The nation's best window dressers were revealed at the finale of UK-wide window dressing competition. Launched by Mary 'Queen of Shops' Portas, the final saw the best student and professional visual merchandisers from across the UK create window displays against the clock and judged by industry professionals at the annual event at London's Olympia.

As the Sector Skills Council called on retailers to continue investing in their skills to help them prepare for the economic upturn the accolade of the nation's most highly skilled window dressers (Visual Merchandising) was given to Rachel Love Cameron and Sara Walsh of the stylish Belfast store Avoca. They wowed judges with their fantasy 'teatime' display, beating the two other finalists in the retail category from Marmalade in Axminster, Devon and Swarovski in Dundee.

In a tough economic period for retail, this competition was a timely reminder how important visual merchandising can be. Visual merchandisers across the UK can change the fortunes of any shop with the people behind the displays being the unsung heroes of retail! With an estimated 22,000 visual merchandisers in the UK the, significance of skilling up in this role is further evident.

As well as finding the UK's best visual merchandisers, skillVM could also prove the springboard to success on a global level with the WorldSkills competition coming to London in 2011.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SKILLS COMPETITION:

Now in its second year, the skillVM (Skillsmart Retail's Visual Merchandising Competition) competition is organised and run by Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for Retail. The regional heats took place in Dundee, Belfast, Manchester, Cardiff and Kent to find the best-of-the-best to travel to London for the grand finale. The final is held over two days at London's Olympia.

For further information - www.skillsmartretail.com Distributed by Tubemogul. (less info)