Store Hours Renys Map Columbia Carhartt Woolrich Sale Items! Just In F.A.Q. Jobs at Renys In the News		The up side of a down economy Monday, March 23, 2009 By Sharon Kiley Mack BDN Staff PITTSFIELD, Maine - Renys Department Stores, the Marden's chain of salvage stores and a newcomer to Maine - Ocean State Job Lot - are finding profit in the downturned economy. Cash-strapped customers are seeking bargains, and the three chains are the leaders in Maine when it comes to finding a deal on brand-name items. "Renys is not participating in the recession," said John Reny, son of R.H. Reny, who founded the Renys chain of Maine department stores 60 years ago. Reny said sales at his 14 stores are up 6 percent over last year and show no signs of slowing. Employee Missy Irvin stocks merchandise in the men's department at the Dexter Renys on Friday. An eight-year employee, Irvin says that besides the slow months of January and February, the Maine-based discount store always does "great business." It's all about attitude, Reny maintained. "We hear about 8 percent unemployment, but that means that 92 percent are employed," he said. "We have to get back consumers' confidence. People are being cautious, but they are going to work, they are buying things." Reny said the secret to building sales in a recession is "to offer stuff that people need every day to live their lives. My dad always said that if you found a deal, pass it on. It's not about the cheapest thing on the rack. It's about the best deal." Cassandra Newell, an employee at Renys discount store in Dexter, stocks a shipment of men's sweat shirts on Friday. According to store manager Sabrina Ivory, 2008 was the best year for the chain. "Because of the economy, we're able to get good deals and pass them on to our customers," Ivory said. Renys employs between 375 and 475 employees at its 14 stores. Several of the stores are undergoing renovation or expansion. Wayne and Mickey Pasanen of Atkinson browse through new additions to the men's clothing department at Renys in Dexter on Friday. The couple frequently shop at the discount store. "We've got a full cart," said Wayne Pasanen of his day's shopping. Ocean State Job Lot, based in Rhode Island, is the new kid on the block, with two stores in Maine - in Belfast and Bangor - and a third planned for Sanford later this year. President Marc Perlman said Friday that Ocean State's sales "are extremely strong. I feel confident that we will have a record year." Perlman said a combination of forces is pushing the sales spike. "We started our company 30 years ago with the understanding that people work hard for their money and we want to give them the best value we can," he said. "Now, economic forces are pushing people and they are more motivated than ever to find a bargain. "For example, if you are going to plant a garden and you can pay full price for Burpee's seeds or half price, why wouldn't you pay half price? Why not go for the bargain?" Marden's Surplus and Salvage, a leader in Maine's salvage industry, is also experiencing an uptick in revenue, but on a smaller scale than its two competitors. General Manager Paul LePage said Friday that the increase was "not big numbers." Marden's, which has 14 stores from Madawaska to Sanford, has been in business for 45 years. Buyers for Marden's search the country for deals that come from insurance losses, closeouts, overstocks, discontinued items, factory seconds and salvage items from natural disasters. They bid on each stock in a sealed-bid process similar to a silent auction. If the bid is successful, the merchandise is shipped to the Maine warehouses, processed and then distributed to the stores. "Our customer count is up, but our average customer sale is dropping," LePage said. "This tells me - and the numbers bear it out - that big-ticket items, such as flooring and furniture, are down. People are buying everyday items, sticking to the basics." LePage looked at the sales figures from the 14 stores as he was talking. "Here, we're up. Here, we're slack. Here, we're up a little," he said. "You can say we are holding our own and sales are up a little, but it's definitely not big numbers." Excerpt From: Bangor Daily News, March 2009 Web Specials  ||  Feature Brands  ||  Contact Renys  ||  Our Locations  ||  Job Opportunities Gift Cards  ||  History  ||  In the News  ||  Just In  ||  Email Signup  ||  Site Map  ||  Home Page R.H. Reny, Inc. 731 Route 1 Newcastle, Maine 04553 Phone: (207)563-3177 Fax: (207)563-5681 E-Mail: feedback@renys.com