The holiday season is here— gift shopping is underway, decorations are on display, and party invites are flooding mailboxes.

The added excitement around the holidays also brings a busy season for businesses everywhere, including those participating in the Mavs Business Assist (MBA) program.

Sandwiched between two of the most popular shopping days of the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is the lesser-known Small Business Saturday, a day to support local businesses.

For many entrepreneurs in this year’s MBA cohort, Small Business Saturday will kick start their busy season, bringing new opportunities to share their unique offerings with the community.

Sweet Nothings & Pastries

Sweet Nothings & Pastries – OG Cornbread Pan

Terrell Johnson walked into Session 2 of the MBA program last week with a pink box of freshly baked cookies in hand.

For 10 years, he’s been operating Sweet Nothings & Pastries— nine years in a commercial kitchen and for the last year in a downtown Dallas brick-and-mortar with his mentor and owner of Val’s Cheesecakes, Valery Jean-Bart.

The storefront space has allowed Johnson to showcase his array of custom cakes and desserts, and with access to square footage, SNAP has expanded to offer cake decorating classes for all skill levels.

During the holidays, Sweet Nothings & Pastries will sell signature dishes like Johnson’s cornbread pan and host special-edition cake decorating classes, including one specifically timed around Beyoncé’s NFL Christmas Day halftime performance.

Brown Brownie

Brown Brownie – “Texmas” Christmas Wrapping Paper

More often than not, when you’re perusing the holiday gift wrap selection, you’ll find generic wrapping paper that features characters represented in one shade.

After noticing a lack of representation in the gift wrap industry, Devon Brown and her mother founded Brown Brownie, a business specializing in custom-designed culturally inclusive wrapping paper, gift bags, and greeting cards dedicated to African Americans, Latinos and families of mixed heritage.

What separates Brown Brownie from its competitors is an authentic approach to representing diverse cultures.

For the last two years, their fun and lighthearted designs have wrapped thoughtfully picked gifts, adding a special touch to holiday celebrations.

ColibrÌ PanaderÌa

ColibrÌ PanaderÌa – Pan Dulce

For Alissa Olmos, the thought of opening her own bakery was initially nerve-wracking.

With 18 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, she was no stranger to the backbreaking work required to find success, so when Olmos finally took the leap to open ColibrÌ PanaderÌa, it symbolized ultimate belief in herself.

Nearly two years since opening, Olmos has used the bakery as an opportunity to grow closer to her Mexican heritage while spotlighting her culture through elevated breads and desserts.

As ColibrÌ PanaderÌa continues to expand with new recipes and online ordering, its mission remains to bring people together with the power of food.

CourDiva’s Cards & Invitations

CourDiva’s – 2025 Purposeful Planner

Courtney Morris was a long-time hobbyist until she was tired of seeing the same bland and limited planner selections and decided to launch a new product line in 2018.

CourDiva’s stationery, notebooks, planners and accessories feature hand-drawn designs that include messages of motivation and encouragement that jump off the page.

Growing up, Morris described herself as a “cool nerd” with a passion for reading, writing and journaling.

Those qualities built CourDiva’s foundation to promote literacy, positivity and inclusivity with products that touch individuals through characters illustrated in their likeness and messages that inspire.

With guidance from experts at ZenBusiness and guest lecturers from major corporations, this year’s cohort of Mavs Business Assist entrepreneurs is ready to rise to the challenges this holiday season may bring and use their newfound knowledge to propel into the new year and beyond.

Learn more about the Mavs Business Assist program at Mavs.com/MBA.

 

Are you looking to support local entrepreneurs on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season?

From hand-made gifts, unique experiences, catering, event planning, hair and what to wear, check out the holiday guide below featuring Mavs Business Assist entrepreneurs:

BeLeaf Candle Company – Offering candle-making workshops and hand-poured soy-based candles designed to inspire, uplift, and promote others to believe.

Brown Brownie – Mother-daughter-owned business creating culturally inclusive wrapping paper, gift bags, and greeting cards specially designed to celebrate Black, Latino, and mixed heritage families.

By M Squared – An event design and floral decor company specializing in bespoke event decor that is custom-created to fit the client’s unique vision.

Cabrera Vargas – Fashion house and lifestyle brand specializing in designer clothing to inspire and empower.

Cadena Collective – Artisanal marketplace offering a carefully curated selection of premium and luxury Latin American designs telling a story of heritage, craftsmanship, and tradition.

Chef in Heelz LLC – Dallas-based personal chef services available to help plan and execute elevated events and hospitality services.

Chef Mollie G, LLC – Chef Mollie offers private event booking or weekly, rotating meal delivery through Mercado M, committed to serving some of the most delicious flavors in the Metroplex.

ColibrÌ PanaderÌa – A bakery specializing in Mexican-style pastries on a mission to educate others about what makes Mexican sweet bread or “pan dulce” one-of-a-kind using unique and modern ingredients.

Concrete Dream – Unique handmade concrete decor and functional art.

CourDiva’s Cards & Invitations – An inclusive stationery and accessories company on a mission to promote literacy, positivity and inclusivity with handmade items that represent marginalized communities.

D for Dapper – A unique establishment offering a curated selection of stylish and sophisticated clothing and accessories for men.

Dapper Men Co. – Tailored and handcrafted, custom suits and tuxedos that blend timeless elegance with modern, fashion-forward designs.

Dreads by Dotie – Plays a multifaceted role in the community, not only as a provider of Loc services but also as a hub for social interaction, economic activity, and personal development.

Elements Massage McKinney – A massage studio dedicated to providing healing and relaxation to the everyday individual.

Emherge Press – A boutique book publishing company specializing in children’s books focused on social-emotional learning, self-discovery, and community.

ESW Perfume Bar – Design a personalized signature scent tailored to your unique style in a guided experience.

GabeJade Accessories – Luxury African print accessories made with high-quality, imported fabrics and unique patterns for a standout, sophisticated look.

Hair by Akoni – On a mission to promote health equity and empower individuals with textured hair through eco-conscious, inclusive care.

Hustle Blendz – Five-star rated coffee shop curated in faith and brewed for exceptional taste, also available for private events.

Iced Out Snoballs – The authentic taste of New Orleans-style snowballs brought to life with dozens of delicious flavors made from 100% pure cane sugar, available to book for any event.

Jersey Jax – A custom jersey and apparel company, that also specializes in framing sports memorabilia and selling used and new collectible sneakers.

Lined Up – Dallas-based barber shop owned by licensed professional barber Daunte Paschal and founder of “Man U Script,” a line of hair care products.

Loud Beauty – Bold, statement-making beauty products with a primary focus on lip products that are more than just makeup—they’re a form of self-expression.

LuvThyNeighbor – Charcuterie, florals, and curated gatherings, LoveThyNeighbor fosters visions of hosting to make magic happen.

Malashia’s Magical Twists – Children’s book brand that teaches families to love and care for their textured hair through a haircare accessory line, educational books and textured hair workshops.

Minty Barber – Blending the charm of an old-school barbershop with the expertise of modern, highly trained barbers to deliver exceptional haircuts and grooming services in a welcoming environment.

MIZIZI – MIZIZI, which means “roots” in Swahili, is the official brand for the African Diaspora, offering exclusive collections designed with their core values: connection, celebration, and representation.

Narwhals & Waterfalls – Dallas-based, acoustic indie-rock duo and music teachers Paige Bell and Adrien Palmer paired to create SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) materials through albums with an accompanying curriculum and activity book.

OLPHACTORY CANDLES – Luxury candle company specializing in the art of scent paired with the art of jazz.

Pan-African Connection Bookstore & Resource Center – Family-owned community bookstore offering a diverse selection of books, educational resources, and cultural events, fostering a space for community engagement, learning, and empowerment.

Puzzles of Color – Frameable pieces of art created by artists of color, celebrating their experiences and creativity.

Sight Seeing – A streetwear brand that stands apart with designs inspired by resilience and forward-thinking, the brand promotes a mindset of seeing the better in every situation.

Soiree Coffee Bar – Jazz-inspired Coffee Shop serving premium coffee, signature lattes, spiked coffee, weekend brunch and more, also available for private events.

Stacked With Purpose – Prophetic jewelry business offering handmade pieces, designed to celebrate a woman’s unique purpose and inspire her to walk confidently in who she was created to be.

Stush Kidz – Children’s clothing line crafted specially for parents who desire to pass down their amazing sense of style to their little ones.

Sweet Nothings & Pastries – A local small-batch bakery specializing in custom cakes, cookies & other baked goods/pastries, as well as cake decorating classes for novice to advanced bakers.

The Tipsy Bloom – A unique and engaging experience for participants to create fresh flower arrangements that sit atop their favorite bottle of wine or champagne.

Urban Trivia – A card game created from the culture for the culture, celebrating and highlighting the best in Black film, music and pop culture.

Whose Books – Bookstore on a mission to eliminate the book desert and activate reading culture in the southern sector of Dallas while highlighting diverse voices in literature.

Will Call – A restaurant and bar in the heart of Deep Ellum serving up award-winning cheesesteaks and wings available for private events.

Yenisi Beauty – Dallas-based, family-owned business offering USDA Certified Organic hair and skincare products made with eco-friendly, plant-based ingredients and artistic craftsmanship.

ZZ’s Ice Cream Puffs – A mobile food truck serving up artisanal crispy, fluffy puff pastries filled with gourmet ice cream, available to book for any event.

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