Success Story Category: Grocery Store

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

Objective:

• Create a premium looking trophy case like display that contains baseball product to promote Evan Williams Bourbon as the “Official Bourbon of Major League Baseball’s World Series”
• Showcase the brand locally (Cincinnati, Kansas City, etc.) as well as promote the World Series in other markets

What We Did:

• Created a stop-in-your-tracks display case that caught customers attention and drew them in from several feet away
• Used materials that capture the premium look and feel while maintaining strength and cost-effectiveness

Results:

• Reports show an execution rate of 100% in store, with no reported shipping issues
• Heaven Hill is planning a similar promotion again next year

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