A Family Tradition Continues: Now with FroYo

For everyone who’s ever enjoyed a piece of Watson’s Chocolates’ Famous Sponge Candy, you’ve probably wondered where it came from and how its made. We all have images of chocolate fountains dancing in our heads, mostly from our childhood memories of Willy Wonka. But growing up in the Watson family wasn’t all about chocolate. Rather, it was about family itself — whether that family was the generations of Watsons that have run the business, long tenured employees, or the generations of customers who have made Watson’s a regular part of their lives.

“I have vivid memories of my dad and my grandma working in the restaurant and candy store in Kenmore,” said Whitney Watson Beecher, now president of Watson’s Candies. “It was always a place where people in the neighborhood would gather, get a bite to eat and socialize. It was a very family friendly experience that people kept coming back to.”

Over the years, Watson’s grew from that friendly neighborhood restaurant to a popular regional purveyor of candies, but it has always kept that family feel. And now, as Watson’s celebrates its 70th Anniversary, Whitney is reimagining the Watson’s experience once again in their flagship store in Kenmore, New York. She sat down with me to discuss her vision for the new store as well as her experiences running a family business.

Tell me what motivated you to get into the family business

Whitney Watson Beecher

Family is and always has been the most motivating factor for me. I grew up in the business alongside my dad and my grandma so it’s always been about that for me. When I first started at Watson’s, there was also a comfort level. I had just graduated from college and, like many college graduates, I wasn’t 100% sure of what I wanted to do. But I did know the family business and I knew that I enjoyed it so it was a good fit from the beginning.

A lot of entrepreneurs talk about their parents or family as role models. It sounds like yours were for you as well.

Definitely. My dad and my grandma had tremendous work ethic. I was always impressed with how much time they devoted to the business. But they had different work styles and played different roles. My grandma worked tirelessly into her late 80s, as long as she was physically able to do it. She loved being here and getting her hands dirty. She was a figurehead in the business. Everyone loved her and she was a big reason people came to Watson’s. My dad also rolled up his sleeves, making candy, doing whatever. But he also had much more of a leadership role and was focused on growing the business. It was a bit old school back then. I personally strive to find more of a balance knowing I also have a family, but I still work very hard. I like to think I’m a mix of the two of them.

What was it like to grow up around a Buffalo icon?

That part has evolved a little. In the ’70s and ’80s the focus was on the restaurant. Candy was on the side. It wasn’t until 1985 that we added our second candy store. At that point we were more well known in the Kenmore area as the go-to restaurant. It was a gathering place where people would come in and get something to eat and share their stories. The candy was on the side and it was popular. My friends loved the candy business and most of them have worked here at one point or another. But at the time it was as much about Watson’s restaurant as it was about the candy store. It wasn’t until I was in college that the brand grew as a candy store. When I went into the business the candy was just starting to expand. Now we have eight stores. But it wasn’t until the growth of the website, which has been tremendous, that Watson’s became more of a household name.

Now when I give people my e-mail address they ask me, “You’re actually a Watson?” I feel like I’m a celebrity, which is kind of funny to me. But it’s great that people identify so much with what you’re selling and love it. I get a big kick out of that.

Resurgence Brewing has a flagship beer made with your candy. Tell me about that.

Jeff and his brewer Dave approached me about making a beer with our candy. They’re cool guys and they were looking to do something in Buffalo that would resonate with the local community. They were looking for ideas and I invited them out to the factory to talk ideas and flavors. So we gave them some sponge candy and they developed their stout out of it. I like what they’ve done and they have a great entrepreneurial spirit and a lot of enthusiasm. They did a great gift package around Christmas with a bottle of the stout and some of our candy to go with it. They also have a younger, hipper brand so it’s good to be aligned with them and getting our name out to that audience. We also do business with Anderson’s, who create three different ice cream flavors using our product and have done so for years. That’s a great family brand and it’s good to be associated with them as well. It’s nice when we can all help each other out.

Speaking of helping each other out, you recently started using chocolate made from Fair Trade Certified cocoa. Tell me about it.

We’re proud of Fair Trade. We’re making an effort to become more socially conscious, whether it’s using chocolate made from Fair Trade Certified cocoa or improving our recycling efforts. We also try to buy locally whenever possible. It’s just part of being a good corporate citizen and giving back to the community.

How has the world of chocolates changed since you’ve been involved at Watson’s?

The biggest impact has been the growth of the website. This aspect of our business has the highest growth rate year over year. It’s still only a small part of our business, but just watching that growth is exciting.

We were on the Food Network a few years ago and our website just blew up after the episode. So the big change for me is the digital part of the business, just seeing what you can do online and with social media. That’s completely new and different.

So now, we’ve shipped candy all over the world, to Australia, China, South America, Europe. After the Food Network episode we got orders from all 50 states. Then we got a bunch from the UK and found out the Food Network had just aired our episode over there. That happened a few times and it wouldn’t have been possible without the Internet. There’s a lot of people who sell chocolate, but the sponge candy is worth mentioning because it’s a regional favorite and our #1 seller. That captures people’s attention. It’s cool to sell a product that’s so unique and seeing people outside the area being introduced to it, and for it to catch on in other places is exciting.

What lessons have you learned that have shaped you as an entrepreneur?

I’m still learning a lot of lessons as I go along. Entrepreneurship is an ongoing journey. In some ways I feel only half shaped as an entrepreneur. I grew up in the business and can sell candy to anyone, but learning how to grow the business and surrounding myself with the right people to do that is the biggest challenge. I’ve also challenged myself to become a better leader. I’m lucky that we have a solid business and three generations of loyal customers. I don’t have to worry that people are not going to buy chocolate anymore. I can focus on other things. So I’m learning to let go and delegate a little more and focus on major problem solving.

What advice would you give to someone who is taking over a successful business?

Don’t be afraid to take some risks. Trust your gut and stand behind your decisions. Own the outcomes even if it doesn’t work. It’s not life or death. It’s just work. Keep your perspective. Sometimes it feels like life or death because of your employees, your family or the name on the front door, and that you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. It can get very stressful at times and it all feels monumental, but in the whole scheme of things it isn’t. This is what you decided to do. Do it and give it your best shot. But if it doesn’t work out, figure out how to do it differently and make it work. You also really have to like what you’re doing. You have to really have a passionate reason for doing what you’re doing in order to stick with it and be successful.

You have a new store opening in Kenmore. It’s a little different than other Watson’s locations. Tell us about it.

I’m so excited! We added a self-serve frozen yogurt offering, which I’m a huge fan of. Kenmore is our flagship location and we’ve been in that space since the ’70s. It needed some love. I was originally going to refurbish the existing space but when the corner space came open we had the opportunity to take on a whole new space that was double the square footage. That opened up a new opportunity to do something different with the store. So we decided to do the froyo thing with our own candy as toppings.

Froyo has been around for awhile, but I think the self-serve concept is what’s so great about the current trend. Especially with the kids because they like to create stuff and it’s fun for them. A lot of candy stores also sell ice cream and they complement each other from a business perspective. But for us it’s more than that. It’s about building on the family experience that Watson’s is known for. We’re super excited about that. Our store is a very social place and there’s a lot of history in this particular location. People like to come and to talk and share their stories. So this store builds on that tradition and is a new, fun place to hang out at in the neighborhood.

We’ll start serving the yogurt on Thursday, April 14th, which is the grand opening. So come in and get some froyo with your favorite Watson’s toppings!

Watson’s Chocolates is located at 2916 Delaware Avenue Kenmore, New York.

Order your favorite Watson’s candy at https://watsonschocolates.com
Follow Watson’s Chocolates on Facebook and Instagram

Physically Fit and Mentally Strong: The Amazingly Positive Story of CORE FIT

Check out my my conversation with Samantha Friedman, a former LivingSocial coworker and founder of CORE FIT. We talk fitness, entrepreneurship and her personal influences in founding her in-home gym. Read it here: https://medium.com/@clintperez/physically-fit-and-mentally-strong-the-amazingly-positive-story-of-core-fit-26cdb59a87e7#.2eyesn1ys

TiVO, Facebook and Turkey: Three Metaphors for the Modern Internet

In case you missed it, here is my conversation with Doug Berg, founder and CEO of intent marketing platform, Trackif (now MyAlerts). Doug is attempting to revolutionize online marketing by capturing consumer intent and marketing to that intent rather than making guesses at what consumers really want. And it all started with a trip to Costco for a Thanksgiving turkey. Enjoy.

https://medium.com/@clintperez/tivo-facebook-and-turkey-three-metaphors-for-the-modern-internet-c983e8f20cf1#.1wi5vuccr

Beer and Candy: A Journey from the 5 Boroughs to the Nickel City

In case you missed it, this was my conversation with Jeff Ware, Founder and CEO of Resurgence Brewing Company in Buffalo, NY. It's a great story about a beer, candy and a native son done well. Enjoy!

https://medium.com/@clintperez/beer-and-candy-a-journey-from-the-5-boroughs-to-the-nickel-city-cbca67fe13a4#.b9myook3h

My Marathon Times

I have run three marathons since I last posted here. I have enjoyed them all, each special in their own way. Here are my times:

2015 New York City Marathon 4:15:01
2014 Marine Corps Marathon 4:13:37
2013 Baltimore Marathon 4:12:54
2010 Marine Corps Marathon 4:53:17

My goal is to run Chicago and Boston before hanging up my marathon shoes.

Give Gifts with Social Impact

Read my latest blog post over on Medium. I talk with Kate Glantz, founder and CEO of heartful.ly, about her company and what influenced her most as an entrepreneur.

https://medium.com/@clintperez/give-gifts-with-social-impact-21e52cbdc44d#.w642zhsue

A Cute House in Downtown Minneapolis for Sale

We have reached a sad day in our lives. Yesterday we put our very first house on the market. It was the very first major purchase for me and Polly. We had our kids in this house, made great friends in this house and really just enjoyed our lives here. After we left Minneapolis several years ago, we kept it and rented it to Polly's cousin, but as George Harrison once famously sang, all things must pass. So here I am today to say if you live in the Twin Cities and are looking for a cute two story house in Minneapolis, this may just be the house for you. It's right near Kenny Park and right down the street from shopping and restaurants at 54th and Lyndale. Check it out at Coldwell Banker. Our good friend and Annunciation parent, Rita Marr, is listing it. Cheers.

What I Blog and Tweet About

I’ve picked up quite a few followers recently on Twitter so I thought I’d take a minute to share with you what I blog about (inconsistently) and tweet about (more regularly). There are four major topics which I could post something about.

The first topic is business and more specifically, my job. Currently, I am the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of SEP Connect, a start-up in the search engine marketing space. We created a category all our own – search engine placement. We place local businesses on the front page of Google in 45 days or less or they don’t pay. Helping small, local businesses is our passion. We accomplish this through our proprietary technology platform utilizing a relevant content based approach. A lot of people confuse us with SEO or ask us how we are able to do what we do when others can’t. I won’t give away the secrets, but I can assure you that our methods are sound and compliant with Google (and they work!). You won’t find me blogging here about SEO methodologies – there are many other places where you can find that – but I will share news about my company and give you some perspective on what it’s like to work in a start-up. For starters, I love working for SEP Connect because I’ve always loved building things, solving problems that haven’t been solved yet. SEP Connect provides me that opportunity. And, we have a great group of people. That goes a long way in coming to work every day.

The second topic is beer. Like Homer Simpson, I am a sucker for the “sweet, tasty beer”. I drink it and I brew it. I love pale ales, especially IPAs. My favorite beer is Surly Furious. As a native Marylander, I am also a big fan of Flying Dog and the pride of Maryland, National Bohemian (O’s and Boh’s!). And then there is Guinness, the beer that started it all for me. But, I am open to and also like to try all sorts of hand crafted beers. I have even been known to drink Budweiser on the 4^th of July. The most unusual beers I have brewed are an Olive Wheat and Cucumber Ale. I will sometimes share with you things I find interesting about beer. Hmmm….beer.

The third topic is running. I am an accomplished accidental runner. About 7 years ago, my wife tricked me into a morning run with a friend of mine and I haven’t looked back. I am currently training for the Baltimore Marathon. This will be my second marathon, having run the Marine Corps Marathon in 2010. My goal is to beat my time of 4:53:17. I know it’s not great, but I finished. And I also walked the last three miles with my brother, who later said he wouldn’t have finished without me. So I feel like I accomplished a lot in that race, but I still have a good race in front of me. My favorite race is the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in Washington, DC. I have run that race 4 years in a row. Run it if you can. The sites are worth it.

Finally, I blog/tweet/post about sports. I love sports and generally follow the DC teams (Redskins/Capitals/Nationals) as well as the Terrapins and Wolverines. Along my journey I also adopted the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles. I will admit that I am just not an NBA fan. Things are trending positive on the DC sports scene. All three of my teams have star athletes (RGIII, Ovechkin, Strasburg, Harper) that could lead them to a Championship. And, one of these days, one of my teams will break through and win a Championship. I just know it. Until then, I will watch and wait and cheer my teams on to victory, even when they lose.

Thank you for following me and joining me on this journey.

Alex's Ice Time

A lot has been made about Alexander Ovechkin’s ice time during these playoffs. For a thoughtful dialogue on the issue, check out Post Sports Live http://wapo.st/IGDjZl. A lot of great points are made here, but I sense that it’s getting blown out of proportion a little. Here’s my take on it.

First of all, Dale Hunter is no dummy. He knows that he needs Ovechkin scoring to win the Cup. So my thought is that this is as much about putting Ovechkin in position to score as it is about masking his defensive liabilities and matching lines. I read an interesting blog article Monday about Ovechkin's production and how teams are defending him. The big theory is that teams are defending the spots on the ice from where he likes to shoot rather than defending Ovi himself. Therefore Ovi must change his game to score from different spots on the ice. But the big statistic that no one is really talking about is the percentage of shots taken by the Capitals during Ovechkin's 5 on 5 shifts. It has gone down dramatically over the last two years, along with Ovechkin's production. Which means, teams are defending him by making him play more defense.

If you watched Game 1 vs. the Rangers, in which Ovechkin logged more ice time yet only one shot on goal, he spent most of his shifts mucking the puck out of his own end and then had nothing left in the tank at the end of his shift when the Caps got the puck. So, if you're Hunter, and you want a fresh Ovechkin on the ice to attack the net, you may try to pick your spots to get him on the ice in the offensive zone. You also see him playing more with Laich, Brouwer and Ward, forwards who can fish the puck out of the corner and get it to Ovechkin in transition. Like I said, I think Hunter is smart and trying to put Ovechkin in position to be successful, which could also mean less ice time and different line combinations than what we’re used to seeing. If you look at Ovechkin's Game 2 stats (other than ice time) you'd think he played the whole game - a game high 7 shots on goal, GWG and a couple of hits. He was darn close to scoring more than one goal. Yes, I would like to see Ovechkin on the ice more, but if he can be that productive in 13 minutes, then I say let him be rested for a long Cup run.

My guess is that tonight in Game 3 you'll see Ovi’s ice time increase as Hunter can dictate more advantageous line match ups with the last change. You’ll also see his minutes go up if the Caps can take less penalties and/or be on the man advantage more often. It may not be the minutes he's used to seeing, but they will go up.

And a final footnote for Ovechkin - the Caps are 0-2 in the playoffs this year when he has logged more than 20 minutes of ice time.

Let's go Caps!

Why the Caps will Win Game 7

The Washington Capitals have long taunted their fans with tastes of greatness and then fallen short of expectations in the playoffs. Last year’s second round loss in 4 games to Tampa Bay being the latest example. Their dismal record in Game 7’s (2-7) offers little reason for optimism. Defeating the defending Stanley Cup Champions on the road seems like a daunting task. So, why will this year be different? In short, because it can be different, and here’s why.

The Underdog Caps have defied the experts for months

No one expected the Caps to be here, and by no one, I mean all the smart guys in the media. During the last month of the season, when the Capitals were battling the Sabres for the final playoff spot in the East, not a single analyst picked Washington. Zero. One analyst went so far as to say, “the Washington Capitals don’t scare anyone.” Then the Caps dug deep, played some of their best hockey of the season and got into the playoffs. So much for the experts.

Once they got in, the Caps continued to get overlooked. Not a single analyst picked the Caps to win this series with the Bruins, despite the Caps having won the season series with the Bruins (3-1) including two “must win” games down the stretch. Most analysts picked the Bruins in six games (sorry experts). In fact, Jeremy Roenick went so far as to call the Bruins his “lock of the week” in the first round. That means Homer Simpson has his mortgage riding on the black and gold. And the Caps won. And won. And won. Doesn’t sound like a lock to me.

Now it comes down to a best of one, winner take all game, and guess what – no one is picking the Caps. Despite all of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, historical performances and picks by the media, I believe the Caps are in the best spot because they have NOTHING TO LOSE. They are not defending the Cup, they are not at home, and no one expected them to be playing this game anyway, much less to win it. Preseason predictions aside, the Caps have already gone further in the last two months than anyone gave them credit for. And so, they can play loose and confident and they can win this game.

Dale Hunter is one tough SOB

Game 7 is going to be a street fight, and if there’s one guy on either team that I’d want on my side in a street fight, it’s Dale Hunter. Sure, the Bruins are loaded with tough guys and carry a reputation as the toughest team in the league. But I grew up watching Dale Hunter and he doesn’t take crap from anybody. That is why the Caps haven’t backed down from the rough play or intimidation tactics employed by the Bruins. In fact, they’ve embraced the more physical style of play.

After months of coaching the Caps we are finally seeing the team take on Dale Hunter’s personality. They are committed to shot blocking, defense and fighting it out for pucks in the corner. Everybody is contributing. Even Alex Ovechkin threw his body on the ice to block a shot in Game 6 (okay, it was a little ugly and his teammates and coaches probably had a laugh with it, but the fact is, when the Great 8 does it, everyone is committed to it). They have rallied around a rookie goal tender who is playing great hockey. And, they never give up. They are not intimidated by the Bruins or by Game 7. And given the Caps record on the Bruins’ home ice, I’d say it’s the Bruins who should be scared.

Because the Caps have more talented playmakers

Remember all those playoff losses to Lemieux and Jagr? Lafontaine? Hextall? Well, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and Mike Green possess a truckload of talent. And while this has been a tight checking, hard fought series, and these players have under delivered over the course of the season, it is talent that usually wins out in these situations. Alexander Semin in particular has impressed me over the last 6 games. I have never seen him consistently fight as hard for pucks or throw his body in front of shots like he has in this series. And Ovechkin reminded us of what a threat he is when he put a wicked wrister between Tim Thomas’ legs before he had a chance to react. The Caps had plenty of chances to score in Game 6 with brilliant play by all four players mentioned. As long as these guys don’t try to be hero’s, limit mistakes, finish opportunities and play within the system, the Caps will be in it.

Braden Holtby is in the Bruins heads

Despite the high(er) scoring nature of the last two games, the Bruins have launched far more pucks at Braden Holtby than the Caps have at Tim Thomas. Holtby’s statistics in the playoffs are stellar (.935 SV% 2.18 GAA). The Bruins are now admittedly trying different tactics to just get a better scoring chance. Some of it has worked (like shooting at the goalie’s head) but a lot of it has not. And, in a pressure packed Game 7, it will be the Bruins who are desperately trying to create scoring chances, not the Capitals. And, if I’m the coach, Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Playoff series is not where I want to be reinventing my offensive game plan. If the Legend of Braden Holtby hasn't been written already in these playoffs, Game 7 might be the first chapter.

Because anything can happen in the Stanley Cup playoffs

In sports as in life, the Caps have done the one thing they needed to do – put themselves in position to do something great. In a game of hot goalies and bounces of the puck, that’s all you really need, a chance. When you put yourself in position to be successful, good things usually happen. The Caps have been on the wrong end of Stanley Cup playoff mojo for a long time. But I believe it’s their turn to be great. It’s a time when this team, these players, this franchise, and this hockey city turn the corner. Michael Jordan once said he missed more game winning shots than he made in his career. But he always wanted the ball, he always took the last shot, he always wanted to be in that position, exactly where the Caps are tomorrow night. Dale Hunter said that as a player, you have to embrace the moment and have fun with it, and as a fan that is what I'm going to do. For one, I’d much rather be Alex Ovechkin playing in Game 7 than be sitting at home with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.

Let's go Caps!

Some Things I'm Thinking

I haven’t made a blog post in a couple of weeks. I don’t have a whole lot on my mind right now but I also don’t want to be like that guy who posted LOST recaps and then never posted one for the final episode. So here it goes with a few things I’m thinking.

A long overdue conclusion to the Cherry Blossom

I crushed the Cherry Blossom, running it in 1:23:25, a pace of 8:21 per mile. I beat my personal best by a full 5 minutes. In fact, Eric, Ted and I all set PRs. I was most impressed with Ted, who had barely trained for the race and only decided to run it the Wednesday prior. Congrats to all the runners. All your training and hard work paid off!

My prayers go out to the family of Lloyd Blackwell, who suffered a heart attack while running the Cherry Blossom and later died on Easter Sunday. It is moments like this that remind us of how fragile life is and helps us to appreciate the people in ours.

I now have the Buffalo Half Marathon circled on my calendar for Sunday, May 26^th. It’s not that I want to run another fast race, but I do want to give myself a goal to keep up the weekly grind of running. My goal for this race will be to break 2 hours, which seems within reach given my performance in the Cherry Blossom. My personal best for a half marathon is 2:13.

Some Thoughts on Beer

While in DC I picked up a few cans of DC Brau, the hot new brewery located in the District (on Bladensburg Road, just inside the Maryland border). Beer is available only from the brewery in growlers and in cans, although retailers anticipate that the beer will be available soon. The canned beer – the Citizen, the Public and Corruption – is all very solid. Most patrons opted for the Citizen, a Belgian style pale ale, but I preferred Corruption, a hoppy IPA. The Penn Quarter Porter – currently available only on tap – is also a rock solid beer. It is a fitting tribute to our forefathers from a DC brewery. George Washington was known to favor porter, and even brew his own. The vibe at the brewery was awesome with approximately 100 people hanging out, sampling beer, taking tours and listening to music. There was also a food truck parked outside to serve hungry patrons. It was a very vibrant scene with people of all ages enjoying the renaissance of craft brewing in the District. It’s worth a visit when you’re there.

I recently returned from a week-long vacation in Hilton Head, SC where I got to sample a bunch of local brews. My favorite was an IPA from the Hilton Head Brewing Company, although I recommend skipping the food and going only for the beer. We had the worst experience ever there and the service was as poor as I can remember. Other beers worth sampling when you’re down that way are Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale and Palmetto Pale Ale. While neither beer is particularly memorable, both are good beers and a welcome selection for vacationing beer enthusiasts. Stop by your local Piggly Wiggly to pick up a 6 pack or grab one on tap at the Salty Dog.