Windows by Franc!

With almost 40 businesses in Waterford City registering for the Waterford 1100 Window Display competition, the judges described the shortlisting process as a “very tough decision, with Waterford retailers showing an extraordinary amount of creativity, insightfulness and pride in Waterford city.”

The Waterford 1100 Window Display competition, an initiative of Waterford City and County Council, supported by Waterford Chamber of Commerce and Waterford Business Group, encouraged local businesses to “celebrate Waterford” with prizes to the value of €3,750 to be awarded to the overall winners.

Billy Duggan, Chairman of the Waterford 1100 committee and member of the judging panel, was delighted, not only with the response from local businesses, but also with the calibre of entries to the competition. “The premise of the Window Display competition was to encourage local businesses to celebrate any aspect of Waterford that resonated with them.  Whether it was a Viking theme, a sporting theme, a food theme or based on a famous Waterford personality, these businesses took it to heart and made the process of compiling a shortlist a very difficult one for the judging panel.”

“As Ireland’s oldest city, celebrating 1100 years of history, these engaging and fun window displays added a little spark to the City and based on the positive feedback and comments we’ve had from the general public we hope to replicate it in the future.”

Joining Mr. Duggan on the adjudicating panel were Peter Kelly, aka “Franc”, the wedding planner synonymous with shows such as RTE’s Weddings by Franc and Franc’s DIY Brides and Karen Tomkins, WLRfm’s Big Breakfast Blaa presenter.

The judges were looking for creativity, presentation, relevance to the competition theme and a certain WOW factor. Participants were encouraged to integrate their own product into the display to make a strong impact.

Peter Kelly who is no stranger to ingenuity, imagination and exuberance said the competition standard was very high.  “The shortlist finalists were chosen because of their use of colour, their creativity, their ability to bring a story to life and the simple, but effective integration of their product into creating the display.”

Karen Tomkins added, “It really made me look at window displays in a different light.  It’s now easier to see how an effective well displayed window can draw in a customer.  The businesses that made the shortlist all demonstrated the importance of local heritage, space, and light along with the clever use of stock and props.  Creativity and imagination are very much alive and well in Waterford.”

The 12 businesses shortlisted are Fitzgerald’s Menswear, Gerry O’ Carroll Photography, Therapie Clinic, The Dresser, Babycare, Sam McCauley Chemist, The Little Design Shop, Keighery Antiques, Muse, Waterford Animal Welfare Shop, Waterford Hearing Services and Cummins & Stone.

The overall winners will be announced at a Mayoral reception in the Medieval Museum on October, 14^th when prizes of €1,500, €1,000, €750 and €500 respectively will be awarded.