Wayne Hamilton started Hamilton Marine out of his garage in Searsport, Maine, in 1977. As an avid boater, he saw a need on the waterfront for a diverse marine supply store. His instincts proved correct, and soon Hamilton Marine outgrew the garage. The store moved to a larger location on Route 1, and continued to grow. It expanded beyond those walls, and moved to an even bigger building in Searsport. There it became a Maine marine destination for local lobstermen and boaters of all kinds.
Soon, Hamilton Marine grew beyond the borders of Searsport. Stores were added up and down the coast, in Portland, Rockland, Southwest Harbor, and Jonesport. Today, Hamilton Marine is one of the largest independent marine suppliers on the East Coast, serving the recreational, commercial, and boatbuilding industries across the country. There is an online store, a 376 page catalog mailed to people in every state, and daily shipments of product sent to customers all over the world.
In other news, Renee Kitchen has been promoted to the position of marketing manager of Hamilton Marine.
According to David Norman, "Renee joined us fifteen years ago having graduated in 2002 from Plymouth State College in New Hampshire with a degree in Graphic Arts. At the time of our interview, she was working for a regional weekly newspaper chain and quickly realized she wanted to do more with her considerable talents (my assessment, not hers) than churn out mattress ads and the like.
After joining Hamilton Marine, she discovered we sell to various, very different markets employing all sorts of media and a wide array of marketing strategies. She thrived on the pace and complexity and always welcomed more. She abounds in that basic, imaginative virtue essential to a successful marketer: seeing the world not through our eyes but those of our customers. A fine attention to detail is a nice bring-along. And she knows value as only a Maine Yankee can. And lastly, she’s smart, tough, and totally charming."
Renee may be reached at (207) 548-0448 or [email protected].
