Show Off

It’s December, at last. After months of feverish planning and installation of holiday store and window displays, retail designers and visual merchandisers are reveling in a brief respite from the pressures of their demanding jobs. Either that or they’re lying in a coma somewhere – hopefully on a warm, sunny beach.

So, before you pat yourself on the back for surviving another grueling season (or imbibe some well-deserved holiday cheer) how about setting aside a sliver of time to promote your work and awesomeness by entering one of VMSD’s three annual competitions?

I confess to being self-serving here. We shine when we showcase the best of the best – be it cutting-edge store promotions and windows, inspiring retail renovations or hot up-and-coming designers. But consider the benefits of winning one of our competitions: wide exposure to the international retail community through prominent editorial placement in VMSD’s print and digital editions, plus coverage in our e-newsletter and social media platforms and in-person feting at industry events, including IRDC.

Another benefit of participation? A chance to get on our editors’ radars. When the VMSD team is sourcing experts to interview for industry news and trends, or contributing writers, we often look to finalists and winners of past and current competitions. Case in point: Faith Bartrug, a 2013 Designer Dozen winner, is now a regular blogger on our website. She says: “The Designer Dozen award has provided great exposure to Faith Bartrug Design and has personally provided a renewed enthusiasm for finding new clients and collaborating with existing relationships.”

So here’s the deal: Mark your calendar with the following competitions and submission deadlines. Then, click here to review the competitions application process. Finally, take the plunge and put yourself or your firm’s or client’s work out there for the world to see – and I’ll chance to say, admire. You’ll be glad you did. And we will, too.

Designer Dozen Award: We’re looking for young professionals (35 years of age or younger) at design firms or in-house retail design staff whose ideas are shaping their firms and this industry. Deadline: January 30, 2014.

VMSD International Visual Competition: Celebrating great achievements in visual merchandising, storewide promotions and window displays. Deadline: February 20, 2014.

VMSD Retail Renovation Competition: We invite all design firms, construction companies, retailers and suppliers to submit store renovation projects for consideration in a one-of-a-kind competition highlighting renovation projects. Deadline: April 10, 2014.