The fact that "70% of brand purchase decisions are made within the store" is the most misunderstood historical fact since Columbus "discovered' America.

That comparison, of course, is pure hyperbole -- which is fitting, because the statistic in question has been greatly exaggerated for more than a decade.

Since the figure emerged from POPAI's Consumer Buying Habits Study in 1995, it has been cited so often that it became hackneyed -- often misused because it wasn't properly understood. Along the way, a valid, informative piece of research that primarily focused on supermarket shoppers undertaking stock-up trips was appropriated for every channel, every product category, every shopping occasion. ...More

Mark Zwicker of St. Joseph Content discusses what he calls "the framework of excellence" for new digital signage projects in this presentation from the 2008 In-Store Marketing Summit.

GMR Marketing's Dave Rosenberg delves into the substantial benefits strategic partnerships offer brands, as well as the snafu of marketing challenges that must be unraveled to pull them off successfully.

Sept. 29 - Safeway this month launched a kid-focused extension to its Eating Right private label.