BOARDMAN, Ohio – Representatives of two Market Street businesses are planning an event next month to celebrate small businesses.
Nicci Bell of Love Thy Curves and Craig Duster of Pop! Art Books Culture are organizing The Merry on Market Small Business Crawl, which will run Dec. 12-14.
The organizers said they believe the event will bring positive publicity to the area and garner attention for small businesses along Market Street.
“I’ve participated in a couple different small business crawls both as a participant and as a business owner,” Duster said. “The best thing about them is how you always find some new store that you didn’t know about. You always find some hidden gem.”
The small business crawl features more than 10 local businesses, including Combine Brothers, Mr. Darby’s Vintage & Antiques, Penny Pinchers, The Coffeeshop at Ridgewood, Sespe Burger, Renegade Toys and Galaxy Snax.
Crawlers will receive a stamp card at any of the participating businesses and will receive one stamp for visiting the store and another stamp if they make a purchase. They will leave their stamp card, along with their contact information, at the last business they visit. Each stamp will represent an entry into a prize drawing.
The crawlers will receive additional entries for visiting all of the participating businesses. More information about the crawl can be found on Pop! Art Books Culture’s and Love Thy Curve’s Facebook pages. A link to the event is posted on both shops’ pages.
Prize winners will be announced via Facebook before Christmas.
“It was important to us that the crawlers got stamps for just going to each business,” Duster said. “I’ve been open since 2021, and I still have people come in and tell me they had no idea we were here. If everyone who participates learns of the existence of one more local business – someplace they can go and shop rather than click and order – I consider that a win.”
Bell agreed.
“Even after being open in the same location for 11 years, we see customers that are coming in for the first time saying they never knew we existed,” she said. “Small businesses are vital to the community. When you shop locally, you help support locally. Our small shop has donated over half a million dollars worth of clothing to the community over the past six years.”
She added that small businesses need local support to survive, and the organizations want other neighborhood businesses to thrive too.
“Hosting this crawl is a great way to learn about amazing small businesses and the people in our community at the same time,” Bell said.