Shop Talk

Retailers, consumers and prices

Pampers to create designer diapers

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Photo courtesy of PRNewswire

Photo courtesy of PRNewswire

Following a trend made popular by teen shops H&M and Forever21, a Procter & Gamble brand is making the leap to disposable fashion.

Literally.

Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley will create a line of Pampers diapers for Target that will include madras, stripes and ruffles, P&G said Wednesday. The collection “delivers the perfect blend of utility and aesthetics,” according to the company.

“It’s the first piece of clothing your baby will ever wear, and it should be special,” said Rowley, who designs clothing and accessories for several department stores and has appeared on “Project Runway.”

The new Pampers by Cynthia Rowley, available in 11 different styles, go on sale in mid-July.

Check Out Line: Taylor Swift — the new face of Covergirl

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MUSIC-COUNTRYAWARDS/Check out country music star Taylor Swift becoming the newest Covergirl.

The songstress, known for her blond ringlets and girl-next-door charm,  has been busy collecting armfuls of accolades. In February, the 20-year-old  won four Grammys and was the youngest artist ever to take home the coveted prize for album of the year. In November, she won four awards from the Country Music Association, which named her entertainer of the year.

Last month, Swift got a mention in People magazine’s “World’s Most Beautiful People” special issue.

Check Out Line: P&G shows its sustainable side

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Check out Procter & Gamble’s environmental and social efforts.

P&G was added to the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable corporations in 2009.  On Monday, the household products powerhouse released its latest sustainability report, “Designed to Matter.” 

The report comes seven months after P&G raised its 2012 sustainability goals.
 
P&G said that since 2002 it has cut water consumption by 52 percent, energy usage by 48 percent, carbon dioxide emissions by 52 percent and waste disposal by 53 percent in its operations.

Check Out Line: Make a mess, would ya?

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Check out the world’s biggest advertiser’s latest marketing plan.

Procter & Gamble’s Bounty paper towel brand is sponsoring a new art studio, called Make-A-Messterpiece.  The space, which Reuters readers learned about on Tuesday, gives parents an outlet for kids to express their artistic creativity without damaging the furniture, floors and walls in their own homes.

make-a-messterpiece-11The facility, in the Chicago area at The Glen shopping area in Glenview, Illinois, charges an $8 fee per child to use the studio, while classes and some activities, such as using drumsticks to splash paint while drumming, carry additional fees of $10 to $18.  Low-income families may be able to visit on special days sponsored by Bounty.  Parents enter for free and can relax in a lounge coffee-shop type space while they watch their kids.

Check Out Line: Home Depot’s less bad news

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homedepot1Check out how less bad is the new good.

The latest example of this new reality is Home Depot’s revised profit outlook.

The world’s biggest home improvement retailer said this year’s earnings from continuing operations could be flat to down 7 percent.  That compares with its earlier call for a fall of 7 percent.

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