On Small Business Saturday, Longview shoppers find ‘a little more special’ gifts at local stores
Published 5:40 am Sunday, November 30, 2025
Among her assortment of candles, fragrances and lip balm, Longview small business owner Stacey Smith has something for customers: a message about what they’re buying.
“You could buy from corporations, but do you know the people behind who actually make it?” she asked.
Smith, owner of personal products booth Michelle Marie Unboxed, sells her items at events across East Texas, and they’re free of toxic, useless ingredients that come in many goods people buy at stores.
“It’s a healthier approach,” she said.
With Christmas only a few weeks away, small business owners such as Smith are extolling the benefits of buying gifts from local businesses. On Saturday, she was one of several small business owners who set up shop outside The Platform Longview in downtown as part of Santa Stroll: Small Business Saturday.
Mandy Brasher, owner of The Platform, walked around her store among throngs of customers. The store at 813 E. Methvin St. houses more than 40 permanent vendors selling boutique clothing, home decor and more.
When people support small, local businesses, much of the money customers spend stays in the local economy by paying employees, Brasher said. Significantly less money stays local when people buy from big businesses.
Small business owners face competitive challenges. Larger stores and online outlets offer prices and quantities that small businesses sometimes can’t, Brasher said.
But when people support small businesses, “you can keep that money here locally and have a better quality,” Brasher said. Small businesses offer a variety of handcrafted products and more well-curated goods.
The Platform Longview has been open for a year-and-a-half, and “we have been blessed by amazing support from our community,” Brasher said. “And it keeps growing every day.”
Outside the store that day, Barbara Duncan and her daughter, Misty Hassell, sold 3-D printed towers for rolling dice, fidget spinners, sewn bowl holders and more. They started their business, M&B Crafts, more than a year ago.
“I enjoy meeting people and sharing our craft with them and the talents that God has given us,” Duncan said.
Small business owners need people’s support to survive, she said.
“What we give out, it’s going to be put back in the community, so I encourage everybody to shop local,” Duncan said.
Linda Cox came to shop at The Platform Longview for the first time Saturday to begin her Christmas shopping. She picked up a balloon flag for her porch, a bracelet, a necklace and Christmas decorations.
“It’s better than the big box shops,” she said. “You can get something a little different that somebody maybe has not seen – makes it a little more special.”
Smith feels the same way. She enjoys providing what people want, and she needs customers’ support to keep doing that.
“A lot of people get really excited to be able to find what they’re looking for, so I’m here to provide,” she said.
And: “If you go local, you can get it today. You don’t have to wait. You don’t have to pay for shipping.”