This year, the City of Durham Parish Council will once again be organising and judging the Durham City ‘Best Christmas Business Frontage Competition’. The competition aims to add an extra level of sparkle to Durham City during the festive season and hopes to promote businesses in the City of Durham Parish area as a whole to shoppers and visitors of our great City. The winner of each of the business categories will win a prize of £500.
Eligibility
Any business within Durham City and which has indicated that they wish to take part in the competition by completing and returning the application form is eligible to take part in this year’s competition. Please complete this application form and return it to us via email at parishclerk@cityofdurham-pc.gov.uk by 5pm on 6th December 2022.
Judging and Judging Criteria
The window display that is judged must be the same as the display that will continue to be in the business window(s) throughout the Christmas period.
The competition is between individual businesses in each of the following categories:
• an independent business;
• a chain store;
• an indoor market stall; or
• a non-retail business
Whilst businesses may choose to adopt a theme of their own, it is individual business displays that will be judged.
We will judge against the following criteria:
• Innovation and creativity. How new or different is the window display?
• Spirit of Christmas and festivity. How well does the display convey the ‘Spirit of Christmas’ and a festive message?
• Merchandising (not included in the non-retail category) how well does the business show case its merchandise to shoppers.
• Overall impression and visual impact. E.g. how well is the window lit up?
Judges will award up to 5 points for each of the criteria (a total of 20 for independent business, a chain store, an indoor market stall and 15 for the non-retail business). Judges will work together and will agree the score against each criterion and therefore the total score. The highest score from each of the business categories will win a £500 prize.
Judging
Judging will take on Thursday 8th December from 2pm so please have your windows complete by this time. The results will be announced on Friday 9th December 2022.
Awards Presentation
The Awards presentation will take place at the City of Durham Parish Council Christmas Civic event at Durham Town Hall on Monday 12th December between 6:30pm and 10pm. All winning businesses in each category will receive an invitation to the awards ceremony with further details after the final judging.
