01/08/2025
High five to 2025, Texas Downtown family! We hope your holidays were filled with joy, laughter, and plenty of shopping local. The “Shop Small” message spread like confetti on New Year’s Eve, and it’s all thanks to folks like YOU making it happen. But here’s the thing—small businesses need love all YEAR ROUND, not just during the holidays. It’s like a great Texas BBQ pit: you’ve got to keep that fire going! 🔥
So, how can we keep the momentum sizzling into a new year that is filled with local adventures, unique finds, and lots of neighborly love? Let’s do this!
Let’s break it down:
1. Shop Small, Think Big: Next time you need something, don’t autopilot to the big guys—check out your local neighborhood businesses. You might just find a hidden gem you didn’t even know was there!
2. Be a Local Tourist: Attend local festivals, explore galleries, or catch a concert in your own backyard. Love it? Share it! Spread the word about what makes your community and region of Texas shine.
3. Social Media Love: Your likes, shares, and reviews are like gold stars for small businesses. Use those hashtags and let your friends know about your faves.
4. Rain or Shine, Show Up: Bad weather can dampen small business sales, so your visit on a smokin' hot or dreary day could turn someone’s week around. Bonus: getting out beats seasonal blues, too!
5. Make It a Habit: From groceries to gifts, try sourcing your essentials from local shops. Start small—a loaf of bread here, a handmade candle there—and watch how it adds up!
6. Host Local: Whether it’s a book club, birthday party, or wedding, choose local venues and services to make your events unforgettable (and downtown-boosting).
7. Pay with Cash When You Can: Help small businesses avoid those pesky card processing fees—they’ll love you for it!
The truth is, every dollar spent locally is an investment in your downtown and community. Let’s make 2025 the year of routinely shopping small. Together, we can keep our downtowns vibrant, our communities strong, and our small businesses thriving!
So, do us a favor and drop a comment below to share your favorite downtown small businesses so others can discover them too! We'll even go first, and list our 2024 Texas Downtown President's Award Winners for Best Downtown Businesses under and over the 50K population. CONGRATS again to Liv Chic Boutique in Corsicana Main Street and MVP Nutrition & Energy in Downtown Mesquite, TX! 🙌
Texas Heritage Trail Regions Shop Small American Independent Business Alliance Fit Small Business National Retail Federation
