Former Bath Township Company Encourages People to Stay Active, Give Back

Learn more about MOVABLE.

Looking for a way to boost your New Year’s fitness resolution or for a creative way to give back? Brecksville-based company MOVABLE might have the answer.  CEO Blake Squires said his company’s MOVband helps people track all of their movement, not just the steps people take. That means it measures eveything from dancing to jumping, and translates it into mileage, according to a fact sheet from the company. It’s worn on the wrist, just like a watch, and serves as a regular reminder to stay active.  Squires, who calls himself a serial entrepreneur, said his wife came up with the idea for the company. A parent and a  teacher, she wanted him to address the obesity epidemic. MOVABLE has been used by a variety of school districts and companies …

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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 …

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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 …

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W E Snow

8:04 am on Friday, November 18, 2011

Always Gorgeous Creations from the Flower Hutch.   more ›

Editor's Notebook

SCORE Helps Business Owners

No, there's not a catch. SCORE's experienced mentors will help you take your business to the next level.

When it comes down to it, behind just about every small business is an entrepreneur hoping to turn their passion into a paycheck. But, as many wise business advisers have noted: Hope is not a strategy. Business owners need support to turn dreams into reality. That's why Patch is pleased to announce a new partnership with SCORE, a nonprofit organization with 12,000 business experts nationwide who provide free mentoring to small business owners. The partnership makes sense because we believe that when local commerce grows, the whole community gets stronger. Patch already provides free listings for local businesses and other tools to help build local brands. Whether you're a 10-year-old jewelry designer or a 79-year-old who carves wood knives…

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PHOTOS: Give Something Locally Made

We found five sources for local gifts for anyone on your list

Looking for that perfect holiday gift? We rounded up area sources for handmade gifts. Check out the list below.

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Holly Barnes

7:16 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011

I think the point of the story is that no matter where you live, if you look, you can find handmade items. Just look through the "Places" section of each Patch site to see all the diverse businesses listed within. That is the charm of Ohio...so many local businesses make it easy to find whatever you're looking for right in your backyard. And note to local businesses, if you haven't claimed your …   more ›

I of the Needle Corners the Needlepoint Market in Fairlawn

Needlepoint enthusiasts find all they need from basic supplies to specialty threads.

I of the Needle may have been closed on Black Friday, but it did just fine the following Saturday, said owner Laurel Greenberg. That Saturday's business "included out-of-town shoppers who were in the area for Thanksgiving," Greenberg explained. She covered herself for Black Friday; she left a message on her answering machine letting her customers know that she would be closed. I of the Needle is the only store of its kind Akron; one where needlepointers can find all their project needs. Greenberg's store has been located in Fairlawn's Wyant Buildings since 1989. A former schoolteacher from Bath Township, Greenberg funded I of the Needle with her subbing money. She's turned the hobby she's been doing since 1971 into a thriving business. …

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Small Business Saturday is Time for Independent Merchants

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

It's Business as Usual for Local Merchants on Black Friday

Local business owners depend on quality and unique services for the holiday season.

Black Friday. It's the official start to the Christmas shopping season. Major retailers open when it is yet dark, and customers brace themselves for this day-after-Thanksgiving, one-day shopping bonanza. Those long lines, battle-weary customers and overcrowded aisles may mean black ink for the big-box stores such as Target and Wal-Mart, but it doesn't translate to much for small business owners.  Some local merchants are kicking off their seasonal sales and others are opening slightly earlier than usual. But for most, it's business as usual, and at least for one, no business at all. At I of the Needle, a craft store that specializes in needlepoint, customers have already purchased supplies for gifts they intend to make. "As far as …

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