Maine Merchants Association

About The Maine Merchants Association

The Maine Merchants Association is the #1 organization for promoting and protecting the interests of retailers and merchants in Maine. Formed in 1933 by a group of visionary merchants, these Mainers saw a need for representation when public policy was made.

Today, the Maine Merchants Association represents over 400 members statewide ranging from large national chain stores to small family-owned retail stores with some 1,000 locations statewide. The Maine Merchants Association membership accounts for more than 75 percent of the annual retail sales in Maine.

Our credibility lies in our longevity and our commitment to serving the ever-changing needs of our members.  We are a recognized player with the legislature, state agencies and the governor's office. 

Benefits of Membership

In addition to our top-notch legislative affairs work on behalf of our members, we use our strength in membership to negotiate services for merchants that may not be available to businesses individually.

Our members take advantage of a wide range of money-saving programs, including merchant services like credit/debit card processing, a proven worker’s compensation insurance trust, complimentary conference room use, office supply discounts and other valuable services.

Legislative Affairs

The Maine Merchants Association represents the merchant industry before elected officials for policy and voting decisions. We are on the front lines of issues that directly affect your bottom line: wage and hour issues, worker’s compensation costs, employee benefits, health care costs, taxes and more.

Just a few examples of our work on behalf of members this year:

• Upheld private property rights by prohibiting petitioners from gathering signatures at retail locations.
• Defeated a controversial and expensive proposal to have Maine become the first and only state to mandate paid family leave.
• Helped moderate the recent minimum wage bill which would have automatically raised the wage each year!

Johnny's Selected Seeds is the 2008 Merchant of the Year

Johnny's Selected Seeds of Winslow, ME was chosen as the 2008 Merchant of the Year winner.

The company will be honored at the 75th anniversary Annual Meeting of the Maine Merchants Association on October 24, 2008 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME.