Walker Street Windows Projects. Funded by
The City of Greater Dandenong and Vic Urban. An 8 store window revitalization!

Summer 2008-2009

8 stores in one street,

the project, a wonderful window retail revitalisation!

Mia Rappel worked with traders and council exploring the obstacles and needs of each store, and then created an individual window design to revive and highlight the stores stock, strengths and points of difference.

The Walker St project was a several month project, from gathering traders interest and developing individual design concepts, to construction and implementation.

December 2008 saw Walker St come alive with, silk roses, handmade lamps, Perspex trains and cruise ships, fabric screens, lawn bowels cruising on windows, present boxes, large scale collage of music culture, bold new signage and beautiful Perspex displays.

The stores included, bridal wear, jewellery, cake supplies, lawn bowels, a recycled music store and a travel agent.

Please see below 2 newspaper appearances and media release

Local businesses in central Dandenong will be given a makeover as part of a new pilot project focusing on visual merchandising. 

VicUrban, in partnership with the City of Greater Dandenong, are working together to help identify and establish programs that will help inform and inspire local business to play a role in Dandenong's future.

Walker Street, between Lonsdale and McCrae streets, has been identified as an important pedestrian link, leading people from Palm Plaza to the Drum Theatre. To date, upgrades to the streetscape include pavement repairs, the painting of street furniture and minor landscaping.

Michael King, Development Director for VicUrban, said while Walker St had not been earmarked for a major upgrade by Council or VicUrban there was a need to support local traders and provide them with the skills to survive and thrive in an evolving and competitive retail environment.

He said the Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative went beyond building new roads and buildings.

'This initiative is also about revitalising local business and the community. In the coming years we'll see more residents, workers, shoppers and visitors to the area and it's important we all prepare to make the most of that growth.'

The City of Greater Dandenong's Place Manager Jenny Pemberton-Webb is leading the delivery of the project, together with visual merchandising expert and project consultant Mia Rappel.

'Getting the right professional expertise and an injection of creativity will help traders to fully explore how people experience their shop window from the street,' she said.

'This project is about giving retailers the skills and confidence to experiment with their shop presentation and catch the attention of passers by.'

Mr King said later in the year VicUrban and City of Greater Dandenong will introduce another pilot project to assist retailers with signage.