This year’s Best Dressed Business awards have gone to Head Candy and Monsoon.

Organised by Douglas Development Partnership the two-category competition - independent and chain store - saw retailers dress their windows to impress. A photo of each entry was taken then posted on the partnership’s Facebook page and the public invited to cast their votes.

 The Heady Candy team - Alex Mussett, Wendy Gray, Karyn Dickenson and Katie Joyce - with town centre manager Michelle O’Malley, extreme right and Manx Radio’s John Marsom

Sponsored by Manx Radio and Gallery magazine the independent category saw hair salon Head Candy in Market Hill win a full-page advertising space in the magazine plus a year’s free on-air advertising, while in the chain store class, Monsoon topped the poll to win a donation of £200 to the charity of their choice, sponsored by Douglas Development Partnership.

Town centre manager Michelle O’Malley, left, with Monsoon’s Kirsty Love and Janet Banks

Town centre manager Michelle O’Malley said: ‘The response to our online photo album of entries was very enthusiastic, with more than 3000 likes received, almost double the number of votes in 2013. We’re really grateful to Manx Radio and Gallery for their continued support and generosity. This year retailers got behind the competition with tremendous enthusiasm and inventiveness. Every entrant is to be congratulated on their efforts, with some businesses going all out to produce some bling-tastically dazzling displays packed full of spectacular seasonal sparkle.’

(Photos Andrew Barton Photography)