And the Award Goes To...

Did anyone else catch the Oscars last night? I have to admit, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were actually pretty entertaining as co-hosts, but I was not a fan of all the "George Clooney Angry Face" close-ups. But I digress...where was I going with this again?

Oh yes, awards. While the entertainment industry reveled in the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, Chain Store Age magazine crowned some award winners of its own this month during its 28th annual store design competition. With categories ranging from pop-up stores to shopping centers, this year's award-winning designs are fresh and innovative, vibrant and fitting of the brands they encompass. And they serve up an ample amount of inspiration for all of us in the retail industry. If these designs represent the direction retail is going, I really like where we're headed.

Just look at the overall winner, Barbie Shanghai. It's a total experience from top to bottom including the fitting rooms, and it's the stuff that little girls' dreams are made of. For pictures of the Barbie store, as well as all the other winners, check out this month's issue of Chain Store Age.