The Bath Chronicle's Love to Shop Awards is helping to champion the city's independent retailers.
Gilly Bell, owner of Dufflebag, believes maintaining a high profile for Bath's unique retail mix is essential to the city's popularity for shopping.
Mrs Bell's, whose handbag stall can be found tucked away in the Guildhall Market, believes Bath has changed significantly in the last 11 years but believes independent retailers are holding their own.
"When I opened the shop no one was selling handbags at all and now everyone is so we have to be different particularly in Bath where we have all those pop up shops.
"But that's the advantage of being an independent retailer I do all the buying myself. I don't have to buy two years ahead I can buy quite quickly and keep on top of trends."
With just two days left to enter the Love to Shop Awards Mrs Bell thinks entering the competition will give fellow independent retailers a boost.
"I entered the Love to Shop Awards because there was a category for Best Retailer and I think that's the whole point of shopping in Bath. People come to Bath because they expect to see different shops to what they find in every other high street. I think it would be a great shame to let that go.
"It's been difficult times through the recession but Bath has got to remain unique as a shopping experience and independents are important."
The awards have 12 categories to enter including Shooting Star of the Year, Best Visual Display, Best Pop-up and Best Marketing Campaign.
To enter the Bath Chronicle's inaugural Love To Shop Awards, sponsored by the Bath Business Improvement District and SouthGate, visit www.bathchronicle.co.uk/lovetoshop.
Shoppers are also being encouraged to get involved with the people's choice award - Best Loved Shop in Bath. People should go to the awards' website to nominate their favourite shop.
The deadline for entries to the Love To Shop Awards is 5pm Friday.
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