Retailers have once again ganged together to try to encourage residents to do their Christmas shopping in Bermuda. They launched this year?s Buy Bermuda campaign this week.

Stores not only in Hamilton, but also in St. George?s and Dockyard have joined forces in the campaign which will include adverts on both television and in the print media.

Although the campaign is spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce, it has welcomed non-members into the fray to help boost seasonal sales.

?The Chamber is encouraged by the support it has been receiving for the Buy Bermuda campaign,? said Diane Gordon, head of the Chamber of Commerce.?

We look forward to working with all retailers from Hamilton to St. George?s and Dockyard to spread the word and encourage residents to consider doing their holiday shopping here and to Buy Bermuda.?

Mrs. Gordon said that this was not a campaign aimed at stopping residents shopping abroad, but rather intended to get people to take a second look at what the Island?s stores have to offer.

?Some of the shops have done a real turn about and look great, and we would like people who have not visited the stores for a while to take a second look,? she said.

George Grundmuller, the head of the visitor retail section of the Chamber of Commerce, said that most of the stores in Hamilton were taking part in the campaign either by displaying the signs or by offering special promotions and holding special events with discounts in the run up to Christmas.

He said: ?I think overall retailers are optimistic about the upcoming season, but there is a big unknown out there ? will people be spending or are they still paying off some bills Hurricane Fabian put out there, cutting into their discretionary spending.?

But he added that all signs were that the economy was strong and there had been encouraging reports from the United States about retail spending and the economy there.

?There are a lot of positive vibes, which are making retailers in Bermuda optimistic,? he added.

?But we hope that this Christmas will be a good one for retailers and that Buy Bermuda campaign will help boost sales.?

The television adverts for Buy Bermuda will begin to be aired this week on the local television stations, and will also be featured at the Liberty Theatre.

Late night shopping will start at the end of the month ? Friday November 28 ? and Reid Street and Queen Street will once again be pedestrianised after 6pm to allow shoppers to roam freely.

Other activities in connection with the campaign will be announced closer to the time.

Private shopping nights are also expected to be offered as part of the Buy Bermuda campaign to further boost sales.