The business celebrated this milestone with a public open house on Tuesday afternoon, complete with food, pictures, stories and a tour of the manufacturing area. The business began in the 1980s as Interstate 86 was put in the town of Sherman and retail began to change for the area. Owners at that time, Pam and Dick Watrous were approached by a customer who wondered where they could buy nylon products. The couple ended up in a partnership producing nylon equipment. Triple E was officially founded in 1984.

The business first began at a different building farther into downtown Sherman before moving to its current location, 117 Osborne Street. In the 1990s the company began to diversify their products and offer custom-printed apparel, allowing them into a broader market of providing personalized clothing for businesses, sports teams and special events. The print department quickly became a significant part of the business. In the 2000s the company invested in state-of-the-art equipment for both their equine products and custom apparel products, and just recently they have added engraving capabilities to their repertoire. They now offer products such as customized plaques, tumblers, trophies, and a variety of other items.

About 20 years ago the Watrouses brought in their daughter, Heather White to help and eventually take over the business as they retired.

“It has gone very well and we are very proud,” Pam Watrous said. “We have very good people that work for us. It’s a good community and we wanted to raise our kids in Chautauqua County so we created a way to do it.”

Tuesday’s open house involved food, a look at the manufacturing aspect of the business and a look back over the last 40 years, including with a poster of pictures throughout that time. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Pam Watrous continued by saying that those 40 years went unbelievably fast but that she was thankful to have Heather there to take over.

“I’m proud of what we have done and thankful that with Heather it has been an easy transfer for us,” she said.

Dick Watrous said that it was a good move for them to decide to keep the business in Sherman when they first started. Even though they have now retired, he added that they still keep track of what is going on in the business.

“It’s fun to keep track of what is going on,” he said. “We have a good retirement relationship with Heather.”

Heather White said that 40 years is a very big milestone for a business in a small community like Sherman. Even with hurdles such as Covid, they are able to keep going.

Pictured are Heather White, Dick Watrous, and Pam Watrous, current and retired owners of Triple E Manufacturing and Design. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

“In a place like Sherman that is quite the milestone,” White said. “We have been here for a long time. Covid was quite the hurdle for us but we got through it and are stronger than we were before.”

The Watrouses have made many friends throughout the years and said that they are proud to have been able to sustain Triple E for 40 years.

“Small town USA is still holding strong,” Dick Watrous said.