Igo finds Elf on Shelf during Ironton’s Small Business Saturday event

It took two trips for this year’s winner find the Elf on the Shelf during Small Business Saturday last week.

But Joanie Igo, of Ironton, made the effort and was the winner of $250 in Ironton Bucks.

She was watching The Ohio State University game and a good friend texted her, asking her if she had participated in the search for the Elf on the Shelf that Ironton aLive hides at participating event during Small Business Saturday.

“I just decided I was going to go downtown and see if I could find it,” Igo said. “And I did.”

And what is she going to do with her windfall?

“I’m going to do the rest of my Christmas shopping,” Igo said.

This is it the first year she has attended the downtown Ironton event.
“There are a lot of good deals,” she said. “And I think it is really good to participate when they put this on. I think we should all get involved.”

Sam Heighton, executive director of Ironton aLive, congratulated Igo for thinking about the event and being persistent.

“I understand she went down there twice to find it,” he said.

“It was hidden very well,” Igo said.

The Elf on the Shelf was at Twice But Nice 23, a consignment shop which opened up at 303 Park Ave. back in August.

“They have some really nice things and they were very friendly,” Igo said.

Heighton said this is the 10th year that they’ve done Small Business Saturday.

“It was good this year,” he said. “It improves every year. We had a lot of people this year.”

He said they appreciated the work by Ironton Boy Scout Troop 106, which provided ‘s’mores and helped guide people around.

“All of our businesses reported that they had a lot of customers and sales,” Heighton said. “That’s what it is all about. We consider it a success.”
He explained that Ironton Bucks is done by Ironton aLive and people can use it at participating businesses.

“It can only be used in Ironton. There are 40 businesses that will accept it,” he said. “So, when that money is given out, we know it can only be spent in Ironton small businesses.”