Slide Show

Nassau, Bahamas - In early December, downtown retailers put final touches on their festive displays for the Downtown Nassau Partnership’s Annual Holiday Window Competition. Lights, gift boxes and other elements were perfectly positioned in windows of the participating stores to celebrate the Christmas season and win over the judges of this annual event. “The competition was more than a celebration of Christmas. It demonstrated a new wave of excitement and innovation among the retailers – a clear signal of some momentum with the revitalization”, said Vaughn Roberts, DNP managing director.

The participants in the competition were judged on originality, creativity and the overall appeal. The judges looked not at the beauty of the window displays but the amount of thought and time placed into it as well. The businesses were placed into one of three categories based on number of employees. The judges included artist Kishan Munroe, Kendal Major, senior manager with the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Tyler Miller and Khiry Adderley, art students at the College of the Bahamas.

Participating stores in category A included Coin of the Realm, Coles of Nassau, Delucci, Kings Discount, Maison Décor, the Linen Shop and the Perfume Shop. The winner of this category was Maison Décor with its elegant and enchanting display by Nioca Miller. Second place went to Kings Discount for its original theme “A Bahamian Christmas” displaying hand-made straw items on a live model. The Perfume Shop came in third place.

Stores in Category B were well known Solomon’s Mines and John Bull. Solomon’s Mines took first place with its theme of “My Favourite Things”. John Bull was a close second.

Category C consisted of three retail banks: Scotiabank, Bank of the Bahamas and FirstCaribbean International Bank. The winner of this category was Scotiabank Rawson Square. Scotiabank displayed true holiday cheer with reindeer-eared tellers and greeters dressed in elf costumes.

The DNP initiated the People’s Choice Award using Facebook to collect votes from the public for their favourite display. The first People’s Choice Award went to King’s Discount Store.

Errolee Conliffe, project manager with the DNP, said “It was a tough yet fun competition designed to get retailers to participate in making the town come alive during the holidays. It is so important that residents and visitors come to enjoy themselves in downtown.”

For media inquiries or event information, please contact 326-0992 e-mail vroberts@downtownnassau.org

About the Downtown Nassau Partnership

The Downtown Nassau Partnership (DNP) is an interim organization formed in 2008 as a joint venture of the private and public sectors to achieve a progressive redevelopment of the city of Nassau. One of its main tasks will be to develop a framework for government to legislate a self-financing Business Improvement District that will manage and promote the City of Nassau going forward. The DNP is guided by an 11-member Board with Charles Klonaris and Vernice Walkine as co-chairmen.