Winning Christmas Magic Displays announced

Published: 15 Dec 2023

Cllr Ruth Fletcher with Public's Choice winners Amici Coffee Co

The eight winning local businesses for Horsham District Council’s ‘Christmas Magic Displays Competition’ have now been decided. The competition was part of the Council’s ‘Buy Local Gift Happy’ campaign to support local businesses this festive season.

An array of businesses from across Horsham District got into the festive spirit, creating Christmassy windows, market stalls and internal displays and submitting photos so they could take part in the competition.

The public were invited to celebrate their favourite displays by voting via an online gallery webpage and on social media, with the chance to win fantastic prizes. This determined the Public’s Choice winner.

A team of judges also assessed the displays, scoring them based on their ‘wow factor’. Those with the highest scores were awarded the overall best displays across Horsham District towns and villages, where sufficient entries were received, and the best window, internal and market stall displays across the District. Judging criteria included how eye catching and creative the display was, the use of lighting and space and how well the display highlighted what the business does or sells.

The eight winning Horsham District businesses were:

  • Public’s Choice

Amici Coffee Co. in Horsham

  • Overall Best Display (Henfield)

Tottington Manor in Henfield

  • Overall Best Display (Horsham) and Best Window Display (across Horsham District)

Carmela Deli in Horsham

  • Overall Best Display (Southwater)

The Children’s Society in Southwater

  • Overall Best Display (Steyning)

Sakala in Steyning

  • Overall Best Display (Storrington)

Safe Hands Funeral Services in Storrington

  • Best Internal Display (across Horsham District)

Johansson’s Café in Horsham

  • Best Market Stall Display (across Horsham District)

Love Mother Earth Handmade Organics in Horsham

All eight businesses will benefit from publicity in the lead up to Christmas, showcasing their wonderful displays, as well as a £100 voucher for Point-of-Sale material in association with wholesale supplier WBC and a framed certificate.

Commenting on the competition, Horsham District Council’s Cabinet Member for the Local Economy and Place Cllr Ruth Fletcher said:

I would like to congratulate everyone who took part in this competition.

There were so many excellent entries, with businesses using fantastic visual merchandising techniques to really make their displays and products or services stand out.

It is wonderful to see such amazing support from the public who voted for their favourite displays, and I hope this inspires many to buy local and gift happy this Christmas. Our local businesses really do make our towns and villages magical places to be over the festive period.

Take a look at the winning businesses on the Council’s social media channels, as well as the Buy Local webpage here: https://www.horsham.gov.uk/business/buylocal.

For more images of the category winners please see: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yhk9ao0y5ajlnylkln1rr/h?rlkey=3pxztopepwpe2kin2mgfo0ojj&dl=0

Overall Best Display Horsham District winners Carmela Deli

Overall Best Display Horsham District winners Carmela Deli