Small Business Saturday Deals Around Fairlawn & Bath

Shop local today to support small businesses in the area.

Shop Locally in Fairlawn & Bath on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24

Start your holiday shopping at locally owned stores during Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 24 this year, two days after Thanksgiving. It is a day for everyone to support the small businesses that their community thrives on. American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is important to support local small businesses that rely on their neighbors in order to continue prospering and building the local economy in Brecksville. Last year, 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday by shopping at locally owned stores to help boost the economy and their communities. Check out the Small Business Saturday website or our business …

• Photos (1)

Small Business Owner Offers Tips for Expanding Services

Small business owner Linda Fuller offers tips for growing your business and offering more services to expand cliental .

There are several small businesses in Fairlawn and Bath. Some of them may be places you and your family frequent, businesses that have been in the area for as long as you can remember. And some may be your go-to places instead of national chains. Small business owner Linda Fuller is no stranger to starting a business from the ground up. In her recent interview with Patch Partners, a website connecting business owners to Patch in local communities, she offers insight into how she expanded her business’s services from just flowers to wine, beer and gourmet gift baskets at Lake Anne Florist in Reston, VA. Homework must be done first, she said. “Research what’s compatible with your own products and services, what the current trends are and …

• Photos (1)

'A Bit of Luck, Whole Lot of Insanity' Flicker in Lit Wick Candles

The Merchant Square store sells a variety of candles, gifts and more.

*Note: Story originally published June 2012. Lit Wick Gallery owner J.M. Tkalec says creating new fragrances takes "a little bit of science, a bit of good luck, a bit of good timing and a whole lot of insanity." But one thing is for sure: all this candles are made with love. Tkalec, better known as the Candleman, started the candle company 10 years ago in Stow and recently made the move to Fairlawn's Merchant Square on Ghent Road. He's come a long way since his first scent of mulled cranberry. Tkalec now offers scents such as roasted jalapeno, Bavarian pretzel, beer, bacon and tomato plant. "I've always been a candle lover," Tkalec said. "I would find a brand and become loyal and then they would do something that would make me mad and I'd …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (5)

J. M. Tkalec

7:56 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012

Sue, you are too kind. I do hope people enjoy themselves when they visit the gallery; that's my goal. And you know how much I love to laugh! Come back and visit soon, Sue!   more ›

Thinker Toys Specializes in Toys That Make You Think

Here you can find puzzles, Playmobil action figures, plush puppets and other high-quality toys that foster imagination.

*Story originally published November 2011. Rob Miller began working for his mother, Pam, even before she opened her store. When Rob was about 18 years old, he helped his mother merchandise what is now Thinker Toys, the independent toy store that sits next to the Mustard Seed Market & Cafe on Medina Road. That was October 1994. Fast forward 17 years, and now Rob is store manager and handles the day-to-day operations of the business that employs four. Pam is retired and occasionally comes to the store to have lunch with her son and see how things are going. Pam, a North Canton resident, opened Thinker Toys to fill the void of stores that carried high-quality toys. She chose the Fairlawn location because she was excited by the prospects of …

• Photos (3)

The Flower Hutch Has Something for Every Holiday

Flower shop has been in Bath Township for 42 years.

*This story was originally published in November 2011. John Tatman knows the business of flowers. He's owned and operated the Flower Hutch in Bath Township for 42 years. And he's been in the industry since high school. Tatman spent his after-school hours working for his aunt and uncle at their shop, Herwicks Floral Shop in Barberton. That time set the course for his life. Tatman opened his shop on 1572 N  Cleveland-Massillon Rd. because at the time there wasn't an existing flower shop nearby. “The closest one was in Wallhaven [an Akron neighborhood],” he said. The location has proved to be the right choice because of its easy access to Interstate 77. The Flower Hutch delivers to all zip codes in the Akron area. “The nice part about this …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (3)

W E Snow

8:04 am on Friday, November 18, 2011

Always Gorgeous Creations from the Flower Hutch.   more ›

LaVida Massage Puts the Zen Back in Fairlawn Area Families

The massage therapy center will open Saturday in Fairlawn Town Centre.

Updated Nov. 29, 2012: LaVida Massage will host an opening ceremony from 11 to 5 a.m. on Dec. 1. Guests are encouraged to bring families to enjoy light refreshments and meet the therapists. There will be promotions, give-aways and free chair massages.  Then, starting Monday, LaVida Massage will be open for business. Every Saturday until Christmas there will be an opening promotion. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Original story: Working-class adults aren't the only ones who need some stress relief these days, according to Clare Quartaraco, owner of LaVida Massage opening soon in Fairlawn Town Centre. "There are teenagers now who play sports and 20 years down the road they have …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Small Business Saturday is Time for Independent Merchants

Locally owned stores take their turn after big-box Black Friday.