The Mosaic Market and Just Love Coffee Arlington are hoping shoppers choose small, local businesses this holiday season.
ARLINGTON, Texas — As the holiday rush kicks into high gear, small business owners across North Texas are hoping shoppers remember the people behind the counters and beyond the price tags.
At Just Love Coffee in Arlington, barista Ben Everett said the impact of shopping local is deeply personal.
“Oh, it’s everything,” Everett said. “Having a place where you can come and feel not just like a number but known, I think is super important.”
This season, every connection and every dollar counts. The National Retail Federation expects holiday spending to top $1 trillion this year. But here at home, small business owners are counting on residents to keep at least some of that cash close to the community.
The Mosaic Market in Arlington houses items from more than 100 local creators.
“We have created a platform to support our small businesses and created an environment so that the joy can just spread,” Mosiac Market Co-Owner Melina Wikoff told WFAA.
Shoppers like Alia Cruz say the variety makes supporting local easy and more intimate. At Mosaic, Cruz said,
“I wanted to grab so many different things,” Cruz said at Mosaic. “I was like, this would be good for my mom, that would be good for me, oh my friend would love this.”
The NRF says a record 186 million Americans plan to shop Thanksgiving weekend; a welcome boost for small businesses still waiting for momentum.
“It has been slow so far this shopping season… but we’re hoping as folks do do their shopping, they’ll think of us,” Wikoff said. “When folks are here, we can hear their laughter and their joy as they’re shopping. That’s a present to us.”
“Even though my job feels small it’s really rewarding when I give someone a coffee and they’re like this is great and they have that big smile on their face,” Everett said. “Just knowing I got to depart some joy on somebody is a really beautiful thing.”
The Mosaic Market is hosting a champagne sip and shop for Small Business Saturday. If you bring a non-perishable food item or toiletry, you can enjoy 10% off your purchase as the donations benefit Arlington Charities.
For all the Small Business Saturday promotions in Arlington, click here.
