West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin today urged people to shop local this Christmas and buy their presents in local small businesses. Harriett is once again supporting the national ‘Small Business Saturday’ initiative by shopping in small businesses on December 5. Small Business Saturday aims to encourage people to use their local traders and retailers during the peak seasonal shopping period. Harriett commented: “I shop as often as I can in local stores across West Worcestershire and I encourage as many people as possible to do the same. “Each Christmas I make a point of dropping in to a number of local shops to buy presents – it’s more fun than shopping online and I often get many more ideas by having a wander. “Small Business Saturday is an important initiative to help to promote our local traders but it is important to show our support all year round, not just for one day in December. “Local retailers are at the heart of our economy, providing local services and creating jobs and I will do all I can to support them as they compete with international retailing operations.”