KENNEBUNK, Maine — The people behind one of Maine’s most iconic brands, Tom’s of Maine, is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again, this time in the clothing industry, building jobs and profits while staying true to their values.
The husband and wife team of Tom and Kate Chappell built Tom’s of Maine into a world leader in all-natural personal care products, before famously selling controlling interest a decade ago to Colgate for $100 million.
Now, Tom Chappell is applying his same model of “ethical entrepreneurship” to clothing.
He’s started Ramblers Way, as a high-end, natural fiber, made-in-America clothing brand.
They have one store now in their home town of Kennebunk, but plan to open three more in the area by the end of the year, and keep growing from there.
“You have to learn the business that you’re in, the category that you’re competing in,” Tom Chappell said. “The feedback and the wisdom I have from my years of experience is, manage by values and be deliberate about how you take that into the marketplace.”
The clothing, much of it designed by his “New York-trained” designer daughter, Eliza, is made from quality, locally-sourced wool, or cotton.
By design, it’s more expensive, but the Chappells believe consumers will respond to higher quality materials, made in America.
Tom and Eliza Chappell will be the featured speakers at the Maine Family-Owned Business Awards Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn by the Bay.