Business
from Entrepreneur
There's $787 billion in the economic stimulus pot, but it can't help you if you don't know how or where to get it. Data on stimulus money is publicly available, but pinpointing what's relevant to your business is a daunting task: $400 billion-plus is being distributed at the local and state levels, and there are more than 89,000 of these agencies around the country. That's where organizations like National Strategies, Inc., Onvia and Business Matchmaking come in. More    

Social Media Rises in Pet Pushes
from DMNews
Pet marketers are finding that social media is helping connect owners to pets, pets to owners and pet products to both, in what is expected to be a $45.4 billion industry this year. This year, an estimated $45.4 billion will be spent on pets in the US, up from $43.2 billion in 2008, according to the American Pet Products Association. Those costs include food, supplies and medicine, veterinary care, live animal purchases and grooming and boarding.
 More    

Quarry Capital Acquires Royal Pet Supplies
from Pet Age
Royal Pet Supplies Inc., a wholesale distributor with operations in Brentwood, N.Y., and Pompano Beach, Fla., has been acquired by the private equity firm Quarry Capital Management. "Quarry’s operational and strategic resources and deep experience in the distribution and manufacturing space will enable Royal to improve its cutting-edge, industry-leading programs to maintain the expected high level of customer service for which Royal is known," said Robert Siegel, Royal’s chief executive officer. More    

Texas HB 3180 Set for Committee Hearing May 19
from PIJAC
The Texas House of Representatives has passed legislation that would impose broad new restrictions on people breeding and selling pet animals. The Texas legislature is due to adjourn at the start of June, so this bill is on the fast track. Persons concerned about HB 3180 must take immediate action! More    

Nestlé Purina’s Goes Green, Gets Press
from The Denver Pets Examiner
At a press conference Nestlé Purina PetCare unveiled a new 467-panel photovoltaic system that will allow the pet food company to manufacture in a more environmentally responsible way. The 100 kilowatt system is the state’s largest privately owned solar array and will provide about 1 percent of the plant’s electricity needs. More    

Symbol	Name	Last	Change
ALO	ALPHARMA, Inc.	36.94	0.00%
CENT	Central Garden and Pet Co	10.05	0.29%
CHD	Church & Dwight Co., Inc.	53.72	0.17%
CLX	Clorox Company	55.15	0.27%
CL	Colgate-Palmolive Company	62.19	0.37%
DLM	Del Monte Foods Company	8.10	0.15%
IAX	International Absorbents, Inc.	2.89	0.01%
JAKK	Jakks Pacific, Inc.	13.00	0.70%
KFT	Kraft Foods, Inc.	25.20	0.33%
ODC	Oil-Dri Corporation of America	16.38	0.07%
OPCO	OurPet's Company	0.00	0.0%
PECD	Pet Ecology Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.0%
PETS	PetMed Express, Inc.	17.41	2.02%
PETM	Petsmart, Inc.	21.43	0.40%
PFE	Pfizer, Inc.	14.15	0.25%
PG	Proctor & Gamble Company	50.37	1.20%
SGP	Schering-Plough Corporation	22.68	0.39%
SPC	Spectrum Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.00%
WOOF	VCA Antech, Inc.	25.74	0.64%

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