Just months after suffering smoke damage from an arsonist's fire, Napier shop The Linen Cupboard has finished the year on a bright note by winning the Supreme Award in the Best Decorated Christmas Window Competition in Napier inner city this week.
Ten retailers stepped forward on Monday night to accept their
awards, which were presented at the CBD Christmas function, held for inner city businesses in the Hawke's Bay Museum's Malden Gallery.
As in previous years, the Napier City Council donated the $5,000 prize money to foster the spirit of Christmas in the city.
Eleven awards were offered this year with scaled cash prizes.
The Linen Cupboard took out the Supreme Award of $1000, after being deemed to have gone the extra mile with a decorated vintage car parked at the front of their exquisitely adorned window.
The two runners-up collecting prizes of $750 each were Footloose and Bernina Sewing Centre. Three further prizes of $500 each were awarded for the Most Classical, Most Original and Most Creative. These were awarded to Elaines of Napier, Alexanders Mens Apparel Ltd and In Vogue Beauty Studio respectively.
It was great news to for Linen Cupboard owners Pam Pedersen and Nicky Ross, after the shop suffered smoke damage in October when an arsonist had started a fire in flattened cardboard boxes and newspapers stacked for removal in the service lane behind the Vero Building in Tennyson Street.
The fire broke windows to a storeroom and although it failed to take hold on the interior, the store suffered $45,000 worth of damage.
"This award means a great deal to us," said Nicky, "it's a fantastic event for the city. Everybody has made such an effort and the city is looking great. We've had several out-of-towners come in and tell us how fantastic the city looks".
A further 5 Highly Commended awards of $200 each went to Beattie and Forbes Booksellers Ltd, Inhabit Designstore, Just Looking, Nectar Bodycare and Objects of My Affection (Ooma).
Napier Inner City marketing manager, Meg Rodel said that the theme this year was Black and Gold and the judges were looking for how well the display integrated with the business it represented, impact, effort, style and excellence. 40 businesses participated and members of the public are encouraged to view their creativity.
