Retail reporter and coupon queen Sue Stock offers retail news and frugal-shopping tips on her blog, Taking Stock. Once a month, we run excerpts.

For her full report, including a coupon database, or to share a shopping tip, visit http://takingstock.newsobserver.com.

Brand names vs. generics

There are those who swear by brand name products, and there are those who say generics are best. But for all of us, here's some food for thought:

A study (www.dukenews.duke.edu/2008/03/apple_ibm.html) shows that people may be more influenced by corporate logos than they would like to admit. Professors Gavan Fitzsimons and Tanya Chartrand of Duke University and Gráinne Fitzsimons of the University of Waterloo, Canada, conducted an experiment with college students.

Students saw footage that researchers said was for a "visual acuity task." A quick glimpse of either the Apple or IBM logo was slipped in. The logo passed so quickly that the subjects were not aware they had seen it. Later, when asked to list the uses for a brick other than building a wall, the students who saw the Apple logo were more creative in their responses than those who had seen the IBM logo.

Did a logo associated with a creative company make the students who saw it think more creatively? That's some serious branding power. What do you think?

Macy's to celebrate Earth Week

Macy's is among retailers planning events for Earth Week. The Turn Over a New Leaf campaign will run April 20-27. During the week, there will be special promotions and in-store events that will help raise funds for the National Park Foundation. There will also be some special eco-friendly merchandise, including a 100 percent cotton tote bag. The first 150 customers at each store on April 26 will receive a tote bag for free. (And free, of course, is the best price!)

Otherwise, the tote will retail for $3.95, with $1 of each sale going directly to the National Park Foundation.

More birthday freebies

Today is the birthday of one of my very good friends. Since I was thinking about birthdays this morning, I thought I'd mention that www.hotcouponworld.com has links with details on various birthday freebies and birthday clubs.

I'm not sure how much you could or should eat on your big day, but there's no shortage of options. This is particularly relevant since my own birthday is this month. In the meantime, if you know of a birthday freebie or club that you particularly love or want to share, feel free to post it in the comments section!

Triple coupons inspire ode

Triple coupons, when a grocer triples the value of discount offers, inspire passionate reactions from fans of saving money. But here's a new one: I've received permission from Garner residents Darrel and Penny Davis to share their poem, titled "Twas the night before Triples":

Twas the night before Triples and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The shopping bags were hung by the pantry with care, in hopes that the triples fairy would soon be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of free granola bars danced in their heads.

And mamma with her coupon binder and I with my baseball cap, had just settled in for a long winters nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, I tripped over mom's binder and landed with a crash.

The moon shined brightly upon the hood of our old SUV, giving luster to the sight we so wanted to see.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear, "A Harris Teeter truck," I shouted with cheer!

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Truck Driver Rick.

More rapid than eagles, with extra stock Rick came, he whistled and shouted and called the stockers by name;

"Now Danny, now Donnie, now Parker and Vick, Come on Charley, on Cathy, on Donna and Benson."

"To the top of the loading ramp, to the top of the store shelves, Now stock away! Stock away! Stock away all!"

As Hamburger Helper from the store shelves will fly, they worked so swiftly I could hardly believe my eye.

Up to the checkouts the cashiers they flew, "The store will be ready, for shoppers like you."

And I heard Rick exclaim as he drove his rig out of sight, "Happy Triples to all, and to all a good night!"

*Any similarity between the names in this poem and actual store employees names is coincidental.

North Hills adds farmers market

In Raleigh, North Hills is planning to host a weekly farmers market on Saturdays starting April 19 and going through September. It will be held in the grassy "Commons" area of the center, near Chick-fil-A and the movie theater, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Local farmers and merchants will sell vegetables, herbs, spices, homemade goods, fresh flowers, landscape plants, baked goods, cheeses and eggs.

DNA kits on sale now

Here's an interesting tidbit. Rite Aid stores are now selling Identigene DNA Paternity Test Collection Kit, an over-the-counter paternity test kit. The kits cost $29.99 and use cotton swabs that you swipe in your mouth to collect DNA. A lab then processes the DNA for $119. Results are available in three to five business days.

ShopSmart offers savvy tips

I am rapidly becoming a fan of a magazine called ShopSmart (www.shopsmartmag.org). It's a product from Consumer Reports that's a cross between Consumer Reports and a women's magazine. It's full of product reviews, shopping tips and information. The May issue just hit my desk, and here are some of the things I learned:

* 12 percent of shoppers who use the self-checkout line buy the merchandise displayed in the checkout lane, compared with 20 percent who let the store employees do the work.

* Those new credit cards that you can simply wave over the reader to pay make you spend more. Research showed that the wave and pay card customers spent at least 20 percent more than those with cash, and at fast food restaurants, they spent 20 to 30 percent more.

* Organic milk has a longer expiration date than regular milk because it is "ultra-pasteurized," a process that kills more bacteria.

* 22 percent of women said they always or often regret their bra purchases.

* And those Duncan Hines frozen "Oven Ready" brownies fared better in a taste test than the conventional out-of-the-box Duncan Hines brownies. But they cost 31 cents per brownie rather than 18 cents per brownie for the traditional kind.

Hardee's testing new kiosks

I'm all for automation, but Hardee's is looking at a whole new level of self-service. The company is testing automated kiosks, which allow you not only to order your food using a touch screen but also to pay using cash or debit, credit or even gift card. That means that with the exception of picking up your food, you never have to deal with a Hardee's employee during a trip to the store. Unfortunately, the only three stores using the program are in Rocky Mount and Richmond, Va., so you can't test one locally yet. But if they catch on, I bet we may see one here soon.

Meanwhile, every Monday through April 29, Hardee's restaurants are giving away free Channel Islands coffee. No purchase or coupon is necessary, but there is a limit of one per customer. The giveaway is a small cup of coffee, and you can get your freebie all day. The offer is good at all 317 stores in North Carolina and Virginia operated by Rocky Mount company Boddie-Noell. That includes pretty much all of our area stores.

At least it's a nice way to start your Monday and your work week: a free cup of coffee.

In-store clinics gaining fans

I got a study this week from WSL Strategic Retail about in-store medical clinics that have been popping up in stores such as CVS and Wal-Mart. The clinics are designed to quickly treat common ailments such as colds and sprains while helping patients avoid a trip to the emergency room. WSL's study found awareness of the clinics has grown from 38 percent to 47 percent over the past year. The percentage of people who have actually used the clinics during that time has grown a bit more modestly, from 6 to 8 percent.

I'm just wondering if anyone out there has used one, and what you thought about it? Also, if you've stayed away, tell me why. Personally, I'm not sure these will ever fully catch on. But then again, the last time I was in an emergency room waiting room, it took us about four hours to be seen.