The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – A spur-of-the moment call in to The Michael Smerconish Program on Sirius XM resulted in a nice bump in sales for Mary's Candies in Dayton, this month.

Candy maker Nathanial Murphy was listening to the program when the hosts took off on a tangent bemoaning the lack of U.S. made goods. People began calling in and naming U.S. based companies they supported.

Co-owner (and Nathanial's wife) Erin Murphy decided to call in and introduced Mary's Candies as a small U.S. manufacturer that uses all quality U.S. ingredients. The hosts quizzed the Murphys about their business while they pulled up the website.

"There was silence for a few seconds and then they started ooohing and aaaahing over the candies. We sold $200 in the first 10 minutes after the program aired," Nathanial said.

"The co-host even ordered peanut brittle and caramels. Of course, we'll add something extra. We always do when we fill online orders," Erin said.

Mary's Candies (named after Nathanial's grandmother) began in the commercial kitchen in Waitburg's Town Hall in 2014 and debuted at that years' Hometown Christmas event. They moved to Suite B at the Blue Mountain Station in 2015 and then into Suite H (at twice the size) in June of 2016.

The little company continues to experience consistent growth and hopes to make a big name for itself in the northwest.

"Sales are up 40% over last year and were up 30% the year before that. We believe in the product we've got. It's just a matter of getting it in front of people," Nathanial said. "About 33% of our business is wholesale.

The owners have made upgrades as business has allowed and recently purchased new-and-improved, thicker packaging to increase shelf appeal and better protect the product.

Dena Martin

The company is pleased with its new, upgraded packaging.

In July, they purchased a new kettle cooker. Nathanial said the cooker will make 12 lbs. of caramels in the time it used to take him to make six.

The Murphys were personally invited to attend a Seattle gift show in January and are taking a leap-of-faith in accepting the opportunity.

"It's expensive, but it will be a good way to bring our product out of southeast Washington," Nathanial said.

Mary's Candies offers salted caramels, as well as mint, orange, and espresso flavored. They make peanut and cashew brittle and cherry and black licorice. Candies can be ordered online through a link at maryscandies.wordpress.com and can be either mailed or picked up in the store.

"The new packaging makes for a great stocking stuffer!" Erin said.

The store, located at 700 Artisan Way, is open Tues. – Sat. from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.