SHELBY — Connie Roub remembers when she started “Shop Small Saturday” in Shelby more than a decade ago.
“We had a handful of businesses participating, but no one really knew what it was just yet,” the manager of The Holiday Store said.
“Once the Chamber got involved and people around the county started coming up with ideas on how to promote it, it really took off. It’s gotten so big now, and it benefits small businesses all over.”
Friends of the Black Fork started The Holiday Store in 2008 as a way to provide a venue for entrepreneurs and vendors to sell their holiday wares during the winter. It is located at 54 E. Main St. this year. It opens Thanksgiving weekend through Jan. 5.
The Holiday Store is one of 74 businesses participating in Richland County’s Small Business Saturday this year, scheduled for Nov. 30.
Small Business Saturday is a national program that takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage shoppers to buy from local small businesses.
Small Business Saturday is celebrated nationwide. American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010, and the U.S. Small Business Administration has co-sponsored the shopping holiday since 2011.
According to the American Express 2023 Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, U.S. consumers spent an estimated $17 billion at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday last year.
Richland County hosts 80 chances to win giveaways
Each of the businesses participating in the Richland Area Chamber’s Small Business Saturday will offer prize drawings of at least a $25 value. Shoppers can enter the individual drawings with no purchase required by visiting the stores in person.
Then, shoppers can also scan the store’s Small Business Saturday QR code to enter prize drawings of a $100 value at up to six stores. The Chamber will draw winners for five different $100 value gifts.
Chris Ferruso, the state director for Ohio’s National Federation of Independent Business, issued a statement Friday about the shopping holiday.
“As the holiday season begins, we encourage everyone to shop small and support their local small businesses,” Ferruso said. “Small businesses are the backbone of Ohio’s economy, and Small Business Saturday is the perfect occasion to buy directly from Main Street.”
GYMGUYZ, an at-home personal training franchise serving Mansfield and Canton areas, is participating in its first Small Business Saturday this year.
Owner J. Mark Perry, a retired Mansfield police detective and Air Force veteran, said he and his wife Loni will have one of the GYMGUYZ vans parked outside their home on Saturday.
“We’ll have a tent set up and will have gift cards at a reduced price,” he said. “People always seem to have some anxiety around the holidays, and I really believe there’s no better medicine than exercise.”
GYMGUYZ will be parked at 2080 Millsboro Road for Small Business Saturday, but trainers travel to wherever a client wants.
“I’m excited to participate in Small Business Saturday this year and looking forward to getting the word out about the business,” Perry said. “I think it’s a great time to start GYMGUYZ and a great gift to get someone.”
New, established businesses both offering deals Nov. 30
Mansfield’s Metronome Music sales manager Chris Stecker said the music store is usually busy around the holidays.
“Music stuff is fun because they’re kind of like toys,” he said. “We sell a lot of guitar straps, accessories and things like that.
“Even people who get cash for Christmas sometimes come in and pick out some instruments or new music books.”
Metronome Music recently became a licensed Martin Guitar dealer, and Steckler said the store should have some in stock in time for Small Business Saturday.
“As far as acoustic guitars that’s probably the best there is,” he said. “So that’s super exciting.”
Metronome Music will have Black Friday and Small Business Saturday deals throughout the weekend, and will also offer a $25 gift card drawing.
For Kimberly Sterry, this Small Business Saturday will be Kimmy’s Cucina’s first in its new location on Lexington Avenue.
“We’ve participated for probably the past two or three years back on Mill Street,” she said. “We have a lot more space in our new location, so our customers will see some new products.”
Sterry said Kimmy’s Cucina will share hot chocolate and Panettone sweet bread with its customers for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. She is planning a 15% off sale on premade baskets and will be offering a small lasagna and traditional meatball as her prize drawing on Saturday.
“The baskets are fun because there’s a variety of products and sizes — I do an olive oil and vinegars basket, and pasta and sauces,” she said. “It’s fun to give those quick and easy dinners as gifts.
“We’re looking forward to a fun day with our old and new customers.”
A map of the participating businesses is available from the Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber has also been spotlighting local businesses for Small Business Saturday on its Facebook page.
Small Business Saturday, supported by Medical Mutual, is hosted by the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development in conjunction with Downtown Mansfield Inc, Shelby Area Business Group, Be Focal Buy Local — Richland County and The Clear Fork Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The 2024 participating businesses are listed below (as of Nov. 26, from the Richland Area Chamber)
Shelby
- 113 ACE Hardware — 157 Mansfield Avenue
- Alta Floral — 71 W. Main Street
- Back to Our Roots Apothecary — 39 E. Main Street
- The Shelby B & B Pet Shop — 40 E. Main Street
- Black Fork Brewing — 38 Mansfield Avenue
- Blackfork Mercantile & The Well Coffee & Gift Shop — 24 W. Main Street
- Denim N Lace — 217 Mansfield Avenue
- Designs by Kristy — 40 E. Main Street
- Dove Candle Bar Company LLC — 4036 George Hawk Road
- The Fan Cave Shop — 111 W. Main Street
- Glen’s Surplus Sales, Inc — 14 E. Smiley Avenue
- The Holiday Store — 54 E. Main Street
- The Little Shops of Shelby — 40 E Main Street
- Lottie & Lemon Boutique — 40 E Main Street
- Marigold Bakery — 67 W. Main Street
- Ralph Phillips VFW Post 291 — 34 W Main Street
- S&S Second Chances Art and Craft Studio — 82 W Main Street
- Shelby Thrift Store — 42 W. Main Street
- TresDen’s Jewelers — 46 W. Main Street
- Whispering Willow Way — 35 E. Main Street
Mansfield
- 419 Barbershop — 21 E. Temple Court, Lower Level
- A Black Tie Affair — 2183 Richland Mall, Suite D12
- Allure Studios Hair and Day Spa — 491 Lexington Avenue
- Alpaca Meadows — 1200 Rock Road
- Alta Florist and Greenhouse — 935 South Home Road
- The Blue Tag Company — 303 N. Trimble Road
- Bloom Boutique — 48 Park Ave. West
- Buckeye Imagination Museum — 175 W. Third Street
- City News/Suzy’s Smoke Room — 100 N. Main Street
- Crowe’s Shoes — 56 N. Main Street
- Element of Art — 96 N. Main Street
- Golden Poppy — 1084 Lexington Avenue
- Heritage House Furniture & Gifts — 1170 Lexington Avenue
- Kingwood Center Gardens — 50 N. Trimble Road
- Lasercraft Enterprises — 591 Park Ave. West
- Mansfield Art Center — 700 Marion Avenue
- Mansfield Vintiques and More — 1572 Lexington Avenue
- McCready Interiors/Norwalk the Furniture Idea — 748 N. Lex-Springmill Road
- Metronome Music Inc. — 40 S Trimble Road
- Music Academy of Karate and Empowerment — 44 W. 4th Street
- Once Upon A Child — 2182 W. 4th Street
- Petit Tresor Boutique — 1680 S. Main Street
- Porky’s Drive-In — 811 Ashland Road
- Richland Carrousel Park — 75 N. Main Street
- Studio 19 Salon and Spa — 19 E. 4th Street
- The Boot Life LLC — 115 Park Ave. West
- The Phoenix Brewing Company — 131 N. Diamond Street
- Two Cousins Pizza Co. — 103 N. Main Street
- Wayne’s Country Market — 2440 Lexington Avenue
- What Goes ‘Round Thrift Shoppe — 115 N. Main Street
Ontario
- Arbor Creek Gardens and Floral — 3052 Mabee Road
- Bake My Day — 803 N. Lexington-Springmill Road
- Dunkin Jewelers Inc. — 2291 W. Fourth Street
- GYMGUYZ — 2080 Millsboro Road
- Holly’s Book Rack — 2180 W. Fourth Street
- OliveBloom Collective — 1352 W. 4th Street
- Reflections Salon & Spa — 2151 Stumbo Road South
- A Touch of Home — 3417 Park Ave. West
- Vacuum World — 53 S. Lexington-Springmill Road
- Wellspring Custom Pharmacy & Health Source — 1987 W. Fourth Street
- What’s Smoken’ LLC — 49 Briggs Drive
- Yummy Treats Candy and More — 2209 Richland Mall
Lexington
- The Blueberry Patch & 1285 Winery — 1285 W. Hanley Road
- Crafty Clutter — 305 E. Main Street
- Kimmy’s Cucina — 275 E. Main Street
Bellville
- Bellville Flowers — 72 Main Street
- Elzy Milling & Trade — 25 E. Ogle Street
- Love Our Hero’s, Inc. — 24 Bell Street
- Nourish Wellness Bar — 16 E. Ogle Street
- Stratford Guns, LLC — 85 Main Street
- Versa Clothing Company — 6059 Renie Road
Butler
- The Whiffletree Restaurant — 28 Main Street
- The Wishmaker House Bed & Breakfast — 116 Main Street
- Weekley CDJF — 50 Main Street
