[Retail] While Wal-Mart is clearly benefiting from its low-price position in the current soft economy, downturns don't last forever. "Wal-Mart is thinking more long-term," says retail consultant Jon Hauptman. "This isn't an indication of Wal-Mart going after the most affluent shoppers. It's an indication of them going after the middle and upper-middle class." ...Read the whole story

[Telecom] Virgin has begun to build buzz through radio spots and an online ad buy that cuts across about 700 sites, according to Ron Faris, director of brand development and partnerships at Virgin Mobile USA. "Through radio, we have local outreach in the bands' hometowns," he says. "Once we know the winning band, we'll step up the deejay chatter." ...Read the whole story

[Research] Proximity Worldwide's Christine Armstrong says the Gen X groups are more similar to each other than any of them are to 20-somethings and Boomers. "We found that people in their 20s are very success focused, particularly when it comes to brand and image," she says. "Baby Boomers very worried about money; they are more conservative." ...Read the whole story

[Spirits] Campari now annually awards a commissioning grant to one artist featured in the previous year's group exhibition to support significant works of art. The works are then donated to a museum. Thus far, one work has been donated to the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and another to the Brooklyn Museum. ...Read the whole story

[Financial Services] According to a survey, two-thirds of U.S. consumers said they would buy the insurance at booking. "From a marketing perspective, you need to be way out in front of them when they're making the purchase," says TripAdvisor's Brian Payea. "Building [trip insurance] into the travel purchase is a big impetus." ...Read the whole story

[Food] Consumers are "moving away from more expensive restaurants and toward quick-service options-and maybe switching from eating dinner out to eating breakfast out," says NPD's Harry Balzer. "As we know, fast-service chains are offering healthier selections, and growing numbers of consumers are buying these. The more people choose these, the more such options the restaurants will offer." ...Read the whole story

Media Category Change National Sunday Supplement 19.2% Cable TV 12.9% African American TV*12.9% Network Radio10.0% Spanish-Language TV*7.7% Outdoor2.9% Syndication TV2.3% Spot TV: Top 100-0.4% National ... ...More