Nov. 13 - Petco and PetSmart have rolled out holiday campaigns with budget-minded messages.

Oct. 22 - Packaged-goods marketers tap into football season in this week's FSIs.

Dec. 17 - The Institute presents a review of marketing and merchandising activity at more than 50 leading retail chains. Coverage includes more than 350 images of seasonal displays, signs, store environments and marketing collateral.

According to our annual survey, shopper marketing budgets at some smaller companies are feeling the economic squeeze, but marketers are positive and working toward more efficient in-store marketing.

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?

Owning a small independent chain puts Dave Ratner in a unique position to understand both high-level vendor relationships and the in-store realities that can derail them. In an audio-enabled presentation from last fall's P-O-P Show, Ratner offers grassroots advice on effective merchandising programs. Here's something often overlooked: "Bring donuts."