Latest News | 27 October 2020
Walk in a Window Wonderland
Bondholder Derby City Council has announced the return of a competition to transform shop windows in Derby city centre and bring a bit of festive cheer to shoppers in the run up to Christmas.
The Council is working with fellow Bondholders, the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts, to run the Window Wonderland competition.
The competition invites all shops and businesses in the city centre, including those based outside the BIDs, to decorate their windows to bring some seasonal cheer to Derby. Displays are encouraged to include a Christmas ‘rainbow’ to thank NHS and key workers during the holiday period.
To enter your business in Window Wonderland and be in with a chance of winning £250, click here before Wednesday 2nd December.
Window displays should be in place by Friday 4th December, ready for judging by a panel of local business representatives.
Shoppers will also get the chance to nominate their favourite in a People’s Vote, which will be live on the Visit Derby website from 9th to 16th December.
The winners will be announced on Friday 18th December with the winning business receiving £250. Another prize of £200 will go to the winner of the public vote, with a runner-up prize of £100 given across both categories. All entries will be featured on the Visit Derby and BIDs’ websites, and their social media platforms, as the judging approaches, giving a boost to business at a crucial trading time of the year.
An online trail will also be created, which visitors can follow around the city centre for a full festive shopping experience, including a fun ‘spot the rainbow’ activity for families.
Councillor Robin Wood, the city council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “Christmas is coming to Derby and Window Wonderland will help transform our city centre into a destination that can be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace than perhaps we’ve been used to in previous years.
“This year the emphasis is on making our city centre welcoming and safe, as well as bringing some much-needed Christmas cheer to our local businesses.”
In a joint statement, Martin Langsdale, chairman of the Cathedral Quarter BID, and Helen Wathall, chairman of the St Peter’s Quarter BID, said: “Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter BIDs are delighted to be working with Derby City Council to support this competition and we are confident that businesses across Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter will embrace this opportunity.
“The Christmas period is vitally important to a wide range of businesses across all sectors, all of whom will be keen to provide a fantastic festive welcome for their customers and clients.”
Communities outside the city centre are also being invited to take part in Window Wonderland by creating their own festive window displays. These could be residential communities or district shopping centres, and could include places like churches, libraries and leisure centres. An online pack will be created for community members to download to help them run their own local window trails for residents to enjoy from the first weekend in December.
For more information about the city centre competition and the community trails contact sally.greatorex@derby.gov.uk.
