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Marden's reusable shopping bag and brand elements

Marden’s

Reimagining a Maine icon for a new generation.

Marden’s—a beloved surplus and salvage retailer with over 55 years of history—has long been a cornerstone of Maine’s retail landscape, celebrated for its quirky charm and unbeatable deals. But as consumer expectations shifted, so did the challenges: how to engage a younger, digital-first audience while preserving the brand’s unmistakably Maine identity.

Faced with growing competition and an inconsistent digital presence, Marden’s needed to modernize and stay relevant in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Anchour was tasked with creating a bold, future-proof strategy that celebrated Marden’s legacy while positioning it for sustainable growth.

Industry

Services Provided

43% increase in in-store traffic

55K+new email subscribers

957%increase in Facebook page likes

140%increase in organic search traffic in two years

Bold Marden’s logo repeated on a vibrant red background, showcasing the refreshed brand identity by a Maine retail marketing agency
Salvage and Surplus Goods Since 1964’ design featuring moose outside a Marden’s store, highlighting its Maine roots and quirky retail branding

THE WAY

Celebrating the thrill of the find

Our mission was clear: embrace the magic of Marden’s while positioning it as a destination for a new generation of treasure hunters. To achieve this, we built a cohesive strategy that balanced the retailer’s quirky roots with a vibrant, modern brand experience.

Through collaborative discovery, we uncovered key insights about Marden’s target audience and delivered a multi-faceted solution:

  • Brand Identity Refresh: A bold new look with vibrant colors, dynamic logos, and versatile badges to energize the brand’s expression.
  • Website Redesign: A seamless, engaging digital experience that captured the joy of discovery and encouraged in-store visits.
  • Campaigns & Messaging: Playful, quippy messaging that brought Marden’s character to life, designed to resonate with younger shoppers.
  • Digital Marketing Overhaul: A data-driven strategy that fueled engagement, conversions, and sustained organic growth.

Together, these efforts ensured that Marden’s could connect authentically with new audiences while honoring the traditions their loyal customers cherished.

Collage of Marden’s historical photos and ‘Treasure Hunting’ theme, celebrating over 55 years of Maine retail heritage, reimagined by a Maine marketing agency

The treasure hunt

Knowing the target audience and the brand’s unique roots, we developed a strategy that brought Marden’s quirky character to life. We took the spirit of Marden’s and invited a younger demographic to engage with a vibrant color palette and logo suite, badges, icons, and quippy messaging. We delivered a fun and flexible plan that could be used widely and well into the future.

Marden’s original logo with tagline ‘I Should Have Bought It When I Saw It,’ showing its legacy before the brand identity refresh by a retail marketing agency
Marden’s refreshed brand guidelines featuring typography, color palette, and logo updates, created by a Maine retail marketing agency for modern appeal
New Marden’s logo with bold red text and ‘What’s New’ badge, symbolizing its transformation by a retail-focused Maine branding agency
Marden’s gift card designs in red and yellow, reflecting the retailer’s quirky and vibrant branding, crafted by a Maine retail marketing agency
Marden’s digital ad promoting steep discounts on items like jackets, boots, and guitars, part of a data-driven retail marketing campaign
Quote from Mickey Marden alongside brand design elements: ‘Buy great stuff and sell it cheap,’ showcasing the retailer’s Maine legacy and rebranding efforts
Playful Marden’s campaign ads with themes like Black Friday and quirky visuals, appealing to younger shoppers, developed by a Maine retail marketing agency
Marden’s refreshed website on a tablet, highlighting Maine’s best bargain store with bold branding and vibrant design by a Maine retail marketing agency

Measurable impact

Marden’s experienced significant growth in social engagement and a substantial increase in new email subscribers, while interest and traffic increased across their target audiences. Over the past two years, the number of search users has continued to rise, contributing to the organic boost in brand awareness.

Marden’s website showcasing 13 unique Maine locations, categories like furniture and clothing, and Maine-focused deals, designed by a retail marketing agency
Marden’s ‘Who We Are’ page featuring a red tote bag with ‘Bought It When I Saw It’ branding, emphasizing quirky retail marketing by a Maine agency
Collage of Marden’s historical photos and 'Through the Years' theme, showcasing its Maine roots and retail legacy reimagined by a branding agency
Marden’s promotional graphics with customer reviews, store photos, and quirky ad designs, created to engage audiences by a Maine retail marketing agency

“We established over 55 years ago, so we’re an old-school business. Anchour came in to help us refresh and overhaul everything. Anchour has been responsive, sincere, and their personal touch really separates them from others. On top of the positive experience during the process, we’ve seen a significant increase in engagement and conversions since launch. We feel optimistic about our relationship, and the value Anchour continues to bring to our business.”

– MARKETING DIRECTOR, MARDEN’S
Marden’s bold red logo repeated on a light blue background, reflecting the retailer’s vibrant branding update by a Maine-focused marketing agency

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