Success Story Category: Award Winners

OMA Silver Award

We partnered with Mountain Dew to create an eye-catching, bold display to capture the brand's "Ride the Baja Wave" promotional message.

Program Objective

The goal was to create an engaging, easy-to-execute temporary, pallet spanner activation for placement in grocery and mass store environments to merchandise 12 oz. can fridge packs of Mountain Dew Baja Blast. Additionally, there was a second goal to create a visually disruptive structure that reinforced the call to action and stood out from traditional spanner structures.

The Work

The display structure was designed with a required 2-month lifespan at retail, leading to the use of temporary substrates. To maximize visual appeal and impact, all corrugate components were litho mounted, while the curved wave was offset printed on SBS. The standout feature is a striking two-sided header structure with a cascading wave design inspired by the can and packaging graphics. This is complemented by beach and sand-themed support columns, aqua-toned elements, and lime wedge accents, all reinforcing the brand's lime flavor and tropical island vibe. For ease of transport and assembly at retail, all components are packed KD into a one-piece shipper with included instructions.

The Results

The in-store promotion for Baja Blast soda was a resounding success, achieving impressive sales, engagement, and visibility. The visually striking display captured the adventurous spirit of the "Ride the Baja Wave" campaign, drawing consumers in with its unique and innovative design. Sales data showed a significant lift during the promotion period, attributed to its creative execution. The campaign also received positive feedback from store staff and customers alike, with many noting the display's ability to stand out in a crowded retail environment.

This success demonstrates the power of combining strong branding with creative in-store marketing to drive product awareness and boost sales.

If you want your display to drive sales and tell a story, get in touch with us today! [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.greatnortherninstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10d-Silver-Final-Mt-Dew-wMusic.mp4"][/video]   View More Success Stories

OMA Bronze Award

We partnered with Purina to create this Holiday Nutcracker Floor Stand and Side Cap featuring the fun, playful Beggin' "Hamlet" dog.

Program Objective

The goal was to develop an innovative and functional temporary floor stand and power wing solution that blends the playful Beggin’ “Hamlet” dog treat character with the iconic Holiday Nutcracker toy for the 2024 holiday season.

The design needed to effectively showcase the product, be easy to assemble, and accommodate multiple products. Additionally, the promotion targeted pet owners who enjoy the holiday gift-giving experience with their pets, mirroring the emotional connection shared with other family members. As a national program, its execution will span various retail chains and multiple retail channels.

The Work

We engineered a structural design that skillfully combines artistic elements from both characters, creating a cohesive family look between the power wing and floor stand program. Dimensional elements were incorporated into the header and shelves to bring the concept to life, while lithographic print was utilized to enhance the overall appearance.

The simple construction of the display allowed for ease of assembly during the fulfillment process and retail placement. All components were produced from corrugate to meet the desired promotional lifespan, budget, and sustainability requirements.

The Results

The strong product lift and positive feedback from retail partners have confirmed a rerun for the 2025 holiday season. The ease of execution resulted in a high rate of compliance, while the iconic nutcracker design strongly resonated with shoppers during the holiday season. Additionally, the dynamic design elements have inspired a different themed program for 2025.

If you want your display to drive sales and tell a story, get in touch with us today! [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.greatnortherninstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/10b-Bronze-Final-Purina_1-wMUSIC.mp4"][/video]   View More Success Stories

OMA Bronze Award

We achieved great success during our work with Dr. Squatch. We partnered with them to design a show-stopping Marvel-themed end cap for Walmart.

Program Objective

This display needed to pack a punch with Marvel themed bar soap SKUs showcased in a dedicated column alongside core Dr. Squatch bar soap products. The target audience was as broad—Marvel enthusiasts of all ages, die-hard Dr. Squatch fans, and anyone who loves great-smelling bar soap and iconic superheroes.

Dr. Squatch wanted this display to leap off the shelves with bold colors, playful elements, and fun character-driven designs that celebrated the epic Marvel collaboration. The goal was to create an eye-catching merchandiser with dynamic shapes and heroic energy while seamlessly blending Marvel's iconic branding with Dr. Squatch's unique identity. The result? A vibrant, cohesive, and unforgettable display that thrilled fans, captured attention, and united two legendary brands in style.

The Work

Budget constraints and a two-month retail lifespan inspired the use of temporary substrates for the display structure. A "drop-in" style structure was developed for this Walmart end cap activation to facilitate in-store execution and provide a customized environment for brand messaging and merchandising Dr. Squatch's Marvel-themed bar soap.

The display's design, featuring angled and stair-stepped shelving, ensures products are highly visible and easily shopped. Shelf lip graphics are color-coordinated with the product packaging to quickly identify scented soap options. Various Marvel action figures are strategically positioned off the display's surface to further engage passing shoppers and enhance the display's dramatic graphic presence in-store.

The Results

The Marvel-themed End Cap display was a resounding success, generating an impressive gross revenue of over $9 million. This achievement not only showcased the power of the collaboration between Dr. Squatch and Marvel but also solidified the foundation for their ongoing partnership. Building on the success of this campaign, the collaboration extended to numerous other displays and retailers, further amplifying the reach and impact of both brands.

Sold in over 3,400 Walmart stores, the display made a bold statement in its four-week program duration. Its widespread placement and engaging design captured the attention of diverse audiences, driving sales and brand loyalty. This initiative demonstrated the effectiveness of creative merchandising in elevating customer engagement and set a new standard for future point-of-purchase displays. The results speak volumes: a powerful collaboration, significant retail success, and a testament to the impact of innovative design and strategic partnerships.

If you want your display to drive sales and tell a story, get in touch with us today! [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.greatnortherninstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10c-Bronze-Final-Dr-S_1-wMUSIC.mp4"][/video]   View More Success Stories

OMA Bronze Award

We partnered with Pepsi to create a temporary, eye-catching, and "colossal" activation for merchandising palletized Pepsi products that coincided with the start of the NFL season and the highly anticipated release of Gladiator II. The activation was intended for placement in grocery and mass retail environments across the country.

Program Objective

The challenge was to develop a visually compelling and easily executable display that seamlessly integrated the themes of Gladiator II and NFL football while driving sales of Pepsi products. The display materials featured QR codes, offering consumers details on how to receive a "$10 movie reward" to see the film, further encouraging engagement and purchase. This activation targeted millions of football fans while paying tribute to the iconic imagery and excitement of Gladiator II. The combination of cinematic and sports themes aimed to create a memorable in-store experience that resonated with consumers and amplified the campaign's reach and impact.

The Work

A multi-component "wall" structure depicting the Roman Colosseum was chosen for its strong visual appeal to Gladiator movie fans and its ability to reinforce the epic nature of NFL football. This design seamlessly connected the themes of cinematic grandeur and the excitement of game day. The centerpiece of the structure featured a striking depiction of iconic artist Megan Thee Stallion alongside NFL superstars Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson, and Travis Kelce, all dressed in "Gladiator" attire. The display also included essential promotional information and a QR code, guiding consumers to a $10 reward for movie tickets to see Gladiator II. Freestanding columns added architectural depth and flexibility, allowing them to be placed adjacent to the main activation for an enhanced visual effect. The wall structure served as a dramatic backdrop for product pallets and strategically stacked products to create a cohesive and eye-catching display. Additional layers of visual engagement were achieved through SBS hanging pennants and column topping helmets, which amplified the campaign’s immersive theme. All components were litho-mounted for maximum visual impact. This thoughtful combination of design elements delivered a disruptive, memorable in-store presence that effectively promoted Pepsi products while aligning with both Gladiator II and NFL football.

The Results

The Gladiator-inspired campaign continues Pepsi's longstanding tradition of staying at the forefront of culture, partnering with iconic artists, and celebrating the passion of football. This visually stunning display captured the excitement and anticipation of game day, ensuring fans were fully prepared with great food and an ice-cold Pepsi. Designed with flexibility in mind, the activation could be positioned as an island display in large-format environments, with the Colosseum image prominently featured on the back wall, or utilized in an inline space, accommodating a variety of store sizes and layouts. The "Make Game Day Epic" promotion was a resounding success at retail, earning praise from both retailers and consumers. Shoppers frequently used the display as a photo backdrop, sharing images on social media, which further amplified the campaign's reach and impact. If you want your display to drive sales and tell a story, get in touch with us today! [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.greatnortherninstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/10a-Bronze-Final-Gladiator-wMUSIC.mp4"][/video]   View More Success Stories

OMA Bronze Award

For this award-winning display, we partnered with VMC Drinks to produce something that personifies their values as a brand and emphasizes their crucial partnership. Let's explore how we did it.

Program Objectives

Our objectives for this project were to create a display that brings attention to VMC's pride in its Mexican roots and ensure that we show the strength and value of their partnership with the Mexican boxer Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán. VMC is a new brand. Mexican spirits group Casa Lumbre formed it in 2022. They are known for producing a variety of popular Mexican alcohols. They needed a strong display for their entry into the U.S. market that reminded Mexican-Americans of their roots, as identity is a great characteristic to target for marketing purposes. The display needed to be easy to set up and take down, so we created it as a case stacker for display in lobbies.

The Work

To convey the two crucial concepts — Mexican heritage and the partnership with Santos Saúl Álvarez — we decided that the key fixture of the display would be that it must resemble a boxing ring. We used two corrugated plastic columns with digital printing of the VMC brand's bird of prey on all four sides to accomplish this task. Between these columns, we hung heavy-duty colored rope elements with metal fittings. We topped them off with formed metal top caps with a gold powder-coated finish. On top of the columns, we used a contour-cut 3D corrugated header with a large-scale image of Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán that people could use for photo opportunities. The VMC logo and slogan were printed in bold on the header, showcasing their three drink flavors. This was set against a light background picture of a Blue Agave field with a simple farmers' cottage on the right, meant to represent a field in the boxer's home state of Jalisco. The midground had the typical picture of the VMC bird perched on a Blue Agave plant. The background showcased the brand's Mexican roots and the prime ingredient of the tequila portion of the drink. We draped realistic boxing ring ropes in the middle to make this display stand out. We chose the colors based on the Mexican Flag: green, white and red. Again, this reinforced the relationship between boxing and Mexico and created a unique look and feel to this case stacker display.

Results

This display was successful in several ways. It drove sales, but more importantly, it increased brand awareness in the U.S., especially among the target Mexican audience. It was not a complex display to set up, so stores quickly put it together. Overall, it succeeded in getting VMC's name into the public eye.

Summary

To summarize, VMC tasked us with creating a stand-out case stacker display to help their brand identity in the U.S. market and emphasize their Mexican roots and partnership with boxer Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán. If you are looking to break into a new market, let us help! We'll create an eye-catching, practical display that will draw attention to your brand and product. View More Success Stories  

OMA Display of the Year & Gold Award

For this project, we partnered with Marks & Spencer to deliver an inspired Q4 holiday display. We wowed consumers by bringing a taste of London to Target stores through transportation-inspired displays.

Program Objective

Marks & Spencer tasked us with bringing London's signature red double-decker bus to Target stores nationwide. They wanted the display to stock tasty sweets, exceptional deals and the latest trends to get people into the holiday spirit. The goal was to give the consumer a delightful and whimsical experience whenever they entered a Target store during the holiday season. It needed to be large, bright and capture people's attention among all of the other holiday-themed displays jostling for space at that time of year. This display was about creating an experience and driving sales through bold, modern, optimistic storytelling.

The Work

The duration for the display's lifespan in stores was two months. Considering this information, we used a sustainable corrugated structure with litho-printing and a high-tension printed liner.  The team was tasked with using Target's portable metal towers and carts for the shelving of this product merchandiser. We went through multiple rounds of samples and mock-ups, and our footprint changed throughout the process. We started with two towers and one cart but decided to use only one tower and one cart for the final display. The cart and tower had to be modular so stores could move them with products for cleaning purposes. We decided Velcro was the best option to secure the two portable units together to fulfill this request. Regarding floor placement, the display was placed in the food and beverages department. We also shipped the components partially assembled to make the process easy on store staff and reduce the amount of time needed for staff to execute the display. All hardware came with an instruction sheet and full graphics.

The Results

The display was a great success overall. It met Target's stringent requirements, and the partially assembled nature, modular design and clear instructions all contributed to the excellent execution. Marks & Spencer was so delighted with the display and how it showed off their merchandise that they requested a final sample to have in their London headquarters. For the London samples, we created corrugated fixtures that mimicked the in-store metal fixtures, and it is now proudly displayed in their office.

Summary

In summary, Marks & Spencer tasked us with telling a story through display design. Because of its whimsical nature, they wanted consumers to see this display and their faces to light up with a smile. We brought London's famous red double-decker bus to Target stores nationwide to accomplish this. We used one tower and cart placed in Target's food and beverages department. We shipped the display partially assembled with easy-to-follow instructions to save store time. The display was a resounding success — Marks & Spencer and Target were happy with the outcome. If you want your display to drive sales and tell a story, get in touch with us today!   View More Success Stories

OMA Silver Award

We had the privilege of working with Mountain Dew on an engaging and energetic merchandiser to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Baja Blast flavor.

Program Objectives

This display's objectives were simple. Mountain Dew needed to blast people out of the water with an eye-catching merchandiser that embodied their brand persona and reflected Baja Blast's dynamic beach aesthetic. Mountain Dew Baja Blast is traditionally sold only at Taco Bell or other food service outlets, but because this was an important anniversary, they wanted to make it especially unique at retail. They decided this display would be available in convenience store environments, with 20-ounce bottles of Baja Blast. This necessitated a small format, small footprint structure to fit into the desired retail environment. Mountain Dew wanted a display that commanded attention, with a unique shape that set it apart from traditional hutch structures, to attract new and existing drink fans. It was also imperative that the display was easy to execute to get strong retail compliance rates so that Mountain Dew's direct service teams could maintain their speed.

The Work

The display's two-month life span and budgetary considerations required us to use an all-corrugated structure, which we litho-laminated to make the colors and branding pop. Our design team brought to life the unique shape Mountain Dew requested through a radically curved structure mimicking a massive wave at the beach. We used SBS pieces to curve the sides of the cabinet, making them rise magnificently above the shelves, with the wave crest breaking over the product. The SBS is also offset-printed for maximum impact. The cabinet's side has colorful graphics that set the beach scene, further reinforced by the aqua, white and yellow colors and shelves printed to look like weathered wood. For the easy execution component, we packed all components "knocked down" into a one-piece shipper for easy transport, including the set-up instructions, hutch structure and header components.

Results

The display structures' compliance with grocery, drug and convenience store aisle specifications allowed them to maximize placement while maintaining site lines for security. Sales for this display exceeded all expectations. By leveraging the rarity factor of finding this product outside of food service outlets, Mountain Dew expanded its reach to a broader audience, fulfilling the objective of attracting new customers. The success of this display was twofold. It boosted short-term sales and solidified long-term brand loyalty by meeting current fans' demands and surprising new consumers with the unique Baja Blast flavor.

Summary

To summarize, Mountain Dew tasked us with creating a temporary, small-footprint floor stand for convenience store environments to sell 20-oz. bottles of Mountain Dew Baja Blast to celebrate the product's 20th anniversary. Our unique display profile utilized wave imagery, a weathered wood look for the shelves and other aqua-toned components that reinforced the brand's beach atmosphere and lime flavor. This display succeeded in short-term sales and long-term brand awareness and fulfilled Mountain Dew's expectations. Create your own successful display with our team of award-winning designers. Contact us today!   View More Success Stories  

OMA Silver Award

We delightedly assisted the premium Italian wine producer LaMarca in their efforts to market their new 187ml Prosecco bottles in Kroger stores nationwide. Let's look at how we made this a successful award-winning display that shot LaMarca's sales up for a sustained period.

Program Objectives

Stores usually merchandise these products in two ways. Either on cut cases with the attitude of "stack it high and let it fly," or Kroger will place them on a shelf as open stock. Our mission was to elevate LaMarca's products above the rest by creating an upmarket destination for them within the cluttered wine section of this grocery store chain. Our objectives for this mission were twofold. We needed to consider how to maximize the amount of product offered while keeping the display's footprint reasonably small.

The Work

LaMarca wanted to pitch that their Prosecco display should be front and center in a locale that would disrupt the consumer's path when entering the store. We created and proposed several different concepts to support their pitch and rendered them into actual store environments. Ultimately, LaMarca decided on the stairstep design because it keeps with the elegant tone they were going for while also being simplistic and minimizing the footprint of the display. The high-gloss litho-lamination on the display's corrugated structure emphasized the high-end look and feel of the LaMarca brand. While the exterior exuded elegance, we built the interior with more practicality in mind. It housed a partition set that allowed the unit to hold 72 bottles of the smaller 187ml Prosecco bottle in a reasonable three-by-two overall footprint.

The Results

This program's results were an astounding win for LaMarca on various levels. Here are the effects this display had on LaMarca:

• They were able to create the desired disruptive destination for their brand. The retailer even paired the larger 750ml bottles at the front of the store with the display.
• In terms of sales, LaMarca achieved an incredible +25% sales lift monthly thanks to this simple, sleek and cost-effective display.
• Due to the popularity of the display, most Kroger stores kept it up longer than intended, even refilling some displays with open-stock products an astonishing two or three times. LaMarca is already planning phases for a 2024 version.

Summary

It was crucial to make sure we translated the upscale nature of LaMarca into this display. That luxurious, upmarket feel comes with excellent quality, carefully chosen materials and a design that gives off a calm air of excellence. Our chosen stairstep design and the high gloss-litho lamination printing blended simplicity and luxury in a way that drew people in, while the interior partition set allowed for ample storage (72 bottles) of the giftable 187ml bottle in a three-by-two footprint. If you would like to see a sales increase like LaMarca with your product and see your company on this success page, contact us today!

OMA Silver Award

We are proud to have partnered with Athena Club for this project. They are an omnichannel subscription-based provider of consumer packaged goods (CPGs) that focuses on setting a higher standard for self-care through their personal care products aimed at women.

Program Objectives

We had two objectives to meet for this project to be successful. Our main focus was to forge a quality partnership with Athena Club by helping them navigate their first foray into the brick-and-mortar retail market and launch their line of women's shaving products. The rollout was exclusive to Target, necessitating a drop-in endcap display that could turn heads from across the store. Our secondary goal was to help Athena Club eliminate any hurdles or roadblocks encountered during this program so that we could become their total supply chain partner. Athena Club is an emerging brand with only an online presence and little to no retail merchandising experience — and Target has complex merchandising guidelines. We had to step in to help them through the process to ensure mutual success.

The Work

There are two ways CPGs can execute a display at Target:

• Empty displays can meet open stock products, with a 3rd party company enlisted for the setup and filling of the display.
• A display can be completely prepacked with the product and dropped into place.

After we showed Athena Club the advantages and disadvantages of each display execution, they decided that using a prepacked display was the best option for their purposes as it offered fast delivery with a quick setup time. We then started on the design process, rendering concepts and prototypes, ultimately coupling our concepts with critical shopper marketing data. This was our eureka moment, and the perfect display chassis soon came to life. After some deliberation, we decided to use an all-corrugate structure with high-gloss litho-lamination graphics. To create order, neatness and a sense of separation between the products, we used stepped dividers and metal peg hooks to merchandise the razors themselves. The oversized razors fanned out on the side as a lug-on standoff was what turned heads for the entire unit. The execution was flawless. Athena Club merely shipped the open-stock product to our fulfillment center, and a fully assembled prepacked display appeared on the proper endcap at the right time within Target.

The Results

Our results for this program were fantastic. The customer trusted us with every aspect of the merchandising supply chain, allowing us to flex our full capabilities in this sector. The endcap successfully drove trial and brand awareness, which has cascaded into future on- and off-shelf display opportunities at Target.

Summary

Today, because of this successful program, we are working on multiple display setups for varying retailers. Athena Club and our partnership with them have proven that the model can work to convert from being solely D2C to also incorporating a B2C strategy. If your business wants to transition to brick-and-mortar retail displays and enjoy the same retail success as Athena Club, contact us today!