INDEPENDENT businesses in Salisbury are calling on residents to shop local this Christmas.

Salisbury BID (Business Improvement District) and the Salisbury Indies businesses are stressing the importance of shopping local this Christmas and would like to remind shoppers of the “use us or lose us” message.

Susi Mason, the chair of Salisbury Indies, Salisbury BID director and the owner of Casa Fina on the High Street, said: “As we approach Small Business Saturday this weekend, I wanted to champion the key message to Salisbury’s community… Shop local.

“We have a huge array of independent businesses here in Salisbury and we want them to stay. It’s our abundance on independents that makes Salisbury so special and unique.

“I’m asking our local community to give back to Salisbury’s high street and to support our city. Our many independent businesses have a diverse range of festive gifts and treats on offer. We provide unique products, excellent service and we’re specialists in what we offer.

“Local businesses are the backbone of Salisbury’s community and we’re essential for a strong economy. Small businesses owners give back to the community and that’s just one reason to shop local.

“Research shows for every £1 spent in a small business, 63p stays in the local economy, compared to 40p with a large business. As Visa’s Christmas campaign so rightly says, where you shop matters! Please don’t shop online or in other places, shop in Salisbury.

She added: “Salisbury looks truly beautiful at this time of year; with the festive lights and the excitement of Christmas in the air. So why wouldn’t you want to come into the city to do some Christmas shopping? Come and absorb the festive spirit and spend your money in your local independent businesses in Salisbury.

“This time of year is so incredibly important for small businesses. A strong Christmas trading period will make all the difference to their trading year, and it will enable them to look to the future and it will encourage new businesses to start up in the city.

“As chair of the Salisbury Indies group and on behalf of the independent businesses in the city centre, we thank you for shopping local and supporting us this Christmas.”

For more information go to salisburyindies.co.uk