VMSD Recognized in Annual “Tabbies”

(PRESS RELEASE) VMSD magazine was recognized in the 2025 Tabbies this year, an annual award program celebrating business-to-business (b2b) journalism, facilitated by the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI).

VMSD was ranked #16 out of 25 total issues for Best Single Issue, specifically for its March/April 2024 issue featuring service retailer EE on the cover. (Read the issue here.) The issue also featured our 2024 Designer Dozen, a case study on REI’s Re/Supply concept and a trends report focusing on lighting trends.

VMSD also received an honorable mention for its 2024 Top Stories of the Year article, specifically for the illustrations drawn by VMSD Art Director Danielle Sy. The piece is penned annually by former VMSD editor, Steve Kaufman. (Read the piece here.)

Many of VMSD’s sister magazines, owned by SmartWork Media, also took home accolades. INSTORE (ranked #8), INVISION (ranked #11), PETS+ (ranked #12), Signs of the Times (ranked #15) and Big Picture (ranked #25) were all recognized in the Best Single Issue Category. INVISION also won an honorable mention in the Feature Article category, a bronze in the Feature Design Category and an honorable mention in the Opening Spread category. Signs of the Times also received a Silver in the Best e-Newsletter category, and PETS+ was recognized with Silver in the Front Cover Illustration category.

VMSD magazine is now in its 128^th year of continuous publication. Once known as The Show Window and founded in 1897 by American literary icon L. Frank Baum, VMSD also plays host to the International Retail Design Conference (IRDC), now in its 25^th year.

ABOUT SMARTWORK MEDIA

SmartWork Media is dedicated to the idea that business media should strive to inform, excite and inspire business readers, and that a good business magazine can (and should) have the energy and compulsive readability of a top consumer publication. The company publishes INSTORE, INVISION, PETS+, VMSD, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, BIG PICTURE and SCREEN PRINTING magazines as well as their respective websites, and events — IRDC, the INSTORE Show and the Garden Center Show. SmartWork Media also manages the Shop! Association and produces the annual Shop! MarketPlace trade show and conference.

ABOUT THE TABBIE AWARDS

Organized by Cleveland, Ohio-based Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI), The Tabbie Awards recognize excellence in trade, association and business publications. The editorial and design competition takes place each year.

ABOUT VMSD

Since 1897, VMSD has provided retail professionals with the most up-to-date, innovative retail design ideas, visual presentations, new products, merchandising strategies, and industry news and events. Founded by the American author L. Frank Baum, VMSD celebrates the art and science of retail design, and draws on more than 120-plus years of history to serve the market, delivering information and inspiration straight from high-level executives who drive this industry. VMSD also hosts the annual International Retail Design Conference (IRDC), a premier educational and networking event for the store design and visual merchandising community, drawing hundreds of attendees from the U.S. and abroad. For more information on IRDC, please visit irdconline.com.