2023 Forecast: Discount retailer Marden’s staying nimble
Photo / Courtesy of Marden’s Surplus & Salvage
Andrew Marden, left, with Harold “Ham” Marden, principals at Marden’s Surplus & Salvage.
Over the past couple of years, there has been no shortage of struggles and uncertainty when it comes to the high cost of food, gas and heating oil.
Andrew Marden, one of the principal owners of Maine’s bargain store Marden’s Surplus & Salvage, considers many macroeconomic factors out of his control.
Like other businesses, the 14-store chain has grappled with rising costs, but Andrew Marden is optimistic.
Like many retailers, Marden’s has worked diligently on hiring over the past year. The hiring needs are different from location to location, but the company plans on keeping its goal of finding the right people to join its team.
“As a discount store, we have been seeing lots of new and old customers who are turning to us first to try and save where they can,” says Marden.
Marden’s sells clothing, footwear, hardware, tools, flooring, furniture and fabric. It was started in 1964 by Harold “Mickey” Marden. The company employs around 670 people and has annual sales of $130 million.
“While we are not a department store that always has specific items, Mainers know it is worth a trip, and if they find what they are looking for, it will be a true deal. We also feel that for various factors, our inventory is as exciting and as big of a variety as it has ever been.”
While Marden’s has no expansion plans at this time, the retailer has a broad footprint, from Sanford in York County to Madawaska in Aroostook County. Its goal is to remain focused on those locations to ensure it provides the best shopping experience to Marden’s shoppers.
“With our unorthodox methods of buying, we do not control our supply of merchandise the same way other retailers do,” said Marden. “Our deals have limited quantities of each item, and while everyone’s most exciting finds are different, our concern is that adding stores could spread out exciting merchandise and pull it away from our current locations.”
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