Visit the new Shop Wolverhampton (www.shop-wolverhampton.com) website – and you could be a winner this Christmas!

As well as connecting you to an array of local shops to find those festive gifts and treats, there is an opportunity to enter a competition with the chance to scoop a sack full of prizes.

The competition closes at noon on Friday, December 18, and one lucky entrant will receive all this: a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton gift card to spend in over 100 city centre shops, £50 Argos and £30 Superdrug gift cards, choice of flowers from a Bilston florist worth £30 and a festive food hamper courtesy of traders at Bilston Market.

Prizes have been donated by Wolverhampton and Bilston Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and Bilston Market traders.

Around 300 shops and businesses have already registered their details to promote what they have to offer on the city’s new Shop Wolverhampton website, which has been set up by City of Wolverhampton Council with support from the BIDs, and other city stakeholders.

And, with non-essential shops open under strict coronavirus social distancing guidance, now is the time to get behind your local shops, who need your support more than ever in the build up to Christmas as they look to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jay Baso, owner of Elegant Frames and Mirrors in Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, said: “I am proud to have been a business owner for over 30 years in Wednesfield, where we have some great shops at the heart of our village community.

“Covid-19 has made this an extremely difficult year with traders needing all the help they can get to survive.

“That’s why Wolverhampton’s Shop Local initiative has been a great addition to help us in the build up to Christmas. I hope people can make use of the website and support and use their local shops throughout December and into next year.”

Wendy Durber, owner of Orchard Florists in Church Street, Bilston, added: "I think Shop Local is a really good scheme as it's really helped to raise the profile of smaller independent businesses, such as mine.”

Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “Covid-19 has hit our shops and businesses hard and they need all the support they can get in the lead up to Christmas.

“We very much value the presence of our small businesses and the creative local people behind them.

“These are the businesses that help give Wolverhampton its own identity and character.

“So, instead of spending all your money with the major online retailers, I would urge residents to check out the Shop Wolverhampton website and buy local - and if you enter the competition, you might even win yourself an early Christmas present!”