The Treasury Minister says that Manx shoppers need to support their local retailers or risk losing them altogether.
High rents, the global credit crunch and a major shift to online purchasing have conspired against traditional shopkeepers - and the signs of a retail downturn are becoming clear to see in many Manx town centres.
Allan Bell says government is already looking at encouraging people to 'shop local':
(Picture of Strand Street, Douglas, courtesy of manxscenes.com)
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