The Filling Station Motel opens a garage and concept store in Udine, Italy (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/roadside-attraction) Photography: Rocco Taglialegne, Udine, Italy

How the demand for customized apparel has driven a tech revolution for Amsterdam’s Tommy Hilfiger flagship (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/tommy-x-you) Photography: Miguel Jimenez, Seville, Spain

FAO Schwarz is back in Manhattan, three years after it closed its Fifth Avenue landmark, promoting a “return to wonder” | Photography: Richard Cadan, Fairfield, Conn. (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/wonderland)

Looking for a way to attend the 2019 International Retail Design Conference (IRDC) for FREE? Look no further than the International Visual Competition! Now in its 25th year, this competition highlights temporary projects of limited shelf life, from holiday windows to in-store promotional campaigns. All winners will be highlighted in the July/August 2019 issue of VMSD, while the Best in Show winner will receive a FREE registration to IRDC 2019 in Boston this fall. For more information, please visit www.vmsd.com/visual-competition and submit your materials by Friday, Feb. 15! Shown: Coach Subway, last year's Best in Show winner. Photography: Courtesy of Coach, Hong Kong/Shanghai

Check out VMSD's 2018 holiday windows recap, now live on vmsd.com. Pictured here: "Alice in Wonderland," Meyer, Melbourne, Australia | John Kerr, Creative & Technical Director, Stage One | Photography: Lucas Dawson, Melbourne, Australia (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/eat-drink-and-be-bold)

VMSD is now accepting submissions to the 25th annual International Visual Competition – a contest that highlights temporary displays of limited shelf-life. Whether it’s a holiday window, a store-wide campaign or a pop-up shop, VMSD wants to see your projects! Submit your materials to www.vmsd.com/visual-competition by Friday, February 15, 2019, at 11:59 U.S. ET. Winners will be showcased in the July/August issue, while the Best-in-Show winner will receive a FREE registration to the 19th annual International Retail Design Conference (IRDC), slated for Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Boston this fall. For more information, please visit www.vmsd.com/visual-competition

Jacob & Co. unveils its remodeled New York flagship on 57th Street (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/set-stone) | Photography: Seth Caplan, New York

It's the most wonderful time of the year! When VMSD seeks the best and the brightest holiday window displays from this holiday season to cover in its annual recap, set for the January/February 2019 issue. Don't delay -- send us your materials by Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, for consideration. For more info, please visit https://bit.ly/2DKTetA | Pictured: A.K. Rikks, Grand Rapids, Mich. Photography: Brad Gillette, Grand Rapids, Mich.

VMSD is now accepting nominations for its 2019 class of Designer Dozen! We're looking for 12 up-and-coming designers under the age of 35 who are striving to make a difference within their retail design/visual merchandising teams or design firms with fresh ideas. Nominate a coworker, supervisor or even yourself by January 18, 2019. For more information or to submit your materials, please visit https://bit.ly/2EPKAXW

Patagonia's rehabbed building breathes new life into the surrounding area (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/bold-new-visions-part-iii) | Photography: Travis Serpa, Ventura, Calif.

Havertys finds an ideal spot in Columbia, S.C. (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/bold-new-visions-part-iv) | Photography: Ed Wolkis Photography, Atlanta

Dolce & Gabbana plants its flag on London’s Old Bond Street (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/going-baroque) | Photography: Alessandra Chemollo, Venice, Italy

Script showcases an updated design, aimed at younger consumers (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/bold-new-visions-part-ii) | Photography: Praveen Sundaram, Bengaluru, India 

From banks to breweries to Bigfoot, this year’s Retail Renovation Competition winners honor legacies and introduce new ideas (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/bold-new-visions) | Shown: Retail Renovation of the Year, "Coffee for Sasquatch" | Photography: Brandon Shigeta, Los Angeles

This Miami-based boutique (Antidote) features a modular setup (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/vm-trends-antidote-miami) | Photography: Claudio Napolitano, Miami 

Subway's music festival activation wowed visitors (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/next-stop-innovation-part-vii) | Photography: Richard Cadan, Fairfield, Conn.  

Westfield's temporary holiday market was the ideal complement to The Oculus' interior (more: http://www.vmsd.com/content/next-stop-innovation-part-vi) | Photography: Emily Good, New York