ASHLAND — Shelby Shearer opened her storefront, Shearer Creations, just this May.
With her location on Ashland Main Street, this weekend will be Shearer’s first participating in the annual Shop Hop, which takes place Friday and Saturday to celebrate Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
Shearer, along with other business owners in Ashland, has leaned into encouraging people to shop local through deals and prizes for the shopping days.
She likes throwing parties — she called it her “thing” — and hopes this Small Business Saturday becomes her biggest party yet.
Shearer has partnered with over a dozen other local businesses to offer goodie bags to the first 50 people who come to her store for the holiday.
“I knew Ashland was supportive, but I didn’t know Ashland was this supportive,” Shearer said.
Shearer Creations, along with a slew of other local businesses in Ashland, plan to have special offerings and deals for customers who opt to shop in town this Small Business Saturday.
Shearer Creations
Shearer said her store will have its doors open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
She printed over 500 custom t-shirts to put out for Small Business Saturday. Shearer Creations will also be giving out “lottery” cards, where people can win discounts ranging from 10% off their purchases to $50 off.
The first 50 people to come to the store will also receive goodie bags with coupons, samples and freebies from a slew of other Ashland businesses.
Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Young Brother’s Meats donated products for Shearer Creations’ goodie bags. Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Fig & Oak donated coupons for goodie bags Shearer Creations will give out for Small Business Saturday. Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Bo Lacey gift cards will be in the goodie bags. Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Gimme Grub donated 10% off coupons for Shearer Creations’ Small Business Saturday goodie bags. Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Credit: Shelby Shearer 
186 Aesthetics donated $10 off coupons for Shearer Creations’ goodie bags. Credit: Shelby Shearer 
Whoopsie Daisy Bowtique coupons also made it into the goodie bags. Credit: Shelby Shearer
She reached out and asked other business owners if they’d be willing to donate something for the bags, and said she was surprised when nearly all of them agreed.
“The point is, I want Ashland’s money to stay in Ashland,” Shearer said.
The bags will include items from: Manicured Studio, Fig & Oak, Down by the Crick Candy Cottage, Meta Females Inc., Downtown Perk, Young Family Farms, Clothes Minded Boutique, 419 Barbershop, Hershey Outdoors, Bo Lacey Construction, Whoopsie Daisy Bowtique, Our Balloon Lagoon, Jo Rae Mi Cupcakes, Ohio Fire, Simply Whitney Photo Co., Gimme Grub, Keaton Partin Realtor, Twisted Ivy, Glow Girl, Thread With It Tees and Pretty Little Bakery.
Some of those businesses will also offer their own deals for Small Business Saturday.
Fig & Oak
Fig & Oak will have special guests on Small Business Saturday, according to Rachel Barr, owner Julie Mitchell’s sister.
The Menches Bros. food truck, a well-known truck in the Akron area, will also be parked at Fig & Oak. Barr said it’ll be the first time Fig & Oak has hosted a food truck.
The Menches Bros. website states they’re the inventors of the original hamburger and the waffle cone.
Fig & Oak plans to extend its hours for Small Business Saturday. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Barr said shoppers who visit the store will also get to sample snacks and cider, and the store will have some discounts going on, too.
Ashley’s Candy and Nut Shoppe
Ashley Lantz, the owner of Ashley’s Candy and Nut Shoppe, said the store will have all its usual deals.
For the holiday season, it’s also offering Advent calendars stuffed with customer favorite sweet treats to count down the days to Christmas. The calendars sell for $15.95.
Lantz said she expects plenty of people to buy those for Small Business Saturday.
Blue Pumpkin Boutique
Blue Pumpkin Boutique has its “Buy More, Save More” sale happening for Small Business Saturday, according to owner Tammy Milne.
Milne said the more people buy, the more they can save off their total purchase — just like the sale’s name. They can save anywhere from 15 to 25% off their totals, depending on how much they buy.
Milne added they’ll be giving out prizes every hour and have a drawing for a giveaway.
The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Enjoy! Floral and Gift Boutique
Enjoy! Floral and Gift Boutique plans to have samples of its new meat and cheese lines.
Manager Heidi Wyrick said they’re hoping to promote that new food line during Small Business Saturday.
“You don’t just have to send flowers,” Wyrick said. “You can send a gift box with soups, meat and cheese or olive oils and bread.”
The meats and cheeses will also be 10% off for customers.
Wyrick added that, for food set purchases priced $50 and up, customers will receive complimentary gift wrapping.
Enjoy! will offer free wrapping for orders over $50. Credit: Heidi Wyrick 
Enjoy! hopes to promote its new food line for Small Business Saturday. Credit: Heidi Wyrick 
Enjoy! will be working on promoting its new food line for Small Business Saturday. Credit: Heidi Wyrick 
Enjoy! aims to promote its new food line for Small Business Saturday. Credit: Heidi Wyrick
While quantities last, people who stop in at Enjoy! on Small Business Saturday can also expect to receive free samples of its new, organic face line.
It includes soap, a rose spray and serum.
Shop Local Ashland
If you didn’t see your favorite local business in our roundup, don’t worry. The Ashland Chamber of Commerce also has an option available to support local businesses in its Shop Local Ashland gift cards.
You can use the gift cards at 44 participating locations. They include restaurants, boutiques, Ashland University’s bookstore and more.
A full list is available on the Chamber’s website: https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/ashland–oh-ashland.
To purchase one, select the gift card’s desired value. Then, it’s sent to the recipient via text, email or one can print it out and give it to them.
