The cable network’s latest competitive reality series is ready for its television debut. The new show is hosted by Garcelle Beauvais, actress and current co-host of Hollywood Today Live, and features television personality Carson Kressley, entrepreneur Tai Beauchamp and Douglas Little as the resident judges who will decide the contestants’ fate. Premiering Tuesday, November 15 at 9:00pm ET, Window Warriors features eight talented window merchandising designers compete against each other to build creative, extravagant and alluring window displays for a chance to win $100,000, a contract to design displays for a premiere mall developer, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design a holiday display at a major department store in New York City and a feature story in a retail design magazine. Here are the eight contenders who will be vigorously vying for the career-changing grand prize package:
Brittany Bush (27, Long Beach, CA) - Young, fearless, and already making waves in the industry, Brittany serves as a Visual Merchandiser in Los Angeles. Educated at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she has experience in all kinds of mediums, from metal to resin, clay to rubber, wood and vinyl, to cork, glass, cement and brick. Brittany shines in her calculated mix of art and commerce, knowing that ultimately it's her job to make the customer leave with product in their bag.
Edward Sajovic (32, Cleveland, OH) - Educated in visual display and exhibition design at The Fashion Institute of New York, and visual merchandising and marketing at The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, Sajovic is a seasoned designer and artist with over 12 years of experience creating displays for high-end, luxury retailers. A self-professed "creative Craft-a-rella extraordinaire," his tools of choice are glue guns, spray paint and glitter.
Erin O'Brien (41, New York, NY) - A stylist and window artist who has worked as a Window Artist, Prop Stylist and Prop Master for windows on New York's 5th Avenue, as well as ad campaigns and e-Commerce, Erin is an energetic and experienced Display Artist who loves building windows that feature movement and small touches that make a statement. Her attention to intricate detail leaves the customer looking closer - making them think a little more than usual. Trained by the Visual Image Team at the House of Chanel in Paris, her 20-year fashion industry experience has spanned a variety of major retailers.
Gerardo Mellado (25, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) - Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Gerardo moved to New York to pursue education and a career as an Exhibition Designer at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduation, he was hired as the Visual Coordinator for Armani Exchange, overseeing 200 stores worldwide and now serves as the Visual Procurement Manager for a large department store chain in New York. Gerardo enjoys telling a story through the unexpected - mixing old and new media, textures, and graphics for that "ah-ha" moment.
Shani Coleman (37, New Orleans, LA) - A creative "jack of all trades," Shani thrives in challenging environments that push her to create designs that are both captivating to the customer and brand relevant. Trained at Syracuse University in Fashion Retailing and Design Operations, she has worked in visual merchandising for a variety of retailers and is known for a fashion forward aesthetic which shines through in all of her work.
Spenser Zalkin (28, Carmel, IN) - With no formal training, Zalkin came into visual merchandising after impressing a department store manager while working at the company's espresso bar. Formerly Director for Holiday Visual at The Plaza Hotel and now serving as a Visual Stylist for a large department store, he has a vast amount of experience in interior remodels, styling, pop up shops, floor sets, interior design, and fashion shows. He describes his design aesthetic as haberdashery with a twist, relishing in taking unexpected elements and having them interact with the mannequins.
Tara Meagher (26, San Anselmo, CA) - Tara has been focused on a career in visual merchandising since her teens and worked as an intern at Anthropologie while taking classes at a community college. Upon realizing her life's passion, she left college early and began working full-time for the retailer, quickly moving up through the company to become a Visual Display Coordinator and then a Visual Manager at Free People. She enjoys creating organic compositions and isn't afraid to incorporate unusual elements, like repurposing old coffee pots to create a unique water fountain display.
Timothy Howe (49, Los Angeles, CA) - A self-taught "visual ninja" with a background in fine art, Timothy can do it all: designing, painting, sewing, drawing, building, sculpting, woodworking and styling. He began his professional career at Anthropologie in Chicago and has worked with a variety of retailers, eventually rising to the position of Visual Director. He enjoys constructing the props and styling his windows, infusing a bit of levity and surprise in his designs whenever possible.
Get to know the host and judges of Window Warriors in the preview clip below!
Sources: BroadwayWorld, CarsonKressley.com, DouglasLittle.com, Garcelle.com, TaiBeauchamp.com, Vimeo
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