PERRYSBURG – Starting from the basement of the Smith house, Marsha’s Buckeyes has evolved from a simple home-based operation into a production line serving most of the country. Based in Perrysburg, Marsha’s got its start in 1984, when Marsha Smith wanted a way to make a bit of extra cash to support her family. To achieve this, she decided to monetize her hobby of making buckeyes. Fast forward to today when Marsha’s is now sold in over 2500 Walmart locations across the country.
When Marsha’s business began, it served only a few local markets, but eventually, her business began to explode in popularity, with her buckeyes eventually reaching the corporate offices of Cracker Barrel. Seeing their potential, Cracker Barrel offered to sell her buckeyes in all of its stores nationwide. Today, Marsha’s Buckeyes are sold in every Cracker Barrel location across the country.
Spearheading the recent expansion into a nationwide market at Walmart is Brad Smith, one of Marsha’s sons. Brad is the president and owner of Marsha’s Buckeyes, and – along with his brother Mitch – oversees the production and distribution for the company. Growing up around his mother’s business, Brad and Mitch both had a desire to continue on what their mother had begun, and after attending OSU and graduating in 2009, the two began the process of taking over for their parents. In 2018, they officially purchased the business from them.
During this time, the brothers found ways to expand to match the newfound demand. In 2006, they began to use cookie dough machines to make the peanut butter balls. In 2018, they began working on a personalized dipping machine, something that they couldn’t find on the market. Being surrounded by the business since they were young, the brothers found that originally, the way that they made buckeyes was not much different than what many Ohioan families did as well.
“The original manufacturing process was no different than what everybody else does at home.” Brad reminisced. “Mixing the ingredients, putting them into a ball by rolling with your hands, and then dipping with a toothpick into a bowl of chocolate.”
Brad also found that demand would peak during certain periods of the year, with the college football season being an exceptionally busy time, and winter holidays also seeing another spike in demand. With buckeyes being a staple of statehood in Ohio, it’s no wonder that families across the state share an affinity for the treat.
“It’s very much a tradition where you get together as a family and make buckeyes as part of your platters… that’s certainly the foundation of what we’ve been as a company.”
Reflecting on how his company gives back, Brad mentioned how the company serves the Perrysburg community, primarily through gifting their buckeyes for events. A notable example was the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer, an annual fundraising event that takes place every February. Marsha’s Buckeyes has been sponsoring the event for 15 years.
On the other side of Marsha’s headquarters lies the production facility, and leading the floor is Zakary Kern, E-Commerce and Logistics Coordinator for the company. Zakary, like many of the office workers, wears many hats, but his primary goal is to lead the company’s production line. A cousin of Brad and Mitch, Kern came into the company to help the brothers expand. To him, family has meant a lot in getting where he is today, and he sees that reflected in how the business is run.
“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without family, and [I’ve had] opportunities because of family. So, you know, it means a great deal to me,” he expressed. “The family aspect of this shows where, unlike larger corporations… It’s a lot more relaxed here… If you need to take time off, for whatever reason, it’s not so difficult and structured.”
Part of Kern’s job is to look forward, and like Brad, he believes that Marsha’s has the capability and needs to justify an expansion to meet the new demand that the Walmart deal has given them. From hiring new employees and increasing production lines, the expansion of their operation is something he’ll be spearheading.
The humble beginnings of a small business like Marsha’s is proof that entrepreneurship at the local level is pivotal to powering communities all over the country. With further expansions driving this company forward, they stand as a reminder that local business is the lifeblood of our economy, and that anyone seeking to make money from a hobby only needs the courage to take the first step.
