Small Business Success

Katie Van Dyke and Niki Spencer, of the SBDC at CSU, helped out on “Small Business Saturday”, November 25, 2023, at Van Aken Market in Shaker Heights Ohio.

The Van Aken District celebrated Small Business Saturday by creating a passport booklet that shoppers could get stamped with purchases they made from the small businesses throughout the district.

Once they got stamps from two different categories, they collected a free t-shirt designed by Cleveland Clothing Co. Shoppers were thrilled to collect this t-shirts, and most stated that coming to the market for a cup of coffee, a sweet treat, or for lunch was something that they did often, happy to regularly contribute to the success of the small businesses housed in the district. 

Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by SBA since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses' busiest shopping season. At the Small Business Development Center at CSU, staff works to promote and support small businesses in Northeast Ohio all year around, and jump at the chance to volunteer for special occasions such as this event.