Milford Times is running a series in recognition of Small Business Month, featuring several businesses who have been had their doors open for less than two years. The third in the series is WTF Meadery.
After celebrating their first anniversary just a few months ago, Dave and Jen Wade say that their new business, WTF Meadery, is growing slowly but steadily. The couple are still working full time jobs while operating the meadery, but are “paying the bills” in the new business.
“We are getting people coming from out of state now to visit,” Dave said. “We’ve had people from Pennsylvania and Maryland. We look at it like baby steps.”
The couple say that winter was the hardest as it was so cold this year, but the first year in business has taught them a lot, not only about running their own business, but about crafting their mead as well.
“I’ve learned how much to make in batches since each batch takes two months to make,” Dave said. “It is hard since you don’t want to make too much that you cannot sell or run out of something.”
One of the things that the couple would do differently is to not purchase as many things as they did before opening. Jen pointed out glasses along a shelf, stating that they simply bought more than they needed, thinking they would have to have them. The other thing was knowing the equipment they would need going into an endeavor like theirs.
“Sometimes we wish we had a larger space because we are very limited here on what we can do,” Jen said. “But, the small size is also a blessing because we are able to interact with every person in here. We constantly get comments on how friendly and open we are.”
The best part about running the meadery is the people they have met.
“We love talking to everyone who comes in here,” Dave said. “They ask about our products and what is in them. I just talk about the mead and how we got into this. We just enjoy talking to everyone.”
Although being downtown is helpful at times, the couple say they need more foot traffic in Milford. Too often, because they are on the corner, people don’t notice the sign and when they do stop in, say they have ridden by many times but never noticed. However, they say that the lack of foot traffic is affecting all the businesses downtown, not just them.
“We just need more people to come downtown and walk around,” Dave said. “As soon as they see us, they seem excited, the come in and say “I didn’t even know you were here.” We have had people come in and come back later to bring friends.”
The meadery is open Thursday and Friday, 5 PM to 9 PM and Saturday, 2 until 9 PM. They are located at 27 South Walnut Street, Suite 101, directly across from the First Presbyterian Church of Milford. Parking is available behind the church as well as on Southwest Front Street behind the Farmacy, Milford Tavern and LaHacienda.
