2024 Forecast: At Marden’s, optimism going into the new year
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Andrew Marden, left, with Harold “Ham” Marden, principals at Marden’s Surplus & Salvage.
As Marden’s Surplus & Salvage, a Winslow-based discount retail chain, enters its 60th year, the owners are feeling optimistic about the merchandise it has to offer to customers coming into 2024.
Andrew Marden, one of the principal owners, considers many macroeconomic factors out of his control.
“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,” says Marden.
He cites the Marden’s motto: “I should have bought it when I saw it at Mardens.”
Marden’s sells clothing, footwear, hardware, tools, flooring, furniture and fabric. It was started in 1964 by Harold “Mickey” Marden. The company employs around 700 people and has annual sales of $140 million.
While Marden’s has no expansion plans at this time, the retailer covers a vast geographic footprint north to south — from Sanford in York County to Madawaska in Aroostook County.
Like many retailers, Marden’s has worked diligently on hiring over the past year. The labor needs vary by store, but the retailer says it has had to operate more efficiently to compensate for worker shortages.
“The hiring needs are different from location to location, we see a much tighter labor market in the southern part of the state, and we have a couple of locations that are staffed well below the level that we feel is adequate,” says Marden.
“With the labor shortages over the past few years, we have been forced to do a lot of things differently and more efficiently, which we feel we have made many great strides over the past few years.”
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