TODAY we launch our Buy Local campaign. Our aim is to help local independent shops, restaurants, pubs, markets, farm shops and the like survive the recession.

These businesses are the lifeblood of the towns and villages of Worcestershire. Many are owned and run by families who have provided sterling service to their customers for decades.

Now they need help to see out the worst economic crisis this country has seen for almost a century.

It remains to be seen what help the Chancellor will give to small businesses in this afternoon’s Budget. We hope there is plenty of aid for those who do not have the huge corporate clout and ability to survive enjoyed by the big supermarket chains in particular.

Buy Local is not an anti-supermarket campaign. The big stores are popular and provide employment across the county.

But Buy Local is a pro-independent traders campaign. These are the businesses that provide the kind of individual service and niche products that many of us may not use frequently but would undoubtedly miss if they did not exist.

And make no mistake about it, many local retailers are engaged in a battle for survival.

A strong independent sector in our high streets and shopping centres is good for local communities and good for the environment.

Our campaign will not succeed without the help of our readers. The more you use your local stores, the more money you spend with local businesses, the better it will be for the independents.

There are plenty of ways for you to get involved in the Buy Local campaign - find our more on pages 10 and 11 of today's Worcester News or click here.

  • Click the following link to download your own printable poster - buylocal_poster.pdf
  • Click here to return to the main Buy Local page.

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