Winner shops in the neighbourhood Christmas Shop Window Competition

Promoted by the Councillor for Commerce and Markets and by Barcelona Activa, the prizes for Christmas Shop Window Competition the 3rd edition of the Neighbourhood Shop Window Competition have now been handed to out the retailers chosen by the jury. The initiative is part of a programme to revitalise and promote commercial activities in the neighbourhoods taking part, with the aim of making local commerce more attractive to Barcelona's residents and fostering business in these establishments.

A total of 54 shops took part in the 2017 competition from the districts of Bon Pastor, Baró de Viver, Trinitat Vella, Ciutat Meridiana, Roquetes, Trinitat Nova, Besòs Maresme and La Marina. The winners are:

• La Maquinista veterinària (Bon Pastor)
• Ferreteria Industrial Besòs (Baró de Viver)
• La mar de arreglos (La Trinitat Vella)
• NB Salut Centre Mèdic (La Trinitat Nova)
• Ferreteria Ciutat Meridiana (Ciutat Meridiana)
• Mini Zoo El capricho (Les Roquetes)
• Fòrum de Labors (El Besòs and El Maresme)
• Celler la Marina (La Marina)

The competition aimed to encourage a bigger and better display of commerce among local residents, promote local consumption and raise the level of professionalism in commerce, as well as give continuity to the two previous editions, which had been very well received by the participating neighbourhoods.

The Councillor for Commerce and Markets, Agustí Colom, the Councillor for the Sant Andreu district, Laia Ortiz, and the Director of local social and economic development Barcelona Activa, Emi Pallás, all highlighted the efforts and involvement of the retailers in moving forward in their everyday activities at the front of their establishments. Councillor Colom remarked: “We are committed to local commerce and conscious of the inequalities still present in the area and which we will be working on to reduce.”

The total prize awarded to each of the winning shops was €300 and a copy of a book entitled “Barcelona, l’encís del comerç emblemàtic” [Barcelona, the charm of iconic commerce], promoted by the Department of Commerce and published by the Barcelona City Council. A book with illustrations by Patrícia Soler that proposes a journey in time through Barcelona's long-standing shops.

The competition's jury was made up of representatives from the Department of Commerce and the Manager’s Office for Economic Policy, district councillors, representatives from the community and local-resident associations, and experts in window dressing. The criteria for judging the shop window decorations were sustainability, design, aesthetic-effect originality and attractiveness to citizens, as well as former participation in one of the “Open to the future” training courses.