Shoppers support local economy during Small Business Saturday

MOUNT VERNON — Despite a noon kickoff for Ohio State’s savage beating of Michigan, a steady stream of shoppers filled the downtown specialty shops for Small Business Saturday.

At Crickets on South Main, 15 customers visited the antique store in just over an hour on Saturday morning. Forty-five shoppers poured into the store during the first two hours of Black Friday.

Co-owner Ann Hudson said the significance of Small Business Saturday, or Shop Small Saturday, is to expose the community to downtown small businesses and retail.

Crickets moved from its previous location at 120 S. Main St. earlier this year after the building was sold.

Marcus and Andrea McKay display one of the treasures they found at Crickets on South Main during Small Business Saturday. Credit: Cheryl Splain

Hudson said that at 216 S. Main St., Crickets is sometimes a bit hard for people to find.

“Shop Small Saturday is a good thing to have to try and expose people to the shop,” she said.

Andrea McKay and her husband, Marcus, visited Crickets in search of Christmas gifts.

“We figured it would be nice to get some antique things for family and friends,” McKay said. “I’m finding some adorable things because they have such treasures. It’s like a treasure hunt when you come to an antique shop.”

Small Business Saturday was an added incentive for the couple to shop downtown.

The Mount Vernon resident said shopping at Crickets is “a little bit more special” because the items are hand-picked and curated.

“But also, you’re supporting a small business, and hopefully that keeps this thriving because it’s really unique that we have this here in Mount Vernon,” McKay said.

Small Business Saturday boosts downtown sales

Jordan Shremshock began her tenure at Paragraphs Bookstore as a teenager.

“This is kind of our response to the big box stores doing Black Friday. This is a push to shop small on Saturday and support your local businesses rather than the big box stores,” she said of Small Business Saturday.

Jordan Shremshock, left, completes a transaction at Paragraphs Bookstore on Nov. 29, 2025, as part of Small Business Saturday. Credit: Cheryl Splain

“This is one of our biggest sales days of the year, every year. We’ve been busy since I flipped the sign at 9:30 this morning,” she said.

The 18-year sales veteran acknowledged things slow down a bit during “The Game,” but said, “We have people in here who aren’t football fans looking for a peaceful respite from the game.”

“That’s held true just about every year,” she said.

Like many retailers, Paragraphs offers discounts over the Thanksgiving Day Weekend. The shop also featured giveaways for Small Business Saturday, including tote bags and “I Shopped Small Today” stickers.

“We want to support small businesses, and we know that especially here in downtown it’s very difficult for some of these small businesses to thrive. But it’s really like the heart of our community.”

Andrea McKay, mount vernon

Shremshock said the shop small strategy is effective.

“At the merchants’ meetings, I’ve heard that most businesses have an uptick,” she said. “Today (Saturday) we’ve put out all kinds of messaging on social media from Main Street Mount Vernon, as well as our store, so I think just about everybody’s doing the same thing.”

Supporting small businesses means supporting families

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Ohio has more than 87,000 small business retailers. Roughly 25% are family businesses.

“Small Business Saturday helps small businesses, and small businesses are family owned businesses. If you’re supporting a small business, you’re supporting a family, helping make ends meet,” Christopher Carman of Angry Acres Farm said.

“This shop here, it runs itself, but we haven’t turned a profit yet. So, it means everything for people to shop small.”

Angry Acres Farm owner Savannah Carman, left, and her father, Christopher, are among the many family owned businesses that appreciate Small Business Saturday. Credit: Cheryl Splain

Originally from Columbus, Carman moved to the area between Johnstown and Utica when he was 11. He now resides in Martinsburg with his family.

“So, I’ve been in the area. All the small businesses here in Mount Vernon, we’re all local, or not too far. Within I’d say 25 miles from here,” he said.

Angry Acres Farm has a little twist on the family run business.

Carman’s daughter, Savannah, is a native of Knox County. She owns the business, which stemmed from her days of showing dairy goats in 4-H at the Knox County Fair.

Christopher, a mechanical engineer by trade, helps her out. He started making soap in 2018, a few years before Savannah aged out of 4-H. She wanted to keep her goats, so the question became How are they going to pay for themselves?

“This is paying for her goats,” Christopher said, gesturing to the racks filled with soaps and lotions made with goat milk.

The Carmans have sold their products at the Mount Vernon Farmers Market since 2020. They opened the brick-and-mortar store at 51 Public Square in March 2024.

“Because of where we’re located on the square, we’re a little invisible, because if you’re just driving around, not many people see you. So, when there are events like [Small Business Saturday and the holiday parade], it brings people out,” Christopher said.

All three merchants will be open on Sunday for the holiday parade.