2022 - a look back. - Lisa-Marie's Made in Maine

2022 – a look back.

2022 Best Gift Shop Winner in Down East's Vest of Maine contest

WINTER

The middle of January means that the Lisa-Marie’s team finally gets to unwind a little bit after the fast-paced holiday season and the tediousness of end-of-year inventory. It also means that we get to close the store for the day and celebrate each other with our employee and family staff party. It’s one of the only times of year that we’re all in the same place so we always try to commemorate it with a group photo. 👆


Marie will always snag the opportunity for a photo op with Lisa-Marie, especially if it’s to feature new fun product. After years and years of working together, they still find moments to appreciate the fact that they are best friends as well as mother and daughter. 👈

WinterFest in Bath is a great reason to brave the cold elements and celebrate this time of year. It was great fun being visited by the Abominable Snowman. The 2023 Winterfest is scheduled for February 10 and 11.


SPRING

April 2022 marked twelve years of business on Exchange Street in Portland, Maine. We have loved being there so much and are so grateful to our customers that we decided to give out twelve gift cards ranging from $12 to $120.

Check out the video here. 👈

The last twelve years have flown by and we have seen a lot of changes in the Old Port. We’re grateful to still be a part of this thriving, historic downtown and hope to be here for many more years for locals and tourists alike.

In 2021 we were chosen as the Retailer of the Year by the Retail Association of Maine. It was a great honor that came with a springtime celebration, speech and plaque presentation. RAM even partnered with Black Fly Media to put together a little video about Lisa-Marie and the creation of Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine. This video was played at the April 2022 celebration and made Lisa-Marie AND Marie tear up.

🌊 🌲 🛫

Before all the tourists started flying in and out Portland Jetport to start their visit to Vacationland we had the opportunity to revamp our kiosk. Sometimes it’s the last thing someone sees before returning to “from away” and we’re glad they get to peek at some pieces of Maine to remember their trip to the Pine Tree State.


SUMMER

Summer in Maine means we get to see all of our friends who wait for the warmer temps to visit. Norma & Jeremiah are some of our longest time customers who visit us multiple times a summer when their here as frequently as possible and it’s always a joy to have our customers become friends. Norma, Jeremiah, Lisa-Marie and Andy always make time to grab a pint and catch up on everything that happened over the fall, holidays and wintertime.

In July Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine was chosen as a 2022 Small Business Champion and asked to visit Washington DC for the National Retail Foundation Retail Advocate Summit.

Curtis, one of the leaders at the Retail Association of Maine asked Lisa-Marie and Andy to represent Maine alongside their downtown Portland neighbor, Tom Largay of Old Port Card Co and Old Port Candy Co. They braved the heat and humidity of Capitol Hill and got to meet with Maine state representatives about issues that face small businesses in Maine, specifically retail businesses.

It was an honor to advocate to Maine and our fellow small businesses. With the tumultuous recent years we are looking forward to what the hopeful possibilities this year could bring.

July brought some fun photo opportunities with Andy as he donned a human-sized red lobster costume and bounced his way up and down Front Street bringing joy to everyone who saw him.


AUTUMN

Readers voted Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine as 2022’s Best Gift Shop in their annual Best of Maine contest. This is our third year in a row winning this award and we are so honored and humbled by your votes. We hope to continue providing you with the very best products from Maine makers.

October brought us a fun collaboration with Sister’s Gourmet Deli, a bomb, woman-owned sandwich spot. They have locations in Bath and Portland so it felt like kismet to partner with them and reward our customers that support us both with a little discount treat.

For the second year in a row, Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine was nominated as one of the Semi-Finalists for the Maddy Corson Small Business Award presented by the Institute of Family Owned Businesses. Lisa-Marie was battling COVID so Marie and Andy were there to represent the family and were happy to cheer on their neighbor, Loyal Biscuit, our neighbor on Front Street in Bath.

Summer brought some more fun photo opportunities with lots of friends and visitors. Dr. Pussum’s hung out with us one day with the World’s Largest Cat Nip Sack. 👈


After three siblings all wanted a Lisa-Marie’s sweatshirt and posed for a photo in front of the shop, we couldn’t help but recreate the photo to show that adults could match. We find fun everywhere. 👇


HOLIDAYS

We’ve been banking with Bath Savings Institution before Lisa-Marie’s even had a brick and mortar storefront. We’re so grateful for everything they do for our communities and when their South Portland branch asked us to put together a little holiday display for their lobby we, of course, said yes!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving marks the annual Shop Small Business Saturday. And while every day is Small Business Saturday at Lisa-Marie’s, Marie snagged the opportunity to take a silly photo to encourage folks to remember small businesses, like our family’s, for their gift giving.

Portland Downtown held their annual Holiday Window Contest and we were pleased to receive the Community Choice Award for our Winter Wonderland Window. It’s always a joy and a challenge to create a festive window featuring only a few of the hundreds of unique Maine made products we carry.

The Portland team donned their festive best for the return of Portland Downtown’s annual late night Merry Madness.

Andy returned as Lobster Clause for Bath’s Bright Night Bath. Watch his adorable video here 👈


Thank you 2022! Hello 2023, we’re so happy to see you!