Shopping Local on Small Business Saturday in Springfield, MO

November 25, 2024 Bekah Schooler

As a small business, we’ve experienced firsthand how much heart and hustle go into running a local business. Small Business Saturday is more than a shopping day—it's a celebration of the community that keeps us thriving. This year, we’re excited to shine a light on some amazing local businesses offering deals that you won’t want to miss! Here’s a list of local shops offering special deals for Small Business Saturday 2024! But before we dive in…

Why does shopping local matter?

Shopping local strengthens the local economy. Did you know for every dollar spent locally, 60-70% of that dollar remains in the local economy?
Buying from small businesses builds personal connections in the community. You are personally supporting your neighbors, friends, and their loved ones.
Shopping local reduces environmental impact compared to online shopping.
Simply put, as small business owners ourselves, shopping local helps us provide for our families, work toward financial freedom, and do what we love every day with passion and purpose!

417 Deals on Small Business Saturday:

**5 Pound Apparel - 412 South Avenue, Springfield MO**

5 Pound Apparel will have a variety of sales for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday! They will also have online sales throughout the holiday weekend through Cyber Monday! Check out more info below!

Staxx - 2630 Glenstone Avenue, Springfield MO

Shop Staxx & Jellybeans on Small Business Saturday from 10:00-5:00 P.M.
Staxx will have a variety of sales all week long including Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! Check out more information on their graphic!

SKIN WISE - 5240 Town Centre Dr Suite 101, Ozark, MO 65721

Purchase a $100.00 Skin Wise gift card and get a FREE $25.00 Skin Wise gift card.

Open 10-2pm on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

Bree’s Little Closet - 1607 West Republic, Road, Springfield MO

Bree’s Little Closet will be having several sales on Small Business Saturday as well as hosting some pop-up vendors in store! Check out their flyer to see other boutiques participating in a shop small boutique crawl on November 30th!

Fetch Pet Supplies - 1337 West Republic Road, Springfield MO

Don’t forget your furry friends! Located right next door to Bree’s Little Closet is Fetch Pet Supplies! They have everything you need to treat your four legged friends for the holidays!
They are doing 20% off everything in store and a cute tote bag with purchases of $25 and up!

Askinosie Chocolate - 514 East Commercial Street, Springfield MO

If you’re up on Commercial Street, Check out Askinosie for some holiday treats or stocking stuffers!

Their factory storefront will be open 10-4 on Sat. 11/30 & will have free samples of everything available to try, including their Limited Edition Holiday offerings!
They are offering $1 off their seasonal chocolate bars when purchased together! Grab the Holiday Chocolate Bundle (Gingerbread Dark Chocolate + Cranberry Sauce White Chocolate) for $25 or their Thanksgiving Bundle (PSL White Chocolate, Cranberry Sauce White Chocolate & Cocoa Powder) for $47.50!

**At Lightbox, we know the power of community. For five years, we’ve had the privilege of being a creative hub for photographers, families, and events here in Springfield.** When you shop small, you’re doing more than buying something special—you’re supporting dreams, helping local businesses grow, and making our community stronger. Thanks for being part of it all and for choosing to shop local this holiday season!

Not planning to shop on Small Business Saturday? Here are other meaningful ways to support local businesses—no spending required!

Follow and share their social media pages.
Leave positive reviews on platforms like Google or Yelp.
Spread the word by recommending local businesses to friends and family.

We want to hear about your favorite local 417 places to shop! Leave a comment below!

If you need more ideas on where to shop locally this holiday season, check out our 2023 shop local guide from last year!

Read the blog!

Written by Bekah Knapp

Creative Coordinator & Socials

Lightbox's 5 Year Anniversary Recap!

October 6, 2024 Bekah Schooler

Lightbox Turns 5!

We had the best time celebrating 5 amazing years of Lightbox on Tuesday, October 1st! Our natural light studio and event space has come a long way, and it felt so special to open our doors and celebrate with all of you.

All photos are courtesy of Ally Jeppsen Photography

We couldn’t resist setting up a fun photo op on our rolling backdrop, complete with a beautiful balloon install by Dreamy & Darling Creations. Our "In the Studio" design added a fun touch, and it was the perfect spot for everyone to snap a few pics and capture the vibe of the night.

What’s a party without snacks, right? Our “sips and dips” setup was a hit, with a mocktail bar from 417 Cocktails and some seriously tasty dips—spinach and artichoke, queso, and hummus with a mix of chips, veggies, and pita. So good!

LaLa Links set up their permanent jewelry bar, and it was a huge hit! Guests had the chance to purchase custom pieces throughout the night, adding a fun, personalized touch to the event. It was the perfect way for everyone to take home a little extra sparkle!

To top it all off, we gave away over $900 in prizes, including a Nespresso machine and a free studio photo shoot with Portrait Novella. We loved being able to give a little something back to the people who’ve supported us over the years!

THANK YOU!

This night was so special, filled with warmth not just from the fall-themed decor and cozy seating, but from the wonderful conversations and connections happening throughout the night. Whether guests were enjoying snacks, chatting over mocktails, or snapping photos at our backdrop, the good vibes were everywhere. We’re beyond grateful for everyone who has been a part of our journey, and a huge shout-out to Ally Jeppsen Photography for perfectly capturing all the fun! Here’s to many more years of Lightbox!

Meet The Team

The success of Lightbox over the past five years is all thanks to the incredible support from our community. While we’ve loved providing a space where creativity shines, it’s the people who’ve trusted us—whether for a photo shoot, event, or just to stop by—that have made it all possible. Behind the scenes, our team is dedicated to making Lightbox the special place it is: Hannah DeVries, our owner, pours her heart into every aspect of the studio; Bekah Knapp, our creative coordinator and socials manager, brings fresh ideas and energy; and Hannah Lyle, our studio assistant, ensures everything runs seamlessly. We’re honored to do what we love, but it’s the support from all of you that keeps us going!

Jensen & Roderick's Summer Elopement in a Photo Studio

October 18, 2023 Bekah Schooler

Picture this: an intimate summertime elopement in a bright white studio with beautiful floral arrangements decorating the space where you say your “I’ do’s.” All of your closest friends and family are there to celebrate you. Sounds dreamy, right? That is exactly the day that Jensen and Roderick had at Lightbox this summer! Being witness to their day was so special and we are so excited to share their story with you!

Notes from the Newlyweds:

Q: How did you meet?

A: We are high school sweethearts! He was a senior and I was a Freshman.

Q: What was your proposal like?

A: We took a break after 6 years together and God brought us back together a year and half later so it was no surprise that we were ready to spend forever with each other. We had been talking about it for a long time so it seemed impossible to be surprised. One day when I was napping he came in and put the ring on my finger and when I woke up he said “Jensen Breeze will you marry me?” He did so good at catching me off guard and it was so genuine!

Q: What made you want to have an intimate wedding rather than a big, traditional wedding?

A: We originally wanted to elope but still wanted our family present. So when I saw Lightbox does intimate ceremonies, we were sold at the idea of not stressing over a big venue and still having our loved ones included.

Q: Where did you find your wedding day inspiration?

A: I knew I wanted it to be very simplistic but elegant so we chose white and greenery. I was constantly checking Pinterest and my Instagram reels became full of wedding tips and ideas.

Q: Why did you choose Lightbox as your wedding venue?

A: We chose Lightbox for the simplistic and elegant look. We loved the beautiful spiral staircase and the light it brought into the loft. Not to mention Hannah and Bekah were so helpful and quick to answer any concerns or questions.

Q: What words would you use to describe your wedding day?

A: Perfect, Intimate, Elegant, Bliss

Q: What have you been up to since your wedding? What is next for you two?

A: We went on our honeymoon in Washington State! Since we have been back we are settling back into home with our two dogs Bella and Ellie. I have started graduate school in Social work.

Q:How would you describe each other?

A: Roderick is loving, considerate, funny, personable, and compassionate.

Jensen is beautiful, warm-hearted, intelligent, funny and my best friend.