Independent retailers dominated the window display category in Toolbank's festive 2014 XMS promotion display competition - reflecting the fact that nearly all independent retailers have display windows, whereas most builders merchants do not, says Toolbank.
First place in the window display category went to P&G Crocker of Gillingham, Dorset; second was C&M DIY Centre of Andover; and third place went to Watson Home Hardware of Sutton on Sea in Lincolnshire.

Conversely, the in-store display category underlined the fact that the average merchant generally has more floor space to work with than most independent retailers.

First place here went to CEF's St Austell branch in Cornwall, followed by GPH Builder Merchants of Westhill, Aberdeenshire in second place, and a tie for third place between RGB Building Supplies' Bideford branch in Devon, and MKM Building Supplies' Peterlee branch in County Durham.

More than 200 entries were received for this year's competition, in which Toolbank customers taking part in the annual XMS promotion were required to submit photographs of the Christmas displays they had built around the promoted products, signage and POS material.

The entries were judged by a panel consisting of BHF/BIRA managing director Alan Hawkins, NMBS managing director Chris Hayward, Toolbank group sales director Simon Bicknell, and former DIY Week and BMJ publisher Colin Petty.

"The XMS promotion just goes from strength to strength," said Mr Bicknell. "Each year we have more stockists taking part, and the number of entries for the competition goes up as well. This year the standard was very high, and the judges had a hard time deciding which of the many strong entries would go through."

Toolbank is the leading distributor of tools, workwear, hardware and accessories to retailers and merchants throughout UK and Ireland.