NATCHEZ &045;&045; Affordable jewelry, baby blankets, framed art, the best selling novel, sporting goods and designer dog toys are all right here in the Miss-Lou.

Local merchants say there’s nothing the big city lights and crowded malls of Baton Rouge can provide that Natchez and Vidalia can’t.

&uot;They need to research what we have in Natchez,&uot; Classic Natchez Manager Barbara Rodriguez said. &uot;A lot of people don’t take the time to go through shops and see what’s there. I think people really don’t realize what these stores have.&uot;

In the midst of the busiest shopping season of the year many Natchez residents hit the highways to do the majority of their holiday shopping, while merchants say big city residents sometimes head here.

&uot;All the people from Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Jackson come here because it’s safer,&uot; Rodriguez said.

Audubon Gallery owner Katie Curlee said she would hate to do her shopping in larger cities with higher crime rates and more crowds.

&uot;It’s bad enough being so busy, I sure wouldn’t go out of town,&uot; Curlee said. &uot;I’ve always found what I needed here.&uot;

Curlee, whose business does art framings, said it was easy to find affordable gifts in Natchez, especially with holiday discounts.

Benita Kimbro of Vidalia’s Ladybug Creations said people from out of town often come in commenting on the unique items in the store that they have never seen anywhere else. The business sells everything from baby items and candles to meat and sports gift baskets.

Besides saving gas money, shopping at home has other benefits too, said Mary Emrick of Turning Pages.

&uot;It’s a relaxed hometown atmosphere,&uot; Emrick said. &uot;You get to visit with people you know. Your hometown receives a portion of the tax money. The service is better. We gift wrap and always have cookies and hot coco.&uot;

Service is a selling point for Martha’s Vineyard too, B.B. Tiffee said. The gift store also offers free gift-wrap and a personal shopper service. Those with limited time and gift buying skills can set an amount of money and tell store employees who the gift is for and they will pick something out. Delivery is also available.

&uot;People would be surprised,&uot; Rodriguez said. &uot;Maybe we don’t have everything they need, but that’s not to say we can’t get it. It’s really important that these people support the local merchants. We’ve got to have help to stay in business.&uot;

Tiffee said local shoppers are essential to all hometown businesses.

&uot;We appreciate them every day,&uot; she said. &uot;That’s what keeps our doors open every day of the year is our locals. We appreciate them all year round.&uot;