Big Brands Pushed Out - Big Story for Coupon Users

[couponcandy]

Do you shop at Wal-Mart or Target or K-Mart or Meijer or Kroger or Publix? This is a nationwide effort and there is a trend to push out brand names and replace then with store brands and to tighten up the reigns of making money or rather the big corporation keeping money in their pockets during these trying economic times we are in.

Wal-Mart is not the only one doing this, the leading drug store chains, including CVS and Walgreens, grocers such as Kroger (KR, Fortune 500), and Wal-Mart's rival discounter, Target (TGT,Fortune 500), are also looking to simplify their store shelves.

In good economic times, product variety is a must for retailers. But in down times, when shoppers aren't buying much, variety can be a burden. So what does that mean to you, the consumer? Plenty. Think of all your favorite brands you use and now imagine that half of them aren't for sale anymore. That is slowly taking place right now under your nose. Big box and grocery retailers are pulling big brands for example only (Hefty, Glad, Charmin, Pantene and others) and replacing them with generic store brands.

The consequence?

All those coupons your clip for name brand products won't be available for purchase at big box savings stores and you in fact will have to pay more at the local grocery store for that coveted brand name product. Consequently the savings that you thought you were getting by using a coupon is not the same savings you'd be getting if your purchased that brand name item in, let's say, Target.

The loser: the consumer.

[Mom2Natalya]

Sorry, I don't buy this. The brand name manufacturer's are way too big and pay way too much money to stores in the form of slotting fees and other monies for retailers to do this.

[couponcandy]

Don't buy it?

Today, the following article was published on CNN Money...it's for real and it is going to happen because it is already happening...

Product overload: Stores are threatening to dump brands - Feb. 15, 2010

By the way, this is a really big story because it will effect all of those who use coupons to save money!

[petergabrielfan]

I agree with Brandy. Stores are constantly phasing out some brands in favor of others. Frankly, the brands listed in the article are ones I seldom buy because the manufacturers put dinky coupons ($.25 off...puh-lease) out for products that frequently cost $5 or more. I usually avoid those certain products because there really is no way to get them cheaper than other name brands. I'll spend my coupon "dollars" on brands that offer me the best value. No retail establishment worth its salt would ever get rid of all name brand products and only stock generics. I know dollar stores do this, but they didn't get rid of name brands. In most cases they never carried them. This "big story" is sort of a non-story to me. If this does come to fruition, I'll fight back with my pocketbook and not spend money in that store.

[my3littlextras]

Oh I definitely believe!! I couldn't find hefty at all in WM when they had a hot coupon out! I kept looking for about 6 months cause new q's kept coming out but they never had it at WM(1st thought it was just that they were OOS but then they never had any) I ended up not using it until I finally found some at FF that were on sale and they only had the one section on the bottom shelf and 1 kind. Unlike ziploc which had about 4 shelves and they had different size bags as well as containers.
And Target and there Up & Up, I've seen coupons in magazines for that, how often do you find a coupon for a generic product in a magazine?
And Food Lion...they just had an advertised promo that required you to buy a certain amount of Food Lion brand(generic) products in order to get a RR back. So if this isn't trying to promote their store brand versus major brand I don't know what is. And if you look in Food Lion you can find a generic version of just about everything...even dog food!!

But hopefully others will take the lead like Food Lion/Target and offer Q's on their generic products. I'm not brand loyal but I am coupon loyal!!

[CW&M Mom]

I could maybe see this for shampoo and stuff.

But no way is Walmart going to get me or most people to buy generic garbage bags...don't care if they are cheaper even with the coupon cause it ain't worth it when it makes a mess all over my kitchen floor cause it ripped or fell apart.

My walmart still has hefty and glad garbage bags...I know cause i took some peelies' Saturday LOL

[couponcandy]

"And Target and their Up & Up, I've seen coupons in magazines for that, how often do you find a coupon for a generic product in a magazine?" posted by my3littlextras

I attended the Jan. 21st Quarterly Investors meeting for Target, for I work as a journalist in my day job, and along with several changes coming down the pike at Target will be an extra push towards their Up & Up generic brand through Catalina's generated at the register's.

[CW&M Mom]

"And Target and there Up & Up, I've seen coupons in magazines for that, how often do you find a coupon for a generic product in a magazine?" posted by my3littlextras

I attended the Jan. 21st Quarterly Investors meeting for Target, for I work as a journalist in my day job, and along with several changes coming down the pike at Target will be an extra push towards their Up & Up generic brand through Catalina's generated at the register's.

I am willing to purchase some target up and up brands..if they give me up and up coupons and catalina's...although i still will only buy brand name garbage bags.

[faeryedark]

Don't buy it?

Today, the following article was published on CNN Money...it's for real and it is going to happen because it is already happening...

Product overload: Stores are threatening to dump brands - Feb. 15, 2010

By the way, this is a really big story because it will effect all of those who use coupons to save money!

There will most likely be somebody to fill the gap. Whether it one of the drug stores carrying a brand another does not , or stores such as Family Dollar and Dollar General, If they think they can pull in the customers the others are losing, they'll do it.

[CW&M Mom]

I don't know how to answer your poll though...cause it totally depends.

A few things I'm brand loyal...or certain brands loyal.
Some things I will only purchase with a coupon
Some things I"m willing to purchase generic if it's cheaper even if I have a coupon for the name brand product...but it depends.

I purchase pantene, hefty and glad. For pantene I will not buy generic. For Hefty...I will only buy it if it's a better deal than the glad and I really need it.

I prefer glad and will buy it/stock up on it as needed. I will not buy generic garbage bags, but I will buy generic sandwhich bags.

As for charmin..not a charmin lover and not brand specific on TP...I want the cheapest that lasts the longest on the roll and doesn't plug up my toilet. LOL