Douglas Development Partnership is urging shop keepers in the town to ‘dress to impress’ and enter this year’s Best Dressed Business competition.

Town centre manager Michelle O’Malley said: ‘Once again we’re asking retailers to put on their most festive front and go all-out to decorate their windows and add to the Christmas atmosphere. It’s one the one time of the year when minimalism and being understated can take a back a seat; we’re looking for wow-factor windows.’

Manx Radio and Gallery magazine are, once again, supporting the competition, offering independent businesses a year’s free advertising and a full-page advertisement respectively, while for chain stores there is an opportunity to win a ?200 donation to the charity of their choice.

Windows needs to be full-on festive by the evening of Thursday November 26, when the Christmas lights are switched on and photos will be taken of each store taking part in the competition. The photos will be posted on DDP’s Douglas Town Centre Management Facebook page which will invite people to vote by liking their favourite.

Voting closes on Friday December 11, after which the five businesses with the most votes will be short-listed and the judging panel will decide on the winners.

For enquiries, contact Michelle O’Malley, 696304, momalley@douglas.gov.im.

Photo - Hair salon Head Candy’s winning entry in the independent category in the 2014 Best Dressed Business competition. Picture Andrew Barton .