Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1528707
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 23 N OV E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 4 F O C U S FA M I LY - OW N E D B U S I N E S S Still, the owners told Mainebiz that they face other challenges today: the aging of their building, which was not built to modern construction standards. e parts for the vintage equipment are no longer available; when a part needs to be replaced, the Rayes have to send it out to be fabricated. To address the building issue, the owners are reno- vating the existing site. ey are also adding onto the facility, including expansion and updating an in-house Mustard Mill Museum. e mustard is still made at the Mustard Mill Museum at 83 Washington St., while the gift shop with products is located downtown. Raye's has 11 employees. On the product side, Raye's added a production line to create individual serving-size mustard packets, which allows the company to compete in the food service sector. Other product additions include salad dressings and a new mustard-barbeque sauce. Karen Raye says Raye's uses social media to engage with customers and collaborators and listen to requests from customers who visit and meet at events and fairs. "We've had a good, strong year overall," say the Rayes. "And our retail store is going well and has been buoyed by cruise ship visits to Eastport. Adding hundreds or thousands of potential custom- ers to our city is a real opportunity. And one that has allowed us to break records." A downside to owning a small business in the food sector is that it "competes against major cor- porations with deep pockets, and the grocery side of its business is extremely competitive and not friendly to small businesses." Yet, the owners say, "food tourism is increasing in demand, and people love visiting our last-in-the-nation traditional stone mill to see our historic stones and rare second-industrial revolution equipment working. We closed to the public during COVID-19 and decided to remain closed for tours until our renovation and con- struction project is completed. "We look forward to welcoming visitors again so they can see and experience our people firsthand once our renovations are completed," they say. Libby's makes working together easy Len Libby, founder of Len Libby Candies in Scarborough, worked for candy companies in Portland, learning the art of chocolate and confectionery before starting his career as a music teacher. SALES@WAREBUTLER.COM Ware-Butler will supply products to earthwork and concrete jobs, roads/ bridges/construction jobs, grow businesses, storage units, livestock farms, health centers and commercial buildings of all types, infrastructure projects such as sand-salt sheds and municipal buildings, etc. WAREBUTLER.COM CONTACT US for your non-residential and commercial construction needs statewide in Maine. Put our statewide buying power and experienced sales team to work for you! Fabric / Pipe / Culverts / Styrofoam insulation / Construction lumber Sheet goods / Millwork / Metal roofing and siding products PRODUCTS OFFERED: AND MORE! C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E ยป P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F R AY E S M U S TA R D Karen and Kevin Raye are fourth-generation owners of Rayes Mustard, founded in Eastport.