Mayor Huffman and Special Guests Talk Shopping Small this Holiday Season

This week on Minute with the Mayor, Mayor John Huffman shows the importance of shopping small this holiday season with two special guests — Councilmember Amy Torres-Lepp and The Toy Maven Owner, Candace Williams.

“Shopping small” is a movement used to encourage customers to spend their money with local businesses that give back to the community, rather than with larger corporations. The trio spent time in the Shops of Southlake Toy Maven location discussing how the intentionality of your dollar can go farther than you think.

“We’re your friends. We’re your neighbors. We go to sporting events with the children, and when you support small businesses, you support local families.” said Councilmember Torres-Lepp.

Additionally, Mayor Huffman brought up how money spent in Southlake has financial benefits for the City as well. “Every dollar you spend here in Southlake — that’s retail dollars and tax dollars that come back to the General Fund,”  Mayor Huffman stated. The General Fund “accounts for all activity not specifically accounted for in other funds. It includes such operations as police, fire, engineering, planning, finance, and administration.”

This means that City-funded programs and projects are directly and positively impacted by consumer expenditures in Southlake.

Although there are great financial reasons to shop small, Williams said one of her favorite things about having a small business and working with the community is being able to interact face-to-face with customers and provide an experience unlike anything else. “It’s nice to watch kids come in and see the wonder on their face,” said Williams. “But when you come in here, our amazing staff will ask you questions: What is your child interested in? What do they love to do?”

This extra emphasis on customer service provides a personalized and attentive approach, making for a special memory every time.

While there are many places to choose from to spend your holiday dollars, please consider shopping locally. For a full list of businesses in Southlake, visit our Southlake Business Database. 

To watch this week’s episode of Minute with the Mayor, click below.