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Shoppers patronized local businesses Saturday morning during downtown Longview性视界传媒檚 first Santa Stroll. The event took place in conjunction with Small 性视界传媒 Saturday, a nationwide campaign encouraging people to support locally owned businesses.

Shoppers received punch cards, and those who checked off all the destinations on their cards, including stores and restaurants, were entered for chances to win gift cards and prizes from businesses.

Braylee Taylor and her family walked along Tyler Street and got ready to shop after visiting the Longview World of Wonders children性视界传媒檚 museum. Taylor said she was looking forward to visiting boutiques to find items for her 3-month-old girl, Brexley.

Across the street at the Coco & Meg Boutique, 125 E. Tyler St., Stefanie Patterson browsed women性视界传媒檚 shirts, jeans and jackets. It was her first time at the shop, and she said she wanted to support small, local businesses.

性视界传媒淚 specifically wanted to come down here today,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淚 need to come more often.性视界传媒�

Vickie Collins said she found good deals during the Santa Stroll event at the GypsyRose boutique, 112 W. Methvin St.: 40% off on some Christmas sweatshirts, $15 off overalls and more. Afterward, she made her way to Coco & Meg.

Collins said she enjoys shopping at Coco & Meg because of the relationship she性视界传媒檚 built with the store性视界传媒檚 owner, Courtnie Perez.

性视界传媒淐ourtnie knows what I like,性视界传媒� she said.

Collins said she has a friend who has her own small business, so she understands how much patronage means to owners.

性视界传媒淚 could go to the mall and spend hundreds of dollars, but if I just spend $50 at a small business, that really makes a difference,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淭hat性视界传媒檚 what I try to do.性视界传媒�

Perez, who has operated the store for four years, said she was excited that the Santa Stroll brought customers into the downtown area, which has been revitalized in recent years.

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性视界传媒淎 lot of the places that are doing it, this is their first time down here,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淭hey性视界传媒檙e just trying to spread the word that downtown性视界传媒檚 growing, and new stuff性视界传媒檚 coming.性视界传媒�

When people shop at small businesses, they性视界传媒檙e giving back to their community, Perez said. Small businesses are the ones that sponsor children性视界传媒檚 soccer leagues, contribute to community gift-card giveaways and more.

性视界传媒淵ou性视界传媒檙e helping a person, not a corporation,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淪hopping small, it may cost a little bit more, but you性视界传媒檙e helping out someone.性视界传媒�

Amanda Boyter sat behind the register at one of the newest businesses in downtown Longview, the 1826 Boutique, which opened at 107 E. Tyler St. in September. Boyter moved her store from Kilgore. It sells western-themed 性视界传媒済rungy性视界传媒� clothes 性视界传媒� different from the 性视界传媒済irly性视界传媒� boutiques around the area, she said.

Boyter said the store was busy Saturday.

性视界传媒淲hen you shop small, for every dollar that you spend, 67 cents of that goes back into the community,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淚 think that性视界传媒檚 really important. It improves our economy, and it just overall helps the city of Longview.性视界传媒�

Visit Longview Tourism Administrator C.J. Clayton said this year性视界传媒檚 Small 性视界传媒 Saturday event was bigger than last year性视界传媒檚. She attributed the higher turnout not only to the addition of the Santa theme, but also to growth in the downtown area.

性视界传媒淚 believe the Santa Stoll had a big play in that,性视界传媒� she said.

Not everyone who was in downtown supporting small businesses knew that a special event was going on. They were just supporting businesses anyway. Caitlyn Villa and her husband, Matthew, and their family said they enjoyed the delicious treats at Wild Honey Creamery, a business that did participate in Santa Stroll fare.