Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/709455
C h a i n D r u g s t o r e D a i l y 7 5 M o n d a y, A u g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 6 terms of the three major categories: eyewear (Piranha), mobile device accessories (Hottips) and trial and trav- el (Handy Solutions). But also the depth of the offerings within each of those brands that, as stand-alone cate- gories, we are, if not the leader, one of the leaders in the industry. That pro- vides us with the ability to be strategic with our retail partners by consolidat- ing categories, servicing them with in- store merchandising and customized merchandising. CDD: What was the most significant event or series of events affecting your company over the past year? MD: Any legitimate CPG company must always pay attention to the shopper/con- sumer and the big changes there – their continued awareness around quality. That quality awareness is with electronics and eyewear in particular. Their demand for a broader assortment and their requirement to continue to pay attention and respond to those needs is first and foremost rela- tive to the significant changes and adjust- ments that we pay attention to as a com- pany. CDD: Did your sales and marketing strategy in the past year provide you the overall position you had projected? MD: Very much so. We've invested heavily in our marketing programs and teams, and as a result we've enjoyed con- tinued growth with our current cus- tomers, our additional programs and also by attracting new customers across all of our brands. Navajo (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) CDD: Are you introducing any new products? What distinguishes you from your competitors? MD: We have innovative new products in each of our major brands. Through Handy Solutions we offer the largest nat- ural and organics trial and travel program in the industry with nearly 50 SKUs. This has really been a push from today's shop- per. With 59 percent of consumers check- ing if the products they buy are natural, it was important to add this full-line offer- ing. Piggybacking on the wellness shop- ping trend, within Piranha we have launched XBlue™ Computer Glasses that block 50 percent of harmful blue light that has recently been linked to dig- ital eye strain. These glasses are great for office workers, students, gamers and any- one else who spends an extended amount of time staring at a screen. XBlue glasses lessen the strain on your eyes, so you're not getting those end-of day headaches, blurred vision or eye fatigue. Within Hottips we have new Flex Armor™ cables that are tangle free, durable and have a sleek polish and come in either 5.5 inches or a 4 foot length for variety. We're also very excited about our wireless chargers, one that works with Qi enabled devices and one that has a micro- USB adaptor that fits between your phone and case. In addition, we have a multi-pronged distribution methodology from direct import to cross-dock through warehouse and direct to store with service. That's really how we distinguish ourselves from our competitors. For more information, visit booth #1651 or go to www.navajoinc.com. Tennessee, and is involved with sales and marketing of the Blue-Emu product line. Blue Emu has been around for more than 10 years, but our group acquired the products in the last two and a half years. CDD: What would you say makes your company unique? SG: Family. Our company is a second generation organization following our parent's success with King Pharmaceuticals. Many of our team were raised in the pharmaceutical industry, working across all areas. We attribute our success to teamwork, dedication to hard work and creativity. The family atmos- phere cultivated long ago by the older generation has been carried on with the team operating the company today. It really does feel like a family. CDD: What are you doing this year that's different from what you did last year? SG: NFI is unique in that for 2016, we operate without a media buying agency, allowing our marketing team to become much more aggressive and agile via dif- ferent marketing outlets. When we took over the company in 2014, we set out doing aggressive marketing via TV and radio for the Blue Emu brand and capi- talized on the popularity of our product spokesperson, Johnny Bench, and the addition of Richard Petty in 2015. It increased our customer awareness and opened the product up to exponentially more potential customers. We are con- tinuing this strategy, but trying to perfect it by managing a more strategic advertis- ing campaign on our own. CDD: What was the most significant event or series of events affecting your company over the past year? SG: The addition of new product line NFI (C o nt'd. fro m p. 1 ) extensions, Blue Emu Maximum Arthritis, Blue Emu Anti Itch and Blue Emu Lidocare Lidocaine Patch. In the coming year, we will continue to inno- vate and get consumers interested. Also, as we look for potential companies and/or acquisitions, we will be executing those deals quickly and efficiently. We expect to continue to work on new prod- ucts while growing distribution for our current line extensions, and anticipate increasing sales in our main product, Blue Emu Original Cream. CDD: Are you introducing any new prod- ucts? What distinguishes this new product from others already on the market? SG: We are currently working on several new possible line extensions for the Blue Emu brand. The one we feel has the most potential is Blue Emu Sports Gel, which we hope attracts sports enthusiasts and weekend warriors using a unique tech- nology in the external analgesic category. Our current product emphasis is lotions and creams, but we are constantly looking for other brands to bring under the NFI umbrella through innovation or acquisition. CDD: How do your products or services enhance your customers' ability to com- pete in the marketplace? SG: We are a unique product that con- sumers see as different from other tradi- tional brands in the external analgesic space. Utilizing emu oil to enhance our products capabilities has become a staple in our organization. Potential customers can see the long list of current customers we currently provide product to, and our track record with them, and know that they can trust us with their business. Visit NFI at booth #1359. For more infor- mation, email wbarlett@nficorporate.com, call 800.432.9334 or go to www .blue-emu.com. KORN FERRY UNLOCKS YOUR GREATEST ASSET: PEOPLE An interview with Jeffrey Wierichs, Sector Leader, Consumer Health and Generics, Korn Ferry. CDD: Tell our readers about Korn Ferry. JW: As a preeminent global people and organizational advisory firm, Korn Ferry colleagues share a single purpose: help- ing leaders, organizations and societies succeed by releasing the full power and potential of people. It delivers services through three divisions: Korn Ferry Executive Search, which helps you attract the best executive talent with the right fit; Korn Ferry Hay Group, which helps you align your organization and people, developing, engaging and rewarding them to achieve business suc- cess; and Korn Ferry Futurestep, which delivers professional talent with impact. Through combined strengths and specialized expertise in the life sciences and consumer practice areas, Korn Ferry has an unrivaled ability to address the entire talent continuum in North America as well as globally. It focuses on helping companies attract, develop and retain best-in-class talent. CDD: What would you say makes your company unique? JW: Unlike many companies, we are a supplier of human capital services. Our business model is a fit for manufacturers and retailers alike. Additionally, our range of capabilities is useful to services com- panies supporting the overall industry. Korn Ferry understands that human capi- tal is the differentiator between a good company and a great company. It drives the success of all businesses and is at a premium, in many cases, across the retail drug and manufacturing marketplace. CDD: What is your outlook for the next year? JW: We are very optimistic about our ability to serve our clients across multiple industries and are particularly proud of our ability to help our retail clients in addition to our clients across the pharma- ceutical and consumer products indus- tries. CDD: To what do you attribute your company's success? JW: Our success is driven by our abil- ity to provide a broad suite of services that can cover almost any client request. This could come in the form of providing RPO services, entry level search services, midmarket needs as well as senior and executive search services. From an overall talent man- agement perspective, our ability to bring professionals who are familiar with specific industries is proven with- in the marketplace. CDD: Why are your products or services the best value for your customers? JW: Korn Ferry has a diversified approach to talent services and develop- ment – we are able to provide a tailored solution for each individual client. This customized platform ensures our solu- tions are always an appropriate fit. None of our competitors can provide both the diversified product portfolio and the global outreach that Korn Ferry can deliver. CDD: How do your products or services enhance your customers' ability to com- pete in the marketplace? JW: Human capital is the most precious resource that any company has in its day to day operations. Without the right team in place, you cannot move a business for- ward no matter how strong your prod- ucts, your services or your locations. We consistently work on helping our clients improve their talent platforms, both existing within their companies as well as attracting new and greater talent to their companies. Our ability to do that gives our clients a leg up on the marketplace versus their competitors, and allows them the flexibility to build, grow and develop their company, products and services in an effective and efficient way. CDD: How do potential new customers know that they can trust you with their business? JW: With more than 45 years in the mar- ketplace, Korn Ferry has the most holis- tic, focused and time tested approach to overall talent solutions in today's market- place. Organizations around the world trust Korn Ferry to manage their talent – a responsibility we meet every day with passion, integrity and quality, resulting in longstanding client relationships. For more information, go to www .kornferry.com.