4 Products Going the Way of the Dodo

Bar soap, antiperspirant spray wane in popularity
By Sarah Whitmire,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 13, 2011 11:08 AM CDT
Incandescent Light Bulbs, Bar Soap: Everyday Products Disappearing From Supermarket Shelves
The incandescent lightbulb's days may be numbered.   (Shutterstock)

Another casualty of the recession could be your favorite deodorant: As consumers flock toward store brands and stores in turn look to downsize, the result is the death of some of America's best-known consumer products, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. "As we shrink the size of stores, a number of products will disappear," says a consumer expert. Some of the prominent victims:

  • Incandescent light bulbs: Government regulation is helping push this one out—more than half of Target's lightbulb section is dominated by CFLs.

  • Bar soap: A growing public perception that liquid body soap is more hygienic has slashed sales of bar soap by 85% over the past two decades. Dial, Dove, and Irish Spring have stayed afloat.
  • Antiperspirant spray: Though the prepubescent males of America have kept Axe body spray going strong, antiperspirants like Right Guard have dwindled, likely because of their negative environmental image.
  • Powdered laundry detergent: Even in recession, multitasking-but-pricier liquid detergent dominates 70%-80% of the market.
For the rest of the list, click here. (More incandescent bulbs stories.)

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