1996 Ad

Discount Store News, Sept 2, 1996

CHICAGO -- Manufacturers displayed 1,400 new products at the National Hardware Show last month, many of them line extensions or items that were new to a particular vendor's offerings.

First Alert, for example, introduced a new line of baby safety equipment, such as safety gates, long the specialty of Safety 1st. Safety 1st returned the complement by introducing a new carbon monoxide detector, long the specialty of First Alert.

First Alert also introduced a new version of its CO detector, which features a digital readout of actual carbon monoxide readings.

"There wasn't an awful lot new," said Joe Ettore, chairman and ceo of Ames. The newness that drew his eye was in packaging and promotion.

Among the exceptions: Winner introduced its Shield intended to protect costly air bags from thieves when used in conjunction with its Club steering wheel lock.

Tamper tags from Safety 1st was another new product that is likely to be imitated by others in the future. The tags, in the form of either plastic and paper tags affixed to luggage zippers or labels attached to document folders, give notice when someone has tampered with suitcases or documents.

In a variation on a theme, Bemis introduced what it calls Mayfair Fashionables, toilet seats that consumers can decorate with their own wall paper or fabric. A press-on clear plastic cover protects the decoration.

Another item to keep an eye on: Pass & Seymour Legrand, Syracuse, N.J., has applied the infrared, motion sensor technology to control indoor light switches. Although the $35 price for its Watt-Saver switch limits its applications, other vendors will knock off the idea and bring the price down to the mass market level.

In the packaging arena, Eveready should make friends among consumers with the new easily opened blister pack on its new Halogen flashlight, claimed to be 300% brighter than the old incandescent bulb flashlights. Instead of requiring tin snips and a blowtorch to open the new blister pack, consumers can easily tear open the clamshell with their bare hands.

Duracell, voted as SPARC (Supplier Performance Awards by Retail Category) Vendor of the Year, is packaging AA alkaline batteries in a peg-hook 12-pack. It is heavily promoting its new battery feature, a strip on each battery for checking the remaining power.

Among promotions, Panasonic offers a double coupon and cash back to purchasers of a four-pak of its AA alkaline batteries, which makes the purchase absolutely free.

Rayovac features basketball superstar Michael Jordan in its "Jam with Jordan" battery promotions based on the "Space Jam" movie from Warner Bros. that stars Jordan and Looney Toons characters. Special packs of Rayovac's Renewal alkaline batteries carry a $5 rebate offer.

Ergonomics--making a tool fit the hand so it's more comfortable to use--continued to be the trend in tools, especially contractor grade.

Stanley, for example, has covered nail sets in its contractor grade line with a plastic cushion grip material that it claims will reduce vibration and slippage, while also reducing heat and cold transfer. In another example, Stanley has redesigned its Sharpshooter heavy-duty stapler to reduce the shock from using it. In another feature for more comfort, Stanley made the actuating handle out of a carbon filament material so it won't feel so cold or hot to the hand.

In consumer tool ergonomics, Fiskar introduced another item to its Softouch line of garden cutting tools: serrated floral shears with handles covered with foam cushioning material.

Red Devil brought out a new putty knife with an oversized, padded handle that is shaped to fit the hand for easier use. And Oxo introduced more items in its Good Grips line of kitchen implements for people with impaired hand mobility, including a vegetable peeler.

In powered garden tools, Snapper unveiled a new line of lighter, smaller tools ergonomically designed for women. Called Lady Garden, the line includes a smaller-size electric string trimmer and smaller 18-in. and 19-in. cut mowers, both cordless and gasoline powered.

And the power race in cordless tools continues. Black & Decker introduced a battery-powered mulching mower that it claims has the same power as one equipped with a five-horsepower gasoline engine.

It also introduced a 14.4-volt cordless drill for consumers who want contractor-grade power. And it switched to mid-handled grips from pistol grips for better balance of the heavier 9-, 12.6- and 14.4-volt battery packs.

It also introduced new tools in its VersaPak 7.2-volt tool system line, including a jigsaw with a lever clamp to change blades without a screwdriver, a circular trim saw, cordless broom, grass shears and shrub trimmer. All use the same interchangeable batteries that power other VersaPak tools, such as drills and screwdrivers.

For the mass market, Skil introduced a new line of VP (Value Performance) power tools, both cordless and electric.

And for the fans of Tim Allen, star of the "Home Improvement" TV sitcom, Hart Tool introduced a new line of Tim Allen signature tools.