The Barstool Fund - Watson's Candies
Up next: Watson's Candies (Woburn, MA)
Watson’s Candies has crafted the finest chocolates since 1932. Natural ingredients are one of the keys to their success. The centers of their chocolates are old-school and the recipes are over 85 years old (only changing during war time when shortages demanded substitutes).
Reader Email
My name is Virginia Tracey. Proprietor of a small chocolate business. Watson's Candies. Here in Walpole Massachusetts. This little shop was established back in 1932, and today is considered a staple to this small community. There are not many small shops left that have survived the many ups and downs of our economy over the years. I am the third owner to this little gem and have owned the shop now going on 31 years.
Choosing to get out of corporate America and start my own family, found me back in my home town of Walpole. Home for me and my fifteen siblings. Purchasing the shop gave me an opportunity to offer jobs to my family and then their families. I have been a proud supporter of our community through the Chamber and the Lions Club along with our High School special education department. I have been able to create my own 501c-3 for the home for little wanderers, who have a program here in Walpole.
I really need your help in securing funds for my payroll over the next few months. Over the years when we were struggling to make ends meet, I would not take a paycheck and put all the employees on a part time basis. Thinking I was doing them a favor of at least giving them some hours. Not sure that was ever a good idea. Finding that I hadn't paid myself only compromised my own money issues. We bought a building and moved the shop up the street a little ways. I consolidated my living and my work, as I now live upstairs of my chocolate shop. I am always trying to be creative in ways that will keep my shop going.
This year feels like it is really bearing down on me. I don't have capital funds to repair and maintain my old chocolate dipping equipment, loss of 2 ice cream freezers along with the products over the summer and also had a water flooding issue in the shop and now need floors and ceilings. With your support of my payroll, I will be able to use any extra money on hand to start some of my repairs, and keep folks working towards our next holiday of chocolates.
It's not enough that the above is laying heavily upon me and keeps me up at night, but this year the wonderful state of Massachusetts is taking a large part of the front of my shops land and they will be rebuilding, widening the area in front of me and reconstructing two bridges, one on both sides of me. I will be out of commission to drive/walk in traffic and walk up ice cream. For how long I do not know as the state cannot tell me any of that. Although they say there will be one lane open, they will definitely be diverting traffic.
I am a sole proprietor woman owned business, and really had to pull up my bootstraps to keep my building, housing and little chocolate shop going. A place that has brought so much joy to me and my family and our community.
I am so grateful and proud of myself for having the courage to reach out and ask for help. I am usually the one supporting and helping out all the folks in town and my family and haven't really put myself first. I am really asking for all the folks that are here to work with me and would like to give them as many hours as I can, as I am now trying to work through our website and social media so I will be ready when the state comes by to renovate.
As dreadful as it seems, we receive appreciation and joy from everyone who comes in and thanks us for still being here so they can send sweetness to folks that can use it and to fill their own emptiness with chocolates made with love. My customers inspire me to keep going.
A local gentleman came by and did a story on the chocolate shop not long ago, and I have copied the link below, if you would like to know more history.
Watson’s Candies was featured in an article on VistingNewEngland.com. Check out a little more about what we have to offer today and Watson’s Candies beginnings. ( I can't link it here, but you can also check us out at www.watsonscandies.com)
In closing, I certainly applaud what you are doing for so many businesses and would be honored and grateful if my shop would be considered for your support.
Thank you again for your consideration. Viva La Stool!