Wilson's in Striking Distance of Crowdfunding Goal

The Crowdtilt campaign launched by Wilson’s of Wickford to save their business has raised $125,156.80 as of 7 a.m. on Monday.

With one day left to go, the store needs to raise just under $23,000 to meet their goal to keep the business from closing next month, stocking shelves for the fall and begin a process that Jim Wilson, owner, said will be a transformation of the business.

Jim, the steward of the 70-year family business legacy, said the decision to turn to a crowdfunding campaign was painful and difficult. There have been smaller bids and offers, he said, “but not enough to fix the situation” for good.

“We could accept smaller Band-Aids but we would then just have Band-Aids,” Wilson said. “I designed this [campaign] to fix the situation.”

They need a Web site. They need to be able to sell online. The point-of-sale system and accounting software needs to be upgraded. And unless reach the fundraising goal, there won’t be any arrivals of new clothes to put on the shelves come July 31. And that all but assures the shop would shut down by August.

“We’re looking to reinvent the store,” Wilson said. “We hope to keep the best and restock our shelves with old friends and add some new ones . . .and Crowdtilt is the best way to make it happen.”

Last week, local legislators -- including Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello came to the store to offer support and to highlight how the state needs to do a better job to make running a small business in Rhode Island less difficult.