112-year-old LLBean is trade association's 'Retailer of the Year'

Photo / Renee Cordes L.L.Bean, whose flagship store in Freeport is shown here, was recently named the 2024 Retailer of the Year by the Retail Association of Maine.

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By Alexis Wells

The Retail Association of Maine has named L.L. Bean Inc., the Freeport merchant that dates to 1912, as the state's 2024 Retailer of the Year.

The annual award recognizes a retailer in Maine who has "met the highest standards of excellence in the past year by improving its sales, improving the work environment for its employees and contributing its resources to the community," the trade group said in a news release Monday.

L.L. Bean, the group said, exemplifies the qualities of the award by demonstrating dedication to customer service, innovation and community impact.

“For more than 100 years, Mainers and people around the world have enjoyed the exceptional products sporting the L.L.Bean brand, but what really makes L.L.Bean special is the people,” said Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine.

“From top to bottom, the people that work at L.L.Bean are an inspiration to do retail right. Equally important, L.L.Bean has invested significant resources in the Maine community with their visionary corporate headquarters, the transformation of their flagship store in Freeport, and the millions of dollars they contribute to their community partners annually.”

The Retail Association of Maine has presented the Retailer of the Year award since 1980. Other honorees have included Hancock Lumber, Lisa Marie’s Made in Maine, Day’s Jewelers, Union Farm Equipment and Loyal Biscuit Co.

“We are humbled to receive this award and it is especially meaningful to be recognized by colleagues in our home state,” said L.L.Bean CEO Steve Smith. “Our brand is Maine and the values celebrated by this award are Maine values that we try to emulate throughout our company every day.”

The award was presented Oct. 17 at Summit 2024, an annual trade conference co-hosted by the Retail Association of Maine, the New Hampshire Retail Association and the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association.