June 19 - Barnes & Noble is hosting an exclusive sweepstakes from American Girl that leverages the July 2 theatrical release of New Line Cinema's Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.

June 9 - Borders last month launched a long-term partnership with AARP.

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.

Sept. 21 - Bookstore chains Barnes & Noble and Borders are enhancing ongoing marketing programs while trying to keep the Harry Potter sales "spell" alive.

The 52nd annual "National Retail Census" gauges the size of more than 30 retail channels.

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?

Dr. Christopher Gray of Saatchi & Saatchi X uses findings from the agency's proprietary research to outline the eight fundamental drivers of shopping behavior among women in an audio-enabled presentation from last month's In-Store Marketing Expo.

Grid2 International president Martin Roberts looks at how Target, Best Buy, Borders and other "big boxes" are improving their shopping environments with consumer-centric designs, lifestyle brands and "try-vertising" merchandising.