We were lucky to catch up with Allison Craig recently and have shared our conversation below.

Allison, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

From Wedding to Welcome: The Story Behind San Antonio in a Box
In 2014, while planning our wedding, I wasn’t just focused on the dress, the flowers, or the guest list. I was thinking about the experience — not just for us, but for everyone coming to celebrate. Friends and family were flying into San Antonio from all over, and I wanted them to feel the real San Antonio. Not just the postcard version — the Riverwalk and the Alamo — but the city we know and love, full of grit, flavor, warmth, and creativity.

So I had an idea: what if there was a way to box up the spirit of San Antonio? A curated gift filled with items from our favorite small businesses — something that would say, “Welcome, let us show you around.”

That spark stayed with me. But life happened, and I set it aside while I pursued a corporate career. I focused on climbing the ladder, chasing promotions, and checking off milestones. Yet the idea never fully went away.

Then one day, it felt undeniable. I wanted to stop waiting. I met with an attorney, drafted a business plan, ordered a few boxes, and made a list of the local products we loved — salsa from a family-run kitchen, handmade soaps, artisanal treats, and more.

When we launched, it was small. Just us, a few boxes, and a big dream. But quickly, friends started to share it. People in the community introduced us to other small businesses, and that initial idea began to blossom into something bigger.

From the beginning, our mission was clear: San Antonio in a Box wasn’t just about gifting — it was about connecting. Every box we sent was a handshake between our city and someone else. And to make sure that connection was personal, we included what became our signature: a hot pink vendor blurb. It was our way of spotlighting the local makers behind the products — their names, their stories, their passions — so every recipient could feel a little closer to San Antonio.

That simple touch helped transform a gift into a story. A bridge between sender and recipient, and between the recipient and the city. It became our way of giving back — not just to the customers, but to the community of small businesses we love.

And that’s how San Antonio in a Box grew: not just from strategy, but from soul. From celebrating the city that raised us, and creating something others could carry — one pink card, one box at a time.

Allison, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Allison — a proud mom of four, a passionate advocate for local business, and the founder of San Antonio in a Box. My life revolves around balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, which means structure, intention, and adaptability are not just preferences — they’re necessities.

The idea for San Antonio in a Box was born out of love — for this city, its small businesses, and for the people we wanted to share that with. What began as a wedding-inspired concept to give our guests a more personal taste of San Antonio has grown into a full-fledged local gifting company. We specialize in showcasing products made right here in our city — all thoughtfully packaged and delivered with love.

We operate as an ecommerce platform where customers can build their own gift boxes — whether they’re shipping across the country or picking up locally. We also partner closely with corporate clients, local event planners, law firms, the San Antonio Airport, Visit San Antonio, and many more to craft custom-branded boxes that feel personal, meaningful, and rooted in community.

But our mission is bigger than gifting — it’s connection.

Every item in our boxes tells a story about a local maker or business, and every box we send helps that story travel further. Our branding is entirely local — from the products to the packaging to the pink vendor blurbs that spotlight the people behind each item. Even if a business isn’t quite the right fit for our boxes, we do our best to support them — whether that’s through a shoutout on social media, connecting them with others, or simply cheering them on.

What sets us apart? It’s the personal touch. We work directly with our customers, offering hands-on guidance, ideas, and flexibility. We allow them to include their own notes or branded swag — and if we don’t have an item they want, we’ll go find it. We want every gift to feel exactly right, like it came from the sender, not just from us.

Running a small business is not easy — it takes a village. Over time, we’ve had to evolve: improving our internal processes, refining our SOPs, and making it easier to buy from local vendors and streamline sales. But even as we grow, our values stay the same: community over competition, people over perfection.

What makes me proudest isn’t just seeing our chocolate bars land in Alaska or a local hot sauce delight a client in New York — though that’s amazing. It’s seeing the spark in my own kids’ eyes. When my daughter asks to build a box for her teacher, when my son starts inventing products of his own, when my six-year-old runs to deliver boxes downtown with joy, or even when the baby laughs at all of us running around — I see the ripple effect. They’re learning from me, just by watching.

That’s what success looks like to me: connection, community, and showing the next generation what’s possible when you lead with heart, hustle, and authenticity.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Not all pivots come from strategy. Some come from heartbreak.

A few years ago, I went through a divorce. It was one of the most emotionally intense seasons of my life — not just for me, but for my kids, my family, and everyone around us. As many people in my position might have chosen to do, I considered burying myself in work — staying busy, focused, and numb. But I realized quickly: that wasn’t the path for me.

Instead, I did something far less expected in business — I stepped back.

I made the difficult decision to hand off San Antonio in a Box to someone else for a couple of years while I focused on the most important project of all: myself. I needed to heal, to be present with my kids, and to rebuild the foundation of our family — a foundation that, I believe, can’t be strong unless I am. That self-awareness was hard-earned, but it guided me.

It terrified me, honestly. The idea that my emotions might seep into the business — into something I had worked so hard to build — was something I couldn’t risk. I didn’t want to run San Antonio in a Box from a place of exhaustion, sadness, or survival mode. I wanted to come back when I had the courage, the energy, and most importantly, the joy again.

And I did. But it took two full years.

During that time, our sales dipped. Our traction declined. Momentum slowed. And you’d think I would’ve felt disappointment or panic. But strangely, I didn’t. I felt clarity.

Because what I saw was this: I am the heart of the business. I’m the face, the passion, the voice behind every pink vendor card and every curated box. My energy is what drives it forward — not algorithms, not automation, not trends. And for the first time, I truly understood just how deeply personal this brand is.

That realization was powerful. It reminded me why I built this business in the first place — to connect, to share, to celebrate San Antonio and all the people and products that make it magical. And now, coming back to it, I’m not just re-energized — I’m re-aligned.

This pivot wasn’t about changing direction. It was about reclaiming it. And it’s made both me and San Antonio in a Box stronger than ever before.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When I launched San Antonio in a Box, I didn’t come in with a big investor pitch, a round of seed funding, or a bank loan. I started small — intentionally. A few boxes, a clear vision, and a big belief in what this could become.

From day one, we’ve operated as a cash flow–positive business. Every dollar we earned went straight back into the business — into more inventory, better packaging, refining our systems, and, most importantly, growing our local partnerships. We scaled with purpose, not pressure.

That approach may not be flashy, but it’s powerful. It’s allowed us to grow on our own terms, stay true to our mission, and keep our operations lean, authentic, and community-focused.

There’s a kind of discipline — and freedom — that comes with funding your business from its own success. It keeps you grounded in your “why.” It reminds you that every sale, every box built, every customer connection matters.

Of course, it hasn’t always been easy. There were months we had to pause before making upgrades, or wait until we had the funds to expand in certain ways. But what I’m proud of is that we’ve never overextended, and we’ve never compromised on our values.

The business has grown alongside me, in pace with my life and my capacity. And that’s been one of the greatest gifts: to prove that slow and steady, backed by passion and purpose, really does work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sanantonioinabox.com
• Instagram: sanantonioinabox
• Facebook: San Antonio in a Box
• Linkedin: Allison Craig or San Antonio in a Box

Image Credits

Courtney Warden Photography & Opening Statement Marketing