With the holiday season rapidly approaching, decorations are getting put up, gift lists are being written, and local businesses are encouraging patrons to get ahead of the last minute panic shopping and turn to them for help this holiday season.
“Shopping locally creates a positive ripple effect throughout your community, especially during the holidays. Instead of battling crowded malls, you can enjoy a relaxed visit to your favorite neighborhood boutiques” Cody Kingston said, Co-Owner of Holidays In Bloom floral shop.
Holidays In Bloom, a shop located in Snider Plaza, prepares for their busiest season in advance. This involves transforming their store into a more festive themed space to encourage shoppers to embrace the holiday cheer as well.
“This year we closed our boutique for a full week while our team worked around the clock to transform our space into a magical wonderland of Christmas themes,” Kingston said. “We kicked off the season with our Holiday Open House, welcoming customers with our favorite cookies from JD’s Chippery and plenty of festive cheer.”
Independently owned stores usually rely on loyal and local customers who make it a tradition to buy gifts, cards and decorations. Purchasing from these small businesses not only helps them grow, but also facilitates economic growth in the area since the goods are taxed. That tax money goes towards the cities of Highland and University park’s services such as roads, police and fire, and parks and recreations.
“When customers shop at Cotton Island, they are literally investing in their neighbors,”
Lauren Feinstein, owner of Cotton Island said. “The money that is spent in our store goes back to supporting our UP community by helping fund things like schools and local parks.”
Large retailers with endless budgets, technology and resources make it hard for small businesses to stay competitive during any season. Rather than mass-produced products focusing on quantity over quality, these stores offer limited items that focus on quality above all else.
“When you shop small you are actually getting items that are picked for you in mind, not mass produced items from a big box store that a buyer in another state thinks you should wear,” Feinstein said.
The personal connection made between a local business and their customers may be small, but shops like Holidays in Bloom and Cotton Island, a welcoming atmosphere keeps customers returning. Whether it’s holiday ornaments, tinsel, fake snow, or homemade gifts for their customers, owners and staff spend time making sure shoppers leave the store with intentional gifts and quality items
“Competing on price alone is nearly impossible, so we focus on what sets us apart. Our products and our personal touch,” Kingston said.
Online shopping, while convenient, is most often void of connection, assistance and quality assurance, leaving shoppers to rely on past reviews for reassurance.
“As opposed to online shopping, when you search for something in a store, you tend to get opened up to other options and see things you may have not considered otherwise,” Pierce said.
Holidays in Bloom offers a wide range of festive home decor and gifts. Cotton Island, known for its clothing, shoes and jewelry, selects the merchandise stocks based on recurring customer selections. Other neighborhood favorites like Kuby’s, a German themed restaurant and grocery store or JD’s Chippery add to the holiday feel with seasonal treats and the familiar faces working behind the counter.
“I live in Amarillo and there’s not as many options here, so if I can get to Dallas or somewhere, I’ll try to shop there,” holiday shopper Julia Pierce said.
Walking through Highland Park Village or the other smaller shopping centers and plazas in the Park Cities, shoppers can find everything from small boutiques, grocery stores, pharmacies, and luxury and locally made items.
“I like to believe that the in-store shopping experience is not a thing of the past. There is something magical about walking into a store where the staff knows your name, your style and what’s new since they were last there,” Feinstein said.
