Curtis Picard

Located near the Maine College of Art and Design, Renys has long been an anchor business and employer in the neighborhood, selling clothing, household goods and non-perishable food items.

Small toy businesses in Maine are coping with ever-changing tariffs, supply chain hiccups and rising prices. They include a specialty store in Hiram that has had to raise prices on imported model horses.

Curtis Picard, Christine Cummings and Amy Downing opened PCD Collective to offer association management services.

The on-again, off-again threat of tariffs is throwing Maine business owners and economic prognosticators for a loop.

"There a lot of good stuff happening in Waterville," the company's president told Mainebiz as the family-owned discount retailer gets ready to open its 19th store there in April.

After a 10% tariff on goods imported from China took effect on Tuesday, the Asian nation responded with targeted countermeasures

U.S. core retail sales during the 2024 holiday season grew to a record $994 billion, 4% higher than 2023, according to the National Retail Federation.

The Retail Association of Maine award, presented annually since 1980, recognizes the Freeport retailer for its sales performance, work environment and community contributions.

Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Augusta-based Retail Association of Maine, says that "things have kind of evened out and returned to more normal" for the sector.

The Maine Business Relief Fund, launched by the Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association, was established to help businesses affected by the "Grinch" storm two weeks ago.