Retail Association of Maine

What Retail Association of Maine does

The Retail Association of Maine (RAM) is a 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 1937 (originally as the Maine Merchants Association) and headquartered in Augusta, Maine within walking distance of the Statehouse. The organization serves as the principal advocacy voice for Maine's retail industry, employing a year-round lobbying team to represent members before state lawmakers and regulatory agencies. It serves approximately 400 member businesses ranging from independent retailers to national chains operating in Maine, plus nearly 200 grocery and food producer members through its affiliated Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association (MGFPA) and 120+ participants in the Maine Merchants Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Trust.

RAM's core offerings are organized around four pillars: legislative advocacy, member benefits, workforce development, and industry recognition. Member benefits include a tiered annual dues structure ranging from $263 to $1,943 based on Maine gross sales, plus exclusive group-purchasing arrangements covering energy procurement (Freedom Energy Logistics), credit/debit card processing (Retail Council Services Corp), a multiple-employer 401(k) plan (Transamerica), workers' compensation insurance (FutureComp/USI), and settlement claims recovery (DCap Claims). Workforce development is delivered through the Maine Business Education Partnership, a 501(c)(3) managed by RAM since December 2020, and RetailCareersforME.com, which hosts the National Retail Federation Foundation's RISE UP credential program at no cost to retail employees. Recognition programs include the annual Retailer of the Year Award and the Jim McGregor Service Award.

Operationally, RAM runs a lean team of approximately six staff members, led by President & CEO Curtis Picard (since 2007) and Executive Director Amy Downing (since 2017). The association also provides association management services to the New Hampshire Retail Association, effectively extending its operating footprint beyond Maine under shared leadership. The organization's technology stack is built on GlueUp, a third-party association management platform used for membership, events, registration, and communications. Revenue is generated primarily through tiered membership dues, affiliated association management contracts (MGFPA and NH Retail Association), and non-dues income from events, affinity programs, and group-purchasing arrangements; financial details are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Retail Association of Maine

Legal name

Retail Association of Maine

Website

https://retailmaine.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Retail Association of Maine is a 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 1937, headquartered in Augusta, that advocates for Maine retailers through year-round lobbying and delivers tiered membership benefits, group-purchasing programs, and workforce development services to 400+ member businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Augusta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues structured in tiers based on member's annual gross sales in Maine. Fees range from $263/year for businesses up to $300K in sales to $1,943/year for businesses with $4M-$5M in sales. Businesses over $5M receive custom pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Retail Association of Maine is a non-profit trade association that advocates for Maine's retail industry through year-round legislative representation before state lawmakers and provides member businesses with workforce training, cost-saving group benefits (401(k), workers' compensation, energy, payment processing), and industry networking events. It manages the Maine Business Education Partnership (501(c)(3) workforce nonprofit) and provides association management services to the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association and the New Hampshire Retail Association.

Product overview

The Retail Association of Maine is a trade association founded in 1937 that serves as the leading advocate for Maine's retail industry. Rather than a single unified product, RAM offers a portfolio of member services including workforce development programs (Maine Business Education Partnership, RetailCareersforME.com, and RISE UP credential programs), money-saving member benefits (401k plans, energy discounts, credit/debit card processing, workers' compensation insurance, and settlement claims services), professional development events (annual Summit and webinars), recognition programs (Retailer of the Year and Jim McGregor Service Awards), and communication services (newsletter). The organization provides full-time legislative advocacy and serves as a trusted resource for Maine retail businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DCap ClaimscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2024Third-party settlement claims partner helping members recover swipe fees from $5.54 billion Visa/Mastercard class action and antitrust settlements. RAM members receive reduced contingency fee of 25% (vs market 30%).
• Association of Retailers of UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022From Maine to Ukraine relief program: RAM and Maine Tourism Association collected nearly 40,000 pounds of goods in three shipping containers for delivery to Ukraine.
• FutureCompcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Trust Administrator for Maine Merchant's Self-Insured Workers Compensation Trust Fund. Division of USI Insurance, specializing in self-insured workers compensation program administration since 1984.
• Freedom Energy LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive energy procurement consultant services provider for RAM's 400+ members. Provides electricity and natural gas expertise with focus on downsizing energy costs. Represents over 100 years of cumulative energy industry experience.
• TransamericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides enhanced Multiple-Employer 401(k) Plan with 3(16) Administration and 3(38) Investment Oversight. Designed specifically for small to mid-range retail companies with institutional pricing.
• Retail Council Services Corp (RCSC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary of Retail Council of New York State providing credit/debit card processing at exclusive RAM member rates. Offers mobile apps, e-commerce integrations, ACH transactions, and POS solutions.
• National Retail Federation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for RISE UP retail training credential program. Provides resources for credentials, connections to job opportunities, and career advancement in retail. Credentials include Retail Fundamentals, Customer Service & Sales, Business of Retail, and Warehouse Inventory & Logistics.
• Maine Business Education PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) non-profit managed by RAM to foster workforce initiatives. Develops strategic alliances resulting in trained workforce. Implements scholarship program and RetailcareersforME.com job board.
• Maine Tourism & Hospitality AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance including HospitalityMaine, Maine Campground Owners Association, Maine Tourism Association, and Ski Maine Association working together to protect Maine's tourism industry.
• Maine Grocers and Food Producers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated association with nearly 200 independent and chain grocery store owners, food producers and suppliers. RAM provides executive director (Christine Cummings) and management services.
• New Hampshire Retail AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAM provides association management services to New Hampshire Retail Association. Curtis Picard serves as President & CEO of both organizations.
• National Retail FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAM serves on board of directors. Provides access to national retail industry resources, research, and advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Retail Federation: National umbrella retail trade association. RAM serves on the NRF board of directors and PICARD received the NRF's 2018 J. Thomas Weyant Award; broader portfolio of national advocacy and resources for the entire retail industry.
• Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA): National trade association for large retail companies. Complementary to state associations like RAM; both advocate for the retail industry at different levels of government and serve overlapping membership companies (L.L. Bean, Amazon, etc.).
• Food Industry Association (FMI): National trade association for the food retail industry. Comparable in serving grocery members like Hannaford (an RAM member) but at national scale; complementary rather than directly competing for membership.

Direct peers

• Retail Association of Massachusetts: New England state retail trade association serving Massachusetts retailers. Closely comparable model: advocacy, member benefits, workforce programs, and events for in-state retail businesses.
• New Hampshire Retail Association: State-level retail trade association serving New Hampshire retailers; directly comparable in mission and model. RAM's President & CEO Curtis Picard concurrently leads this organization, and RAM provides association management services to it.
• Vermont Retail & Grocers Association: Combined retail and grocery trade association serving Vermont businesses. Comparable in scale and New England regional footprint; President Curtis Picard's prior role at Vermont Chamber provides direct operating familiarity.
• Retail Council of New York State: State retail trade association providing advocacy and member benefits to New York retailers. RAM partners with its subsidiary Retail Council Services Corp (RCSC) to deliver payment-processing benefits to Maine members.
• Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association: Maine-based trade association representing independent and chain grocery store owners, food producers, and suppliers. Nearly 200 members; managed by RAM with shared executive director Christine Cummings.
• HospitalityMaine: Maine trade association representing hospitality businesses; RAM is allied through the Maine Tourism & Hospitality Alliance. Comparable state-level trade-association model serving a different vertical within Maine's broader consumer economy.

Regional players

• Maine State Chamber of Commerce: General business advocacy organization for Maine; broader in scope than RAM (all industries) but overlapping membership and policy agenda in Augusta. RAM Executive Director Amy Downing previously worked there, indicating tight ecosystem overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RetailMaine
• Facebookfacebook.com/retailmaine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retail-association-of-maine-page

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Retail Association of Maine