A national retail award for ‘Commercialisation Innovation of the Year’ has gone to Darley Abbey Mills’ based Mackney Photography, for Pop! – a personalised children’s photography pop up studio, enabling youngsters to have their picture taken in front of mind blowing props.
The brain child of Simon and Wendy Mackney, Pop! has been based in Derby city centre’s intu and has seen hundreds of children transformed in to superheroes, fairies, warriors, sports stars and characters from famous children’s fairy-tales.
The prestigious SCEPTRE award was presented to Mackney Photography in London last month, who attended the ceremony alongside intu Derby.
Pop! forms one arm of multiple-award winning Mackney Photography, and focuses solely on the creation of exciting, child-friendly, prop-based photos where children are turned in to their favourite characters with the expertise and artistic eye of Mackney’s team of photographers and art directors.
Founder of Mackney Photography, Simon Mackney, says: “We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to work with prop makers from major films like Harry Potter, Bond and Tarzan to creative innovative backdrops which children just fall in love with. What child wouldn’t like to be transformed in to a superhero or a character from their favourite book?”
He continues: “We are so excited to pick up a national award for this concept, which has taken off hugely here in Derby. We are able to create totally personalised artwork for children and their families, and using our highly skilled editing team, the final picture is something to be proud of…I know we are!”
The Pop! shop at intu Derby was originally scheduled to be open for just six weeks, but stayed open for double the time due to high demand. There are now plans to roll out Pop! more widely across the region.
Pop! at intu Derby greatly impressed judges at the national award ceremony, which celebrates the best practice and the best people in the shopping centre industry, focusing on management teams, retailers and suppliers that demonstrate real excellence.
Carly Salisbury, marketing manager at intu Derby, comments: “Pop! By Mackney is such an innovative idea, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for them – it’s truly well deserved.”
