Shop Local in Midland This Holiday Season – and Beyond!

The holiday season in Midland is filled with family traditions and fun events impossible to replicate anywhere else. Despite the lure of online shopping, countless residents in Midland still enjoy buying in-store, picking up items locally, or purchasing gift cards from their favorite restaurants and shops to appease the pickiest gift recipients.

Shopping small benefits businesses and consumers

“Shopping locally is the best way to locate unique gifts for your friends and family,” Lourcey Sams, Midland Development Corporation Board Chair, said. “When you buy the perfect present from a Midland Store, the funds support jobs and growth in our community. Many of our stores have deals during Small Business Saturday and throughout December. Buying from entrepreneurs and local franchise owners helps support local businesses through the rest of the year and into 2025.” 

On Nov. 30, Small Business Saturday is a great day to explore new Midland businesses and old favorites. In the process, shoppers avoid shipping deadlines and waiting for gifts, minimize hassle when returns and exchanges are necessary, and receive dedicated service from shop owners who are often friends or acquaintances. Most small business owners and employees are experts on their inventory, making gift recommendations easy to obtain, and shopping locally provides an opportunity to review products in person and confirm their quality and suitability for a gift.

Holiday events in Midland make shopping locally fun

While Small Business Saturday helps kick off the holiday shopping season, Christmas events in Midland provide an additional opportunity to connect with local businesses. Plan a holiday shopping excursion around your favorite festivities to create lifelong memories. Visit our friends at MidlandAF.com or BestofMidlandTX.com for even more local festivities this month.

On Dec. 3, the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Centennial Park starts at 5:30 p.m. and will feature a shopping market, food trucks, live music, and photos with Santa. It’s an ideal way to connect with local vendors or buy a gift card from your favorite food truck. 

Betenbough Homes hosts the 21st Annual Cowboy Christmas on Dec. 5. The event runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 6718 N TX-349. Santa will be ready for free photos, and children receive take-home activity bags. Complimentary coffee and cocoa are also served.

Midland’s Merry Lighted Christmas Parade starts rolling at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 and follows A Street from Ventura to Illinois. Explore local businesses and stores before and after the parade to extend the holiday magic. 

Six ways shopping local boosts the Midland economy

Want to know more about the importance of shopping local? Here are six ways it benefits Midland:

1. Buying local keeps profits in the community: The money you spend at local stores isn’t sent to a corporate headquarters out of state. The profits stay with the business owners, not national shareholders, and are often reinvested in the local economy.
2. It creates jobs. When local businesses grow, they can take on more team members. Buying from nearby businesses creates new employment opportunities in Midland. 
3. Local businesses pay county and state taxes: The profits from these businesses are taxed, and the funds are used to support infrastructure and community improvements. 
4. Buying from local businesses supports suppliers and vendors: Even if your company isn’t directly affected by the holiday season, your customers could be. Thriving local businesses can afford to hire marketing firms, accountants, lawyers, and other service providers. 
5. Supporting local companies fosters a culture of entrepreneurship. When new businesses succeed in Midland other entrepreneurs can feel empowered to open their companies, bringing additional products and services to customers. Need some suggestions? Come meet a few at Founders Blend!
6. Buying local keeps people in Midland while attracting new residents. Not only can new businesses open, but existing companies can grow.  

There’s Never a Bad Season to Shop Locally in Midland 

While December is a wonderful month to support local businesses, there’s never a bad time to support entrepreneurs and franchise owners in Midland. What seems like a small purchase for you can make a difference for local companies and help them grow in 2025 and beyond. 

Whether you buy a new television to enjoy holiday films, a collection of Christmas stories, seasonal pajamas, or simply pick up a cup of cocoa, think local this winter. Your shopping choices can help Midland thrive. 

Midland is magical for the holidays, and a great place to live year-round. Learn more about life in the heart of West Texas here.