Marilyn Burns — the proud owner of Marilyn’s in Lakeside, Ohio, a gift shop that has everything from souvenirs to candies, clothing, toys, and more — won Fox Business’s “Made in America” small business contest, and with it, a $25,000 prize.
“In Lakeside, people don’t rush,” Burns said. Golf carts hum quietly down Walnut Avenue because you can’t go over 15 miles. Children carry their money down to the candy store by themselves. On Sunday mornings, families gather by the docks along Lake Erie, while church music drifts across the water. “It’s very calm,” Marilyn tells the Washington Examiner. “Everybody knows who you are and what you do.”
For nearly three decades, Burns has become one of those familiar faces woven into the rhythm of the town itself, a business owner, former teacher, grandmother, mentor, and now the winner of a national Fox Business small business competition that brought hundreds of cheering residents into downtown Lakeside.
For nearly three decades, Burns has become a familiar face woven into the rhythm of the town itself, a business owner, former teacher, grandmother, mentor, and now the winner of a national Fox Business small business competition that brought hundreds of cheering residents into downtown Lakeside.
Burns has lived in Lakeside since 1999. Before moving there, she lived in Toledo, Ohio, where she taught school in Sylvania for 30 years while operating retail businesses. “I had five retail stores in Toledo at one time while I was teaching school,” Burns said.
After her divorce, Burns moved to Lakeside and started over. “ I went from a 12,000-square-foot store to a 440-square-foot store and started all over and have built it back up,” she said.
Marilyn’s entrepreneurial beginnings
Burns credits much of her entrepreneurial mindset to lessons she learned from her father. As a child, she received a weekly allowance of just a dime; if she wanted more money, she had to figure out a way to earn it.
“He told me if I wanted to turn it into a dollar, go figure out how to do it,” Burns said.
As a young child, Burns began making potholders and selling them door to door. “I’d buy 25 cents’ worth of potholder loops and sell five potholders for 25 cents each,” she said. The lesson from her father stayed with her throughout her career.
Even after decades in business, Burns continues to work long hours at the gift shop. “I’m 82 years old,” she said. “In the summer, I’m doing like 60 to 80 hours.” Still, she says she enjoys what she does. “If I can’t have fun, I’m not doing it,” Burns said. “I’m just playing store.”
That attitude extends to her employees, many of whom have worked alongside her for years. Burns stated that Marilyn’s employees have always given to the community and that they started to brainstorm ideas of what to do with the $25,000 win. “I have a team of seven people who work for me, and they are awesome, wonderful people,” she said.
Today, Marilyn’s serves as something of a community gathering place where Burns focuses on creating an experience for local families and young children. Young customers often visit the store on their own, and Burns takes pride in helping them choose candy from a colorful wall that stretches six feet high and nine feet wide.
Burn’s 13-year-old grandson is among the children who often visit the store and who she says buy all the candy and most of the toys. “We have a lot of fun, I’m 82 years old. If I can’t have fun, I’m not going to do it,” Burns says.
Winning the Fox Business competition
Burns learned about the competition after one of her employees, Brett Johnson, saw the contest on the Fox Business Channel and decided to submit an application. “He comes in one day and says, ‘Marilyn, we have a problem.’ He goes, ‘I applied for this contest; the winner gets $25,000, and we’re in the top 10,’” Burns said.
When Burns learned she won the Fox Business “Made in America” small business competition, she made a decision that was no surprise to many people: She would donate every penny of the $25,000 prize. “I’m not keeping any of it,” she said. “I’ve got enough to live on. I’d rather bless others with it.”
Burns said she plans to distribute the money to youth organizations and community projects throughout Lakeside, including three big summer camps, middle-grade ministries for junior high kids, and an organization called “God Squad” for toddlers. Burns also noted a few “pet peeves” around town that she plans to fund and fix.
When Fox Business announced Burns as one of the winners of its competition, hundreds of people gathered in downtown Lakeside to watch. Burns said the support from the community was overwhelming.
“They were all cheering really loudly when we won,” she said.
MAIN STREET WINS: FOX BUSINESS REWARDS TOP SMALL BUSINESSES FOR AMERICA’S 250TH
Despite the recognition, Burns said her focus remains on helping others rather than drawing attention to herself. “I don’t do what I do for glory,” she said. “I do it for others.”
For Burns, success is rooted in hard work, community involvement, and sharing blessings with others. “We’ve always been givers to our community,” she said. “You need to share your blessings because the blessings come back to you eventually.”