Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 N OV E M B E R 4 , 2 0 2 4 FA M I LY - OW N E D B U S I N E S S But there's plenty to trumpet. She says that attributes include paying higher wages than equivalent jobs in non-family businesses and a legacy of donating to their communities. "ey're shepherds of where they are and what they do," Wygant Fossett says. "And their names are on the door." In Maine, 80% of businesses are family-owned, she notes. "Maine has sixth, seventh genera- tion families with businesses," Wygant Fossett says. "What makes their brands so important is that they have those roots." Not just a corporation A campground could be one of the most auspicious types of family-owned businesses, particularly if the father is a winner of the TV reality show "Survivor" and has a gift for gab. Bob Crowley and his daughter Page Atherton run Maine Forest Yurts on Runaround Pond in Durham. Crowley opened the campground in 2013 with his wife Peggy. Other family members are involved in day- to-day operations. Crowley won "Survivor: Gabon" in 2008. "My dad has been known to sit by the fire with families and tell sto- ries," says Atherton with a laugh. e family-owned story isn't deliberately used as a marketing tool. But it's an important aspect of the businesses that tends to communicate itself to guests. "It's not just a corpora- tion," Atherton says. She continues, "When people come, we want them to know that this is a family and that they're welcome here. I found that people respect the yurts more if one of us went over and welcome every guest. It makes it a whole package. You're not just staying in a yurt; you're coming to our home to enjoy our property." Guests tend to respond, she says. "When people get here, they'll start asking questions like, 'Who owns the land?'" she says. "When I start talking about my parents, my brother in California who helps behind the scenes, the bunch of us who are around — people enjoy hearing that we've kept it as a family unit on the property." Her own family is attracted to the same vibe. ey enjoy going to sports camps in Maine. "e ones we love most are generations-owned, places where you have the whole family," she says. "ere's something about people loving their space, that you immedi- ately love it, too." Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz C O U N S E L O R S A T L A W r u d m a n w i n c h e l l . c o m BANGOR 84 Harlow St. (207) 947.4501 ELLSWORTH 140 High St. (207) 374.5833 At Rudman Winchell, we understand the challenges you face, whether it's navigating complex business regulations, resolving disputes, managing employment issues, or planning your family's future. Our friendly and approachable attorneys are here to guide you through these critical moments with expertise and care. Discover Neighborly Legal Support, Rooted in Maine Experience Down-to-Earth Legal Solutions with Warmth and Care Embrace the charm and expertise of Maine's Trusted Advisors. When people come, we want them to know that this is a family and that they're welcome here. — Page Atherton Maine Forest Yurts Page Atherton, who runs Maine Forest Yurts in Durham with her dad Bob Crowley, says the family-owned story is an important aspect of the businesses that tends to communicate itself to guests. P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y M A I N E F O R E S T Y U R T S F O C U S

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