Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 20 : Spring 2014 | Page 73

fit and location for our store. In 2005 The Dexter Shoe building was up for sale, but at that time it was just not in the cards to be able to purchase it. So on August 28th, 2013, again with friends and family and a couple more part-timers, we moved the complete store and were up and running in three days with great feedback. Now with four full-time and two part-time employees, we offer The County and surrounding area a unique store that tries to carry the hard to get outdoor hunting , fishing and camping equipment that you can’t get at the big- box stores. We even have a small library of books about Maine and The County. We stock Muck, LaCrosse and Wolverine boots, Johnson Wool, Game Hide, WFS clothing and more including: quality hats, socks, gloves and mitts, hunting and fishing gear, shooting supplies and bow and arrows. We have two certified AR Armors and a certified compound bow technician on hand. We try new products throughout the year and keep track of what sells and why. Our motto at Ben’s is We Sell What Works! We could carry 500 lures but why sell you any lure when this is the one that works in the area. I am a Registered Maine Guide and have knowledge of what people really need in Northern Maine. Our store was on “The Mountain Man” series with my son Ben II tagging Charlie Tucker’s fur. The day after it aired we had a phone call from a guy in Minnesota that had seen we had Stormy Kromer Hats and ordered one. We have also been contacted by another network about possibly doing a series on trading post businesses. We swap, buy, trade & sell just about anything. We have traded for hot dog carts to snowmobiles, even a LouisVuitton Purse. Yeah a purse, don’t forget 55% of our customers are women. Our hours are January through September, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In September, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. SPRING 2014 71