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LIGHTHOUSE MONTH - LIGHTHOUSE MANIA
Story ran on: August 18, 1994
From the: The Southern Maine Coastal Beacon
When you’ve got a good idea, it’s only a matter of time before the public catches on... then you’ve got to ride the whirlwind.
Kathy Finnegan and Tim Harrison of Lighthouse Gifts, who opened their gift shop in Wells last May, specializing in lighthouse collectibles, lighthouse books and videos, lighthouse T-shirts and belt buckles, and (you guessed it) all kinds of other lighthouse stuff, are on the verge of an explosion.
“We haven’t had a bad since April,” says Tim, while their parking lot is full of cars with out-of-state plates (with plenty of Maine ones too). And so, at a time when they can’t keep up with the demand for lighthouse memorabilia at their shop, while they are hiring new people to help cope with the demand, and while they already don’t have enough parking spots for eager shoppers, Kathy and Tim just naturally thought it was time to take on some new projects…including taking Lighthouse Gifts nationwide.
This week has seen the completion of “Lighthouse Depot,” the world’s first catalog devoted exclusively to lighthouse collectibles. Billed as “The most complete selection of Lighthouse memorabilia ever assembled,” the catalog lists hundreds of items throughout its packed, full color forty eight pages.
To put the catalog together, they not only had hire photographers, models, and design the catalog, they also had to assemble a mailing list of 125,000 people, set up a 24-hour telephone bank, a computer network, a whole new telephone system, and find warehousing space in an already crowded building. And that was just the start.
From start to finish, it was a complex and expensive project, requiring thousands of man-hours to complete.
All this on top of running an already busy store, producing a monthly lighthouse publication (Lighthouse Digest) and spearheading a drive to increase public awareness about Maine’s lighthouses.
Kathy Finnegan, who started it with Tim several years ago when they moved to Maine and visited every lighthouse in the state, says “We anticipate outgrowing our building within a year.” The extra space required for the telephone operators and the shipping system needed for the catalog sales has already crowded the old farmhouse which holds Lighthouse Gifts to its limits. And the fact that the store itself already needs to expand to keep up with current demand place an enormous strain on their available resources. Currently, they have used up almost every square foot in the building, and have truck containers in the back yard to provide additional space.
And it all happened in less than year and a half. Kathy says they hope for a good return on their investment in the catalog; typically catalog sales might show a return of anywhere from one-half of one percent to one and a half percent; they expect as much as a ten percent return. Because many of the mailings are going out to already-loyal lighthouse buffs and current subscribers to their magazine, “Lighthouse Digest,” they expect an excellent return.
On top of this, the fact that their store was featured in the August edition of Yankee Magazine has already created a nationwide interest in their products: the first time Yankee has ever done a story on a gift shop. And their catalog, just out this week, has already made it into a national catalog magazine “The Best Catalogs In The World”…again, a first for Kathy and Tim; normally it takes years to get listed by such a catalog.
After such a string of successes, are they ready to relax and take it easy? No way. At the same time, Kathy and Tim were at the head of a drive to have Governor McKernan proclaim August as Lighthouse Month in Maine; a drive which will culminate on August 26, in an official proclamation being issued by the Governor.
“This year, there aren’t many activities planned at lighthouses” says Kathy, “but it will be different next year.”
Tim Harrison adds “Maine is known worldwide as the Lighthouse State, but we have fewer activities at lighthouses than anybody. We’re out to change that.”
Just what has fueled this lighthouse boom? Are the people stopping in to Lighthouse Gifts business just your average tourist? Far from it, Tim says.
“We have a lot of regulars. We don’t just have Canadian tourists come in, we have plenty of locals, as well as people who come to Maine just to see our shop! We’ve actually created a lot of tourism for Maine.”
Their newly-air-conditioned store was packed when we went to do the story. Every shelf was packed with thousands upon thousands of gift items, which change daily. Since the start of the season, Kathy estimates she has added over 700 new items to the store. Now they have everything from lighthouse pendants to six foot lawn lighthouses; with everything from baseball caps to beach towels in between. Every book and video on lighthouses produced in America is on sale; and there really is something for everyone, with items ranging from a couple of dollars to several hundred for one of the big lawn lighthouses. Where will it end?
“We want to be the L. L. Bean of lighthouse gift stores,” says Kathy jokingly…but on a more serious note, there are plans for even more things in the works…including a lighthouse tour company, and a company to produce Kathy’s own line of lighthouse collectibles.
A lighthouse theme park? “Maybe,” says Tim, smiling.
State of Maine Proclamation
Whereas, on behalf of the citizens of the great State of Maine, I am pleased to recognize the New England Foundation for their commitment and dedication, through its volunteer members, to the preservation of our lighthouse maritime heritage; and
Whereas, I comment their commitment to archive and work for the preservation of these historic landmarks through vital participation with all local lighthouse groups throughout New England; and
Whereas, I am pleased to join with all the citizens of the State of Maine in deep appreciation to the New England Lighthouse Foundation for their commitment to preserve our lighthouse heritage for future generations and to foster greater awareness of this region’s historical lighthouses.
Now, therefore, I, John R. McKernan, Jr., Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the month of August as Lighthouse Month throughout the State of Maine, and to remind all citizens that the lighthouses are to Maine what the castles are to Europe and to urge them to better acquaint themselves with our historic lighthouse heritage and history.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed given under my hand at Augusta this twenty-sixth day of August in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Four.
John R. McKernan, Jr.
Governor
This proclamation results in Maine being the fourth New England state to make August Lighthouse Month; the others being Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. On the 9th of August, The New England Lighthouse Foundation was presented with the proclamation by Robert Carr, State Representative from Sanford, and Joseph Carleton, the State Representative from Wells.
This year, little is planned except the relighting of Block Island Light on August 27.
If you want to partake in the growing craze for lighthouses, take a trip to Lighthouse Gifts. It is located on Route One (North) in Wells. They are open seven days a week. You can call the store at 646-0608.
To get a free copy of their Lighthouse Digest, their monthly newspaper, call 646-3128. It costs $24 per year for twelve issues.
Date Entered into online database: March 26, 2001
Permissions: Check with publication or story author for permission to reprint this story. Lighthouse Depot is not responsible for permissions on any story or article that is not published by Lighthouse Depot or Lighthouse Digest.
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