We are unabashed supporters of neighborhood businesses. Our December magazines, which will begin arriving at your doorsteps after Thanksgiving, feature all kinds of creative neighborhood crafters from whom you can (and should) buy handmade holiday gifts.
The shopping frenzy officially kicks off this Friday (or today, apparently, as national retailers keep inching up sales), and if you already have your track suit laid out and your route mapped, we won’t judge. We will, however, encourage you to hit up locally-owned shops in our neighborhood, which are offering plenty of their own specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday (an event created by American Express).
• On Friday, T. Hee Greetings and Gifts opens two hours early at 8 a.m., and for the first hour, customers can buy any one regularly priced item in the store for 50 percent off. Then 9 a.m.-6 p.m. is T. Hee’s “buy more, save more” promotion: Spend at least $50 and get 15 percent off your entire purchase; at least $150 and save 25 percent; and at least $250 and save 35 percent.
• Practically everything in The Store at Lake Highlands will be 20 percent off 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, plus enjoy coffee and doughnuts while you shop. For Very Bradley fans, spending $100 on Vera Bradley Friday earns a free tote, and spending $50 Saturday earns a free ornament.
• Indoor rock-climbing gym Dallas Rocks has $10 all-day passes, equipment included, on Black Friday. On Small Business Saturday, look for additional 10 percent savings on all gear-shop items.
• Friday through Sunday, everything in Urban Thrift will be 20 percent off, plus children’s clothing and pink tags will be 50 percent off. (Urban Thrift also has a program to give back 7 percent to local churches and organizations.)
• Find out which businesses are participating in Small Business Saturday here.
