Friendship Trap

by Mike Crowe

Friendship Trap Company in Friendship, Maine, has a new owner, but that is the extent of the changes at the 34-year-old company. The new owner, Chris Anderson, said he is determined to keep doing what the company has been doing so well for so long. Anderson said the company’s focus will remain building the best custom traps and providing the best customer service.

The Friendship Trap Company was started by Pike Bartlett in 1977. Bartlett has been involved in other business interests and decided to sell the company to concentrate on those interests. Most of the generations of fishermen who have done business with Friendship Trap over the decades may be more familiar with the Wadsworth name. Mike Wadsworth has been with the company for many years and has been leading the company for the last 12 years.

Mike’s brother Jerry Wadsworth has been the salesman customers see along the New England coast. Brother Mark Wadsworth has spent his entire working life, 30 years, building lobster traps, most of that at Friendship Trap and serves as production manager. All these Friendship Trap veterans will continue to do what they have been doing with Mike in an advisory role.

The 49-year-old Anderson’s background during the past 25 years has been in global operations for corporations which include IBM, Dell Computer, Best Buy and most recently, Avery Dennison, where he was responsible for 70 plants in 40 countries. He developed manufacturing techniques and customization in high-volume operations, which included maximizing efficiency and quality. Anderson had vacationed with his family in Maine and when he decided to move from a major corporation to owning his own business he decided to buy a business in a place he would like to live.

Anderson said, “I don’t want to change those things at Friendship Trap that work so well. Especially the part fishermen are interacting with. Things will not look any different to them, but internally we expect things will be working better in ways the customer may never see. Friendship Trap is a good company and we hope with my experience to make it a great company.

“A big part is how we meet the customer’s requirements, and I am focused on that. We will continue to make traps that are built the best, built to last, and built your way. I need to learn how the company works. One thing I’ve learned in working for so many companies around the world is that you need to get in and understand first before you can help find better ways.”

As Anderson takes the reins, the Wadsworths, each with 30 years experience in lobster trap building, have been showing him the ropes at one of the state’s major manufacturers of a key component in one of Maine’s largest industries. Mike Wadsworth said, “Chris is the best guy for the job. He brings a lot to the company and we look forward to collaborating with him. He is definitely the right guy for the job.” Wadsworth and others will be working alongside Anderson during and after the transition period.

Anderson said he knows customer service is one of the things that has made Friendship Trap a leader and has no plans to change that. He mentioned Jimmy Emerson at the Columbia Falls branch. “They too know their customer base and will continue to serve them the way theyhave over the years.”

Building lobster traps is complex, and building custom traps makes it more complex, said Anderson. His experience building custom products for major corporations makes him confident he can find ways to continue improving Friendship Trap Company.