Banks is owner of Beauty from Chaos Designs, a business she started amid the pandemic. It’s a business revolving around custom designs on tumblers and other items. She’s a stay at home mother of three who wanted to do something she could do at home. She’s one of the vendors at a Fall Craft and Vendor Show held at Barn in Belle Hills in Crittenden Sunday. Event coordinator Sammie Souder said that’s something she’s seen more of as families navigate the woes of a global pandemic.

Souder said she’s seen more vendors and local businesses start up during COVID. “I think COVID really opened people’s eyes,” she said.

She said the pandemic has shaped how people view corporations and shopping locally. “People at that point realized if we don’t buy from these people, they’re going out of business. That’s not an option. We don’t have that option,” Souder said.

Banks said business is starting to pick up for such a busy time year. She said inflation can be tough to navigate with supply and shipping costs up. She said people are working around shipping costs being high.

“They would rather pick it up. So if they can’t do local pick up, they’re not really as interested anymore,” she said.

But she’s glad the area consists of such supportive people helping local businesses survive and thrive.

“People from around here they share your stuff, they share your page, they tell their friends this is where I got this so I get a lot of referrals too so it’s good,” she said.