As you know by now, I love sharing about companies and products we love on the blog and our Instagram - and most especially those made right here in New England. It’s been a little while since I’ve done an interview on the blog in our New England Maker Series, but I’m excited to get back into it with Mary Zambello of ReclaiMEd Maine Co.!
ReclaiMEd Maine Co. (formerly known as ReclaiMEd Sign Co.) started as a sign buisness but has branched out into much more - including apparel, drinkware, and stickers. They are probably best known for their iconic "Pine Tree Coast" design, sales of which help support Natural Resources Council of Maine - I just love a company that gives back!
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.
ReclaiMEd Sign Co. started as a way to show love for Maine and its environment. Will and I both grew up in Maine with a love for the outdoors. I have a creative background in design and Will has an extensive background in building and craftsmanship, so we knew there were endless possibilities. In hopes of giving back to the environment, we chose to use all reclaimed wood for our projects. This helps to prevent deforestation, which in turn helps sustain habitats and decrease expended energy needed to extract and process new materials. Less wood ends up in landfills and carbon remains in our projects instead of being released as fossil fuels. There are a lot of sign companies out there, but we pride ourselves in the fact that all of our items are custom designed and handmade. Each wood sign is hand cut with a jigsaw or scroll saw, crafted and painted. Our glassware is custom designed and hand-etched. We choose to source USA-Made items and work with local small businesses when we can, and give back to Maine environmental organizations. These pieces were all incredibly important to us and are what we've built our brand on.
How did you start ReclaiMEd Sign Co.?
Honestly it all started in our backyard in Portland. We liked to have fires during the summer time and occasionally picked up pallets for fire food. Will had this idea that we could cut out the shape of Maine, "If only I had a jigsaw, I could..." So, when his birthday came around, I went out and bought him one. No longer were there any excuses as to why we couldn't make these things. With an abundance of unused pallets in the area, and with my design background, ReclaiMEd Sign Co. was born.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day begins with our actual day jobs. ReclaiMEd Sign Co. is just a side business. I'm the Marketing Coordinator for Sea Bags and Will owns his own property services company, so we generally both work long days. I often wake up early to work on packaging and shipping, and spend my evenings working on online orders or trying to restock items for local stores. Most of ReclaiMEd work happens late nights and on the weekends. Due to the lack of free-time we have, I often have to take items down from our site in order to find a little extra time to work on new ideas. Never enough hours in the day!
What is your favorite part about owning your own company? And least favorite part?
I love that ReclaiMEd gives me a constant creative outlet. There is always room for new designs or ways to perfect your craft. I'm able to create these incredibly personal designs and gifts that I know people are opening up and putting in their homes. Least favorite part is definitely never having enough time. I am full of ideas and am really constrained on the amount of time I have to experiment and work on projects. I'm often conflicted when I have a free moment, whether I should be working on ReclaiMEd or getting out to enjoy the outdoors myself.
What has been the most exciting moment for ReclaiMEd Maine since you started?
The creation of our Pine Tree Coast design has been my absolute favorite. I loved creating the design and being able to translate it to apparel, glassware, and stickers has been so much fun. We're not only able to support another local screen printing company, but now have a complete collection that is giving back to a local Maine environmental organization. The end of last year, we raised $350 dollars and this year we have a goal to raise $1,000 for the Natural Resource Council of Maine. These products embody our love for this state, the outdoors, and our desire to protect the Maine woods and coast. I love being able to give back 10% of all sales with this design to help protect, restore, and conserve Maine’s environment.
What advice do you have for people just starting out?
Build a brand that you love and stay true to it. Stay creative and push the boundaries. Try new things. Love your work but remember that work-life balance is important. This continues to be my biggest struggle! Will has recently taken a step back from ReclaiMEd, realizing that he needed some time back to fish and relax. I still struggle giving myself a break when there's always so much I want to do and accomplish. It's important to take time for yourself and refresh before diving back in to work.
What is your long-term goal? Where do you see yourself in five years?
That's a difficult question for me! I love this company. As I mentioned before, it's tough when I have so many aspirations to grow but am somewhat at capacity with how much I can handle. In 5 years I hope that I have brought in some extra hands in order to be able to expand our wholesale business. We love being in select stores throughout Maine, but often find that we're turning down opportunities just so we can stay on top of our current projects. I'd like to have a little more time to perfect my scroll saw skills and continue to put out more intricate designs.
Who’s one of your favorite New England Makers?
I love La Marée Art and A&E Stoneworks, who are both fellow Maine makers. I have been such a big fan of their beautiful work and they have both shown me so much support over the years!
Keep up with ReclaiMEd Maine Co.
All Photos Courtesy of ReclaiMEd Maine Co.
DO YOU OWN A NEW ENGLAND-BASED BUSINESS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED IN AN UPCOMING INTERVIEW? OR WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN HAVING ME STYLE, REVIEW, AND FEATURE ONE OF YOUR PRODUCTS?
Please drop me a note.
More Interviews from New England Makers:
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We’re definitely living in different times right now… and it’s becoming clearer that it looks as though we will have to co-exist with this virus for the foreseeable future. Because of that anything we can do that might mitigate the risk of virus transmission, like always wearing face masks or face coverings when outside our homes, are becoming a part of our “new normal.” Today a lot of small businesses are hurting, including small local makers, many of whom have pivoted to also offer masks for sale. As we move forward into our new normal, consider supporting a local maker and purchase masks from them.
| This post is not sponsored or an endorsement. Makers are listed in no particular order and I plan to continue to add to this list as I come across more makers who request to be added. |
Masks by New England Makers
Disclaimer: I am not giving medical advice. Make sure to always consult the CDC and local health officials for up-to-date recommendations. These masks are not considered medical grade and should be washed in between each use… please see each individual mask maker regarding details, care instructions, pricing, and current availability.
Scrub Caps for Scholars
Scrub Caps for Scholars is an Etsy shop recently started by Marissa of One CrafDIY Girl (who’s also an ICU nurse in Massachusetts) looking to give back to frontline nurses who are struggling to pay their student loans. Proceeds from sales of masks and scrub caps will go towards that fund. Masks are available in different styles in child through adult sizes with different fabrics to choose from; there are also some matching scrub caps available too.
Masked in Style
Nicole has created 615+ masks so far - including donations to local businesses and healthcare workers across the country. She has many fabrics to choose from, with masks in tie and elastic styles. (*If there's an essential worker you want to surprise with a free cloth mask, send her a message and she will send it out with a thank you note!)
Think Greene
Think Greene is a Maine-based company best known for their eco-friendly items and apparel. They are offering boldly designed masks in adult and kid sizes made with organic cotton. Masks are tie-style.
Singer Vintage
Singer Vintage is a Maine-based Etsy stop, which normally sells vintage sewing machine parts, but now offers a wide variety of summer-inspired masks (gingham, chambray, lobsters, etc) in different styles and sizes.
Little Green Pear is run by a Vermont-based mom and best known for hair bows and baby accessories, but is now offering a variety of masks in different styles, fabric patterns, and sizes from toddler through adult.
Maine Mom Boutique
Maine Mom Boutique is a highly-rated shop on Etsy, best known for baby-related items, now offering elastic loop style masks for adults in a variety of fabric patterns.
Sea Crow Company
Maine-based Sea Crow Co. is best known for their popular colorful bags and accessories and is now offering masks too. Masks are pleated-style and available in a variety of fabric patterns and in both ear loop and tie options (child sizes are available upon request).
Miss Harlow VT
Miss Harlow VT is a Vermont-based crafter best known for her sewn baby items and gifts and is now offering masks as well in many different fabrics, in both child and adult sizes. To date she has made over 500!
Jackie’s Boutique
Jackie’s Boutique are two “brick and mortar” shops located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire known for resort wear and accessories. Right now they are also offering masks with vintage Lake Winnipesaukee map patterns on them. The fabric is made and printed in New England.
The Artsy Fox is New Hampshire-based and known for crocheted and knit items as well as quilted items, and is now also offering masks in different patterns too.
Two Little Beans & Co.
Two Little Beans & Co. is a Maine-based company best known for their baby booties, bibs, and other baby items but is now also offering ear loop style pleated masks in many fabric options, in both kid and adult sizes. She has also been making mask donations for healthcare and frontline workers. (*There is a tutorial on her website if you’re looking for instructions to make your own mask.)
We Fill Good.
We Fill Good is an eco-friendly shop in Kittery, Maine known for selling reusable products that can help you achieve a low-waste household. Right now they are also offering masks in a variety of fabric pattern options in both adult and kid sizes.
Red House VT
Red House VT is best known for their waxed canvas and leather bags and are now offering simple modern style masks, currently as a wait-list item.
- All photos used with permission -
If you are a New England Maker who is also making masks and would like to be added to this list, please send me a message and I would love to add you. Thank you all for your hard work to help keep our communities a little safer.
Disclaimer: I am not giving medical advice or endorsing any particular seller - purchase at your own risk. Make sure to always consult the CDC and local health officials for up-to-date recommendations. These masks are not considered medical grade and should be washed in between each use… please see each individual mask maker regarding details, care instructions, pricing, and current availability.
Interviews from New England Makers:
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Yesterday the kids finger-painted some big sheets of paper and today we cut hearts out to hang in all our windows as a way to say THANK YOU to all the heroes out there - especially medical personnel, but also mail/package carriers, truck drivers, and our neighbors and community that are staying home.
I hope everyone can find some small way to help spread some hope and gratitude in your neighborhoods too. Thank you all!
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A tradition I started three years ago was to donate a percentage of profits from Birch Landing Home at year-end to Charity. I’m so happy to say that this year we were able to help support the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America in addition to our donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Thank you so much for all your support for my Etsy shop and blog this past year, I hope to continue to grow them and be able to give back more each year in return.
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Happy Giving Tuesday! Did you know we donate a percentage of profits from Birch Landing Home at year-end? So every time you place an order or visit my blog that donation gets the chance to grow. Last year I was able to donate to The American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen.
I haven’t decided where this year’s donation is going yet so if you have a favorite charity please share!
And this week I’m giving back to you with a Coupon Code too! Use GIVINGBACK to get 10% off your Etsy orders through 12/11/19.
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Donating my hair has been a bucket list item since Middle School and I finally did it! In the past I could never seem to get it long enough before needing to get it cut, or I had highlights at the time (most places will not accept blonde highlighted hair because of the bleach) - but finally it was long enough and highlight-free so I went for it :)
I’m sending these 10 inches in to Children with Hair Loss which provides hair pieces and wigs to children and young adults with medically-related hair loss at no cost. I hope it can be put to good use for someone who needs it.
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So excited to partner with our favorite baby food brand, Beech-Nut to give away three of our Pink Anchor Bracelets to some lucky followers! 40% of sales of our Pink Anchor Bracelet is donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure at year-end for breast cancer research.
Please go check out Beech-Nut’s Instagram (@beechnutfoods) for details and to enter this fun giveaway! | Partner |
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I know I’m not the only one that has family and friends that are hard to shop for… but a gift box from New England’s Finest is always a great idea! New England’s Finest offers curated themed gift boxes to bring a taste of New England’s Finest to their door (or your own door if you’d like to enjoy these goodies for yourself). New England’s Finest was kind enough to send me their Ultimate New England Sampler box to enjoy with my family and I’m excited to share what’s inside!
| This post contains affiliate links as well as an honest review of products provided by New England’s Finest |
The Ultimate New England Sampler Box is PACKED full of delicious New England-made goodies! In fact, I couldn’t quite get the box closed again after I looked through it, it was that full. All of their gift boxes offer free shipping and this particular box is currently on sale at the moment too, which makes it even more of an amazing deal!
The Ultimate New England Sampler Gift Box includes goodies such as: Goodnow Farms’ Almendra Blanca Dark Chocolate Bar, Untapped’s Chai Waffle, Homefree’s Vanilla Mini Cookies, Lucy’s Really Nutty Pecan Granola, Pork Beach Sauce Co’s Maple Blueberry BBQ Sauce, Port City Tasty Ranch Dill Pretzels, Cold Hollow’s Maple Vinaigrette, Jack’s Maple Apple Crackers, Coastal Maine Popcorn Co,’s Chocolate Covered Strawberry Popcorn, Potlicker Kitchen’s Beer Jelly, Bixby & Co’s Sea-Salted Caramels, and Homefree’s Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies. (You can check out the unboxing of this amazing gift box over on my Instastories today!)
One thing I particularly love about NEF as a company is that for every 10 gift boxes purchased they donate a gift box to a family receiving care at Boston Children's Hospital as a way to give back to the community. So if you're looking for that perfect gift for someone (or yourself!) who loves New England or is a New Englander at heart, be sure to check out New England's Finest and get "a little flavor and charm from the Northeast."
Follow New England's Finest on Facebook and Instagram to see their latest promotions and boxes.
- I received this item for review from New England's Finest but all opinions expressed are my own. Please read our full Disclosure Policy for more information -
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