Sports Insight

sportsinsightmag.com 1. Nice People. "Genuinely helpful and friendly staff that enjoy helping customers." Luke Conroy 2. A Foody Heaven. "Fudge, nuts and now lobsters." Lisa McKinley 3. One Big Family. "A family run business that prides itself on great customer service and treats employees like family." Kimberly Donnell 4. Bulls-Eye. "All of my kids and now my grandkids call KTP the bulls-eye store. When we pass the bulls-eye store, they know they are almost home." Tracey Deon 5. Hi, My Name Is. "All of the associates wear first-name badges because we believe in personal service; we want you to get to know us because we know you'll be back." Jon Nash 6. Summer Loving. "Deals in the tent all summer long. Sweet!" Kristin Broadrick 7. Benefits. "Great benefits for the employees." Lisa McKinley 8. Big Stuffed Animals. "Have you visited and looked for all the taxidermy? We have some wonderful specimens on display that are interesting for both kids and adults. Directions are regularly given with reference to a moose: 'Where might I find a dressing room?' 'To the right of the moose.'" Kristin Broadrick 9. Family. "It is a family business and the family is still here. They are not locked up in some office, they are out where you can see them, working, having opinions, making a difference. They know our names." Kristin Broadrick 10. By Chance. "We aren't afraid to take some chances and try some new things. Retail is ever-changing" Lisa McKinley 11. License Place. "You can get your fishing and hunting licenses here on your way to camp." Kristin Broadrick 12. Sweet! "A fabulous selection of candy that is sure to please." Kristin Broadrick 13. Woof. "A great dog department." Kristin Broadrick 14. Get On The Water. "A place to try out canoes and kayaks." George Hockhousen 15. Boat Browse. "There's a two- story boat yard right in the store in which customers are always free to browse our extensive inventory." Jon Nash 16. Animals Everywhere. "Animals are a welcome part of many KTP experiences — Septemberfest pony rides and the petting zoo, November hay rides, raptor shows, seminars with wildlife saved by rehabilitation are just some examples." Jon Nash 17. Charity. "Being a stop for Wreaths Across America, a Maine tradition that honors veterans and the holiday season." Jon Nash 18. Biggie Small. "Best of both words — a small shop feel with large shop selection." Lisa McKinley 19. Happy Holidays. "Boxes for your holiday shopping and live music while you are shopping." Kristin Broadrick 80 Reasons 1938-2018 A Kittery Trading Post Timeline It all started back in 1938 when Philip (Bing) Adams acquired Kittery Trading Post, which at the time was a modest one-room trading post/gas station. From the beginning it was literally a "trading post," as people from far and wide swapped fur pelts for gas, beef for ammunition and supplies for a car. Eighty years later, Kittery Trading Post continues to be owned and operated by the Adams family. Here's how it got here: and the over-saturation of products manufactured outside the United States and distributed to big-box stores has lowered both the quality and price point of specialty outdoor products. "But one thing that will never change in outdoor retailing is the need for great customer service," he adds. "Provide it and you will sur- vive, like us for 80 years and going strong." The 100,000-square-foot Kittery Trading Post retail store in Kittery, ME, has been celebrating its anniver- sary all year with a host of special events commemorating its history and growth from a small local retailer to a national reputation built on an incredible array of well-known and obscure outdoor brands, great ven- dor relations, a commitment to its core values and a laser-like focus on its customer base. Finding 80 reasons why KTP has been successful for 80 years was easy — limiting it to just 80 was the hard part. Employees' reasons for KTP's continued success range from the expected – great customer service and product selection – to the out-of-the ordinary – fishing and hunting licenses and fudge – to the downright obscure — lobsters and dog treats among thewm. We guess we will just have to do this again in 20 years for its centen- nial celebration. Here, in no particular order, and in the words of KTP employees them- selves, are 80 reasons why Kittery Trading Post remains a leading out- door specialty retailer eight decades after its founding. l Philip (Bing) Adams purchases Kittery Trading Post on Route One in Kittery, ME, from Frank Haskell for the sum of $4000. The first addition of 140-square feet brings Kittery Trading Post to 500-square feet. Another addition increases the size to 2600-square feet with an additional 2600-square feet for apartments above the store. The apartments serve as home for the Adams Family until 1983. Kevin O. Adams buys the Kittery Trading Post from his father. The 1400-square feet of living quarters is converted to retail selling space, making a total of 4000-square feet. A major expansion of the store increases the amount of retail floor space to 11,000-square feet, with 4700-square feet of warehouse and office space. 1942 1961 1972 1938 1948 1966 December 2018 ~ Sports Insight • 31

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