It is 11 p.m. on Monday night and Dave Burton has just finished making 300 marshmallows and 500 chocolate-covered Oreos. He has been in the kitchen for the last four hours but has been working since 8 a.m. — spending the day processing orders, picking up supplies, paying bills and preparing for a slew of upcoming holiday markets. This start-up candy makerĀ is tired.
“At this time, I’mĀ working 8o hours a week,” says Burton, the gay owner of The Capital Candy Jar. “If I don’t have a great holiday season, it is going to be real tough to continue into 2015.” The Christmas season is crunch time for Burton. According to industry experts, candy makers make most of theirĀ profits during the last month of the year.
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Burton’s candy making skills were born at a young age as a result of a lack of money. Like most teenagers, he wanted money to be able to “buy things and hang with friends” but being from a familyĀ with eight children, spare cash was not to be found.
Before he was old enough to get a real job, Burton hustled greeting cards door to door and set up a small lemonade stand. However, biggerĀ success came whenĀ his mother found a recipe for homemade lollipops and suggested they try it out. His mother spotted him the cash for his first batch that he took to school and soldĀ to friends, who loved them.
His junior high lollipop empire thrived until the school principal shut down his business because he was taking too much revenue away from the vending machines. It was his first taste of the fickle world of capitalism.Ā
Over the years various jobs kept BurtonĀ close to candy-making. While still in grade school, Ā he got a job as aĀ singing fudge-maker andĀ worked in a cookie store. After college BurtonĀ pursued a career in retail marketing and consulting but maintained his passion for sugary treats.
Earlier this year,Ā BurtonĀ decided that he was tired of consulting and began searching for theĀ next career path to follow. He had always desired toĀ haveĀ his own business but was never quite sure what type of business he should pursue. After making Valentine’s treats for several of his friends, the answer presented itself. By April, he had joined Union Kitchen, a DC based food incubator, and started The Capital Candy Jar. Ā
Burton initially began justĀ selling flavored marshmallows, divinity, and lollipops but has recentlyĀ added chocolate covered Oreos, chocolate dipped pretzels and chocolate covered marshmallows, selling his wares at Farmers’ Markets, select retailers and online sales.
For those crucial year-endĀ sales, Burton is banking on areaĀ holiday markets such as this weekend’sĀ Fairfax Holiday Craft Show,Ā events that provide access to potentialĀ customersĀ but also come with hefty registration fees. To help financeĀ theĀ upfront cost, he recently launched a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of raising $7,000. He is also hoping an upcomingĀ appearance as a contestant on Food Network’s Rewrapped will draw attention to his business. Ā
“I’m working harder at this job thanĀ any that I’ve ever had, but I’m enjoying this work more than any job before.Ā I’m just hoping this is something I can do for the rest of my life.”
Ā Burton will appear on RewrappedĀ Wednesday, Nov. 12,Ā at 7:30 p.m. on the Food Network Channel. The episodeĀ will re-broadcastĀ at 1 p.m. onĀ Saturday, Nov. 15.
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Before he was old enough to get a real job, Burton hustled greeting cards door to door and set up a small lemonade stand. However, biggerĀ success came whenĀ his mother found a recipe for homemade lollipops and suggested they try it out. His mother spotted him the cash for his first batch that he took to school and soldĀ to friends, who loved them.
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