Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I I N O. X X I I I O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 1 7 32 I n 2015, Ben Waxman and Whitney Reynolds, a husband-and-wife team, started a company to produce fl eece apparel and blankets that would use materials sourced in the United States and employ a workforce com- prised mostly of new Mainers. Within 10 days, their lines were sold out for seven months. Operating in a 4,000-square-foot former garage, the business has grown ever since. In its fi rst year, sales topped $400,000 in B2B sales for customers like International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Sappi North America and Narragansett Beer Co. Sales will likely be double that by the end of 2017. e two have expanded into cot- ton, and will soon open a small factory outlet store. ey're committed to the well-being of their employees — pay- ing stitchers above-market wages plus benefi ts, and helping their New Mainer employees navigate immigration issues or otherwise acclimate to U.S. culture. With Waxman's mother, Dory Waxman — a long-time manufacturer of fi ne woolen goods — they started a training program for stitchers that benefi ts not only their company but others. "Everyone here is family and believes in what we're doing," says Waxman. "Like any new company, we've struggled on many sleepless nights about whether or not we're going to make payroll. But our goals are to grow in a healthy way, to continue to make a great product and to see our employ- ees continue to enrich their lives and seek that American dream." Now in their late 30s, apparel man- ufacturing was never part of either Waxman or Reynolds's quest for a career. Waxman, raised in Portland, dropped out of college to work for Democratic campaigns throughout the Northeast, then worked for the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C. After 12 years, he left his position as assistant to the federation's president, Richard Trumka, because he wanted to return to Maine. Reynolds was born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., spent her high school years in Australia, then returned to the United States for college, earn- ing a degree in anthropology from Fordham University. She took a vari- ety of jobs, ranging from events coor- dinator to bartender, before moving to Portland to be near her sister. She also met Waxman, who was back home and wanted to start a business and create jobs. His mother suggested making blankets. e idea took a turn one day when Waxman was plowing driveways to earn extra cash. He took off his fl eece vest and noticed the label said "Made with USA fabric," but then, in smaller type, "assembled overseas." He liked the idea of making fl eece vests, pullovers and jackets, as well as blankets, using U.S-made materials and producing them in Maine. With his parents, he developed a business plan for a com- pany focused on the $26 billion B2B market of corporate gifts, convention freebies and the like. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Getting back to American Roots Apparel maker grows with its new Mainer workforce B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r Everyone here is family and believes in what we're doing. — Ben Waxman Ben Waxman and Whitney Reynolds Founders/owners American Roots, Portland American Roots 17 Westfield St., Portland President: Whitney Reynolds Employees: 12 Revenue: $400,000 (2016) Contact: (207) 808-9098 americanrootswear.com Ben Waxman and Whitney Reynolds, with their son, Arlo, on the factory fl oor at American Roots in Portland.

• Cover