The City of Sydney is aiming to spread the festive spirit with a social media competition that will see small businesses competing with their window displays.
As part of the City’s Christmas in the Villages program, retailers will be invited to a free lesson on how to decorate shop windows before competing for best window display. Sibella Court, an interior stylist, best-selling author, product designer, TV presenter and creative director, will hold the lesson and will be judging entries.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the program was to boost the festive spirit while promoting local businesses.
“There are so many iconic festive sites in the city centre, and this year we really want to crank up the festive spirit and support business in the villages,” Ms Moore said.
“We also want people to share their experience with the world via social media to promote our City and great businesses.”
The Villages Best Window Instagram Christmas competition, which opens on 12 November and closes on 10 December 2014, will see businesses using Instagram to show off their decorations.
Retailers competing will have a chance to win a $5,000 adventure voucher from the City’s principal Christmas partner, American Express, and will no doubt attract customers with Christmas carollers and a visit from Santa himself as part of the prize.
Customers are also invited to take part, allowing them to take an Instagram photo of their favourite displays and tag them with #sydxmas #bestwindow for a chance to win a $2,000 travel voucher from American Express.
“We want to encourage people to shop locally and help local businesses get into the Christmas spirit by creating great, artistic window displays as part of our Christmas in the Villages campaign,” the Lord Mayor said.
Ms Court will be hosting the free workshop at Golden Age Cinema in Surry Hills on Wednesday November 12 at 9am.
Bookings can be made by contacting Alice Chatwood, Business Precinct Coordinator at the City of Sydney, achatwood@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
