Featured Co-op Connection Business – Maple Landmark
If you’re searching for thoughtfully crafted, eco-friendly toys for the kids on your holiday list, look no further than Maple Landmark, our featured Co-op Connection Business. Based right here in Middlebury, Vermont, Maple Landmark has been making sustainable wooden toys, games, and gifts for over 40 years. Visit their factory store on Exchange Street and show them your Co-op membership card to enjoy 10% off your purchase all year long!
A Vermont Legacy of Craftsmanship
Maple Landmark began humbly in 1979 in founder Mike Rainville’s parents’ basement. Today, the company operates out of a 28,000-square-foot facility, producing nearly all of the items they sell. With a team of over 40 dedicated employees, they supply toys and gifts to stores and catalogs nationwide, while maintaining a delightful factory store for local shoppers. They take great pride in being a local business that supports other local businesses, while operating with sustainability at their core.
A Family Business
Maple Landmark is run by three generations of the Rainville family. Founder Michael Rainville serves as president and CEO, overseeing daily operations. His wife, Jill, manages the office, and his sister, Barbara, leads marketing and helps in the finish room. Their sons, Adam and Andrew, have joined the team as project and communications managers, respectively, contributing to product innovation and outreach efforts. Even Michael’s parents pitch in, with his mother, Pat, supervising finishing and hand-painting, and his father, Claude, helping with packing and lawn care in his spare time. Together, they embody a multigenerational dedication to quality and community.
Sustainably Sourced Materials
The wood Maple Landmark uses is primarily native to Vermont, including rock maple, pine, and cherry—ideal for wooden toys and gifts. By focusing on making smaller items, they are able to utilize downgraded lumber by cutting around defects, and make use of smaller “cast-off” cuts. They are also careful to work exclusively with local suppliers who are thoughtful about how the wood is harvested.
Click here to learn more about the use of lumber for Maple Landmark products.
A Commitment to Zero Waste
An honest concern for preserving our limited natural resources mixed with good old-fashioned Yankee frugality ensure that sustainability is more than a buzzword at Maple Landmark. Instead of sending their residual waste to the landfill, scrap wood becomes free kindling for local families, and wood shavings are donated to area farmers, who use it for cattle bedding. Over-packaging of products is another major source of waste, so Maple Landmark nixes plastic, and ships their products in reused and upcycled packing. Click here to learn more about their extensive and thoughtful recycling and conservation practices.
How It’s Made
Support Local, Shop Thoughtfully
Maple Landmark is more than just a toy company—they’re a pillar of our community, creating beautiful products while protecting the environment. This holiday season, we invite you to visit their factory store located at 1297 Exchange Street in Middlebury, and discover the magic of Vermont-made craftsmanship.
Santa is coming to town!
Santa and his elves will visit Maple Landmark on Saturday, December 14th. Tickets are limited – click here to reserve your spot!
