L.L. Bean ends long relationship with maker of wreaths
After a quarter-century, Worcester Wreath won't be supplying evergreen products to the mail-order giant.
By DENNIS HOEY, Staff Writer
November 19, 2009
For the first time in 26 years, L.L. Bean is selling wreaths for the holiday season that aren't made by the Worcester Wreath Co. in Washington County.
And while Bean continues selling wreaths and other evergreen products, not all of the boughs are coming from trees in Maine.
Most of the products are being made by Whitney Wreath in Machias, but some are from a company in the Pacific Northwest – Teufel Holly Farms of Portland, Ore., said Carolyn Beem, a spokeswoman for L.L. Bean.
Bean and Worcester Wreath of Harrington terminated their contract in the spring, both companies said Wednesday.
Bean has traditionally given Worcester Wreath products prominent display in its catalog, which is distributed worldwide.
"We had the best real estate in the Bean catalog for years," said Morrill Worcester, owner and chief executive officer of the Worcester Wreath Co. "I feel bad about what happened. We were with them for a long time."
Beem declined to say why Bean ended its relationship with Worcester in May, except that it was primarily for financial reasons.
She said the decision was a tough one. "We've always had good products from them," she said.
Worcester said, "We've had to scramble to fill the void" left by L.L. Bean.
He said a combination of factors, including the worsening economy, has reduced his work force to 250 people – down from 600 just two years ago, when he sold a half-million products ranging from traditional wreaths to tabletop displays and full-sized Christmas trees.
Worcester expects his company will still have a solid year.
At Whitney Wreath, also in Washington County, the Bean contract will let David Whitney employ as many as 800 people this holiday season – up from 600 last year.
"Winning this competitive selection process establishes Whitney Wreath as the largest mail-order Christmas wreath company in the United States," said Whitney, president and owner of the company, in a press release on the company's Web site.
Whitney, contacted by phone Wednesday night, said his company will buy boughs – known as "tips" – from growers in Maine and Nova Scotia.
He expects to provide L.L. Bean with about 70 percent of its wreath products, with the rest coming from the Pacific Northwest. All of the wreath products Whitney sells are assembled in Maine.
"The state of Maine still retains a large percentage of the wreath business," he said.
L.L. Bean's 2009 Christmas catalog prominently features its wreath offerings in the front seven pages, and on the last page.
The products include a traditional wreath-and-basket centerpiece made in Maine from Maine and Canadian balsam, as well as wreaths and centerpieces made from noble fir in the Pacific Northwest.
Beem said the company tries to promote products made in Maine, including its dog beds and Bean boots.
"We like being from Maine and promoting Maine products," she said.
Worcester remains hopeful that one day he can reopen negotiations with Bean.
For now, he chalks up the situation to a "contract dispute," which he declined to discuss further.
"We grew up with Bean, from a small to a very large company," he said. "And we were very good at what we do. We've never turned an order away in 26 years."
Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:
dhoey@pressherald.com
