Small Business

Vaillancourt Folk Art is a tourist destination known for its handcrafted Christmas collectibles, but before becoming a well-recognized brand, the company had much humbler beginnings starting off in the Vaillancourt family basement.

After 25 years in business, Worcester staple Struck Catering will shut its doors for good come Dec. 15. Struck has grown to employ approximately 60 wait and kitchen staff and bartenders.

The closure will mark the end of a near-six-year run for the small craft brewery, which saw it navigate a global pandemic while becoming a prominent member of the city’s small business scene.

The legislative change, completed as part of the sweeping economic development bill signed by Gov. Maura Healey on Thursday, allows for direct-to-consumer sales for off-site consumption.

Local retailers are using their community connections to make their presence known this holiday season.

Massachusetts businesses hiring members of the National Guard will now receive a $2,000 tax credit as part of the state’s initiative to expand economic opportunities for those serving in the military. 

Francis Carroll, a longtime leader in the Worcester business and nonprofit communities and Korean War veteran, has passed away.

A months-long WBJ investigation shows how a dysfunctional agency hollowed out by turnover, bogged down by infighting, and plagued by a fuzzy leadership structure is impeding businesses in a struggling industry.

Central Massachusetts is a region that likes to wax nostalgic about bustling main streets and tight-knit mill communities. A lot has changed over the decades, with shifts in the way people do their shopping, the decline of traditional manufacturing, and the rise in tech industries. And our communities have shifted with the times.

Tom and Nick Bedrosian always knew they wanted to go into business together. Growing up, the brothers did not know what their business would look like, but after creating an all-purpose seasoning in their family kitchen, an idea for a spice company was born.