Color Choice introduces trilingual tags
Proven Winners Color Choice introduced picture hang tags with information in English, French and Spanish. The company believes this is the first trilingual shrub tag to enter the market. "We are excited to break the language barrier and educate all gardeners in North America," said Jennifer Holland, sales manager at Spring Meadow Nursery, the introducers of Proven Winners Color Choice. According to Holland, the idea for trilingual tags took root after hearing from Canadian customers asking for information in French. Adding French and Spanish to the tag made it usable throughout North America.

Consumer confidence ends year on high note
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which plummeted following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, rebounded in November and remained strong in December. The index currently stands at 103.6, up from 98.3 in November. "Consumer confidence continues to bounce back and is now at its highest level since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center. Consumer confidence should continue to expand in 2006, according to Franco.

Target offers text message sale pitches
Target Corp. has launched SuperTarget Mobile, a service that will send text message sales updates to customers' cell phones. The messages offer meal ideas and grocery discounts at nearby SuperTarget locations. Customers can sign up online or by sending a text message from their cell phones. These alerts might not come cheap, though. Cell phone users are subject to their carrier's standard text messaging rates. Target promises to send no more than 3 messages per week.

Jefferson will face forward on 2006 nickel
A new nickel scheduled to enter circulation this year will break with the traditional profile portrait and feature Thomas Jefferson looking forward. The new image, based on a Rembrandt Peale painting of Jefferson in 1800, is expected to find a home on the coin for years to come. The 1938 classic rendition of Monticello, Jefferson's Virginia home, will return to the reverse of the 2006 nickel.

New comic strip lampoons retailing
The trials and triumphs of the retail world will hit the funny pages starting this month. "RETAIL," the first-ever comic strip to focus on this sector, will chronicle the daily events at the fictitious Grumbel's department store. "The concept of a retail-based strip has great mass appeal, because everyone can relate to it, either as a former or current retail worker or shopper," said "RETAIL" comic strip creator Norm Feuti. Readers can share their retail stories by calling a toll-free number. Some anecdotes may be used and credited in future "RETAIL" strips. So far, about 20 newspapers have agreed to carry the comic.

Worth a visit
Check out the latest installment in the X-Factor series from Garden Center Merchandising & Management. This month's topic: What are consumers' lifestyles like? Only on GreenBeam.com.