A HUSBAND and wife team have hailed a campaign which has seen shoppers backing Worcester’s independent traders.

The Uniquely Worcester campaign, which encourages shoppers to support the city’s 300 independent businesses, has been running this week in a bid to highlight the work done by city stores.

And Simon and Susan Benhamou, owners of Dare and Fuel fashion boutiques, in Reindeer Court, backed the campaign, and reminded customers about the service “with style and passion” they receive when they shop independent.

Mr Benhamou said: “After 12 years trading here in the city centre, we still get both new and regular customers telling us that they love what we do. “They value the fact that we are offering a more tailored approach. “We can offer a more attentive and personal service, in terms of advice, styling and staying with customers while they try and buy. “As well as individual service, the affordable fashion we stock is unique: our customers love the fact that they can wear stylish clothes but that their choice won’t be seen on lots of other women up and down the high street.”

The Uniquely Worcester initiative, led by Worcester BID, aims to highlight the unique and different shopping experience customers receive when they choose independents. Among the independents, Worcester’s clothing shops are keen to share their passion for fashion as not only can they provide unique and individual clothing different to those produced for high street chains, but buying locally supports the county’s economy.

Mr Benhamou is well placed to offer advice having started in the clothing industry by working with legendary de-signer Ossie Clark in the early 1970s.

As part of the Uniquely Worcester campaign, which runs until Saturday, a voucher book of offers giving money off at 62 independent Worcester businesses has been sent to 30,000 households in the area. Shoppers can download a copy at uniquelyworcester.com.