Nov. 18 - An interactive endcap display for Fisher-Price's Smart Cycle toy won the "Best of the Times" award in the Institute's annual Design of the Times contest. The display was designed and produced by Darko Inc., Twinsburg, OH.

Nov. 14 - OfficeMax rings in the holiday season by reprising its "Elf Yourself" campaign for a third year.

Pink again coated the merchandising landscape this fall as retailers and manufacturers ran cause-marketing efforts to support October's designation as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Hannah Montana and other teen-friendly entertainment properties took center stage during the 2008 back-to-school season, as retailers in multiple channels sought to add a hip veneer to otherwise standard promotions targeting students and their parents.

Retailers are researching their guests like never before, and CPG brands are expected to tailor displays to these specific shopper profiles.

In an Institute exclusive, more than 250 brand marketers rate the effectiveness of various communications in driving incremental display sales. Is a promotional incentive more effective than a description of product features or benefits?

Chuck Luckenbill joined OfficeMax to speak for the shopper

Bill O'Connor of Source/Inc. discusses how marketers and retailers leverage cultural values to strike the right chord with consumers.