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V O L . X X X N O. X X V N OV E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 4 20 FA M I LY - OW N E D B U S I N E S S F O C U S Sandy's daughter Kimberlee fol- lowed him into the firm and helped bring the company into the retail business by establishing Graffam Bros. Seafood Market, where the next generation of Graffams can often be found helping out. Today, the company has just over 20 employees during peak summer months, a wholesale market in much of Knox and surrounding counties, and ships across the U.S. Lobster comprises about a third of the business. It also sells finfish, and farmed oysters are a growing segment. Customers 'love a back-story' e family-owned brand became more of a focal point with her dad and uncle, says Kimberlee, who started working in the lobster plant, helping to pack lobsters, in 2013. Customers notice: "It's, 'Oh, this is a family business,' and we say, 'Yes, it is,' and they say, 'Oh, that's awesome.' And as the generations changed, that's become more important." Why is it important? "ey love a back-story," says Brandon. "You can buy seafood at any big supermarket in the area. e differ- ence with us is quality, our knowledge of the product and, No. 1, our customer service skills, which is passed on to our staff and to my cousin, my little brother and so forth." e family says the company is an integral part of the community that has become something of a social epi- center as well as a business. "You see local, friendly faces," Brandon says. "Brandon just had his second child," says Gronros. "Customers love to hear about the kids." e family-owned aspect is a big part of the company's marketing, including its website and merchandise. It's featured in a video on the company's website, when in 2023, Graffam Bros was named Small Business of the Year by the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce. "You have a lot of lobster companies out there, that ship as Maine lobster, but they're not actually in Maine," Gronros says. "We get a lot of online orders because we're Maine and we've been here a long time. People say, 'Oh, I've heard of Graffam's.'" Wygant Fossett notes that some owners of family-owned businesses miss out on the branding opportu- nity. "I think they don't toot their own horn enough," she says. Supporting Clients to Make Informed Decisions with His Data Acumen get to know bryan > Bryan loves to dig into the details. Analytical and diligent by nature, he works with the Dunham Group team to help clients make smarter, more informed decisions in their commercial real estate deals. Portland, ME | 207.773.7100 | dunhamgroup.com Contact us to learn more Call or text 207-669-2254 email inquiries@bellviewassociates.com bellviewassociates.com When Scott Lanpher and his son, Reid, came to Bellview Associates for help executing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2021, they asked for a quick turnaround. Bellview delivered, making the family-owned business, SR1 Companies, employee-owned and ready for continued growth. But it wasn't just the timing that left the Lanphers pleased with the ESOP transaction. "Bellview is able to tailor plans to the needs of each company it works with, which I think is pretty unique. They're a creative team, to say the least." ยป C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E