Potts Harbor Lobster, Inc.
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If there’s a single word to describe most of the lobstermen in Maine, it’s passionate. James Merryman caught that passion early; he was just 8 years old when he fell in love with catching lobsters. As time went on that passion grew to include conserving Maine’s coastline and sustaining its lobster generations for the future. So in 2009 when presented with the opportunity to buy a waterfront wharf location for his previously inland-based lobster business, he knew it was the right move for his business and for Maine’s coastline. He sought out the help of SCORE counselor Alan Shaver to determine just how he could finance such a purchase.
Potts Harbor Lobster is the only business of its kind, offering lobsters straight from real Maine lobstermen direct to your dinner plate. They ship their fresh lobsters overnight anywhere in the U.S. and now offer a waterfront rental that allows customers to observe (and even participate in!) the real Maine lobstering experience.
With mentor Alan Shaver’s guidance, Potts Harbor Lobster was able to secure a grant to assist in the purchase from Maine’s Department of Marine Resources in return for the company’s commitment to retain the property as a working waterfront. The team also developed a marketing plan to service a large, multi-unit retail grocery chain in northern New York and Vermont.
