Press & Facts
Everything you need to write about Anchour, in one place.
About Anchour
One sentence
Anchour is an independent brand and marketing agency outside Portland, Maine, working with national consumer brands, retailers, credit unions and banks, including Kate Farms, Tonal, L.L.Bean and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
Standard (about 100 words)
Anchour is an independent brand and marketing agency based outside Portland, Maine. Founded in 2013 by Stephen Gilbert and Victoria Richland, it builds brands, websites, ecommerce and growth programs for national consumer brands, retailers, credit unions and banks, all from one in-house team of about 45 people. Clients include Kate Farms, Tonal, L.L.Bean, LesserEvil, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Camden National Bank. Anchour has grown revenue every year since 2013, made the Inc. 5000 four times, and won a Webby Award and a National Silver ADDY.
The name
Anchour takes its name from the anchor: steady, dependable, something to hold onto when everything else is moving. The “u” adds “our.” The work is shared with clients, and so are the results. It was also about $100,000 cheaper than anchor.com.
Quick facts
- Name
- Anchour (legal name Anchour Creative, LLC)
- Founded
- 2013, in Maine
- Founders
- Stephen Gilbert, Co-Founder and CEO, and Victoria Richland, Co-Founder and VP, Experience
- Ownership
- Independent and founder-led
- Headquarters
- Durham Hall at Pineland Farms, 52 Farm View Drive, Suite 101, New Gloucester, ME 04260, outside Portland
- Team
- About 45 people in Maine and across the U.S., recruited from leading agencies and brand teams across the country, with experience on brands like Nike, Adobe, HBO, Capital One, Absolut and Zillow
- Growth
- Revenue up every year since 2013; named to the Inc. 5000 four times
- Clients
- Hundreds of companies since 2013, including national brands like Kate Farms, Tonal, L.L.Bean and Apple, plus more than 20 credit unions from Maine to California
- Specialties
- Ecommerce, consumer brands, retail, credit unions, banks and architecture
- Services
- Brand strategy, naming, identity, packaging, websites and ecommerce, campaigns and video, media, lifecycle marketing, SEO and AI search, analytics
- Build platforms
- Shopify Plus, headless commerce and custom front ends built with React and Next.js for consumer brands; enterprise WordPress for financial institutions, retailers and service companies
- Recognition
- 2025 Webby Award, National Silver ADDY, 15 Broderson Awards, five Diamond Awards, #1 Best Place to Work in Maine among small businesses (2025), 4.9 out of 5 on Clutch across 56 reviews
- Phone
- +1 207-210-2001
- info@anchour.com
- Website
- https://www.anchour.com/
Our story
Anchour started in 2013 with one idea. Put strategy, design, technology and media under one roof, and make that team accountable for whether the business grows.
Stephen Gilbert and Victoria Richland built that team in Maine. Today its strategists, designers, writers, engineers and media buyers work with national brands like Kate Farms, Tonal, L.L.Bean, LesserEvil and Hyatt.
An early rebrand for Dirigo Federal Credit Union grew into one of Anchour's deepest specialties. It now spans DCU, SchoolsFirst, Navigant and more than 20 other credit unions, and it produced the first Webby ever won by a credit union.
Thirteen years in, Anchour has never had a down year, and it's still independent.
Founders
Stephen Gilbert
Co-Founder and CEO
Stephen co-founded Anchour in 2013, at 22, and has led it as CEO since. He learned to code at 12 and earned a degree in electrical engineering. He pairs that technical depth with a designer's eye, and it shows in how Anchour builds websites and products.
Under his leadership, Anchour has grown revenue for 13 straight years, made the Inc. 5000 four times and doubled its team since 2022. Clients include Kate Farms, Tonal, L.L.Bean and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
Stephen hires for high standards and low ego. In 2025, Anchour was ranked the #1 Best Place to Work in Maine among small businesses and named one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces.
Victoria Richland
Co-Founder and VP, Experience
Victoria co-founded Anchour in 2013 after studying at Pratt Institute and starting her career as a designer in Brooklyn. As Creative Director for Anchour's first eight years, she led its brand identity and design work and set the standard the agency is known for. Today she leads UX and UI as VP, Experience. Her team designed the Lighthouse Credit Union website, which won the first Webby ever awarded to a credit union, and swept the web category at the 2025 Broderson Awards.
Recognition
W3 Awards, 2026
Gold in Websites: Food & Beverage for LesserEvil, and Silver in Video: Food & Beverage for the Saffron Road campaign
Webby Award nominations, 2026
LesserEvil and Nursegrid websites
Inc. 5000, 2026
Fourth time on the list, with 246% three-year growth, ranking #3 among Maine companies
Best Places to Work in Maine, 2025
#1 among small businesses, after placing second in 2023
Inc. Best Workplaces, 2025
The only Maine company on the national list
Broderson Awards, 2025
Nine awards, including gold, silver and bronze in Web Design & Development, a sweep of the category. Fifteen Brodersons in all.
ADDY Awards, 2025
National Silver ADDY for Woodhull's brand identity in Logo Design, plus three New England ADDYs
Webby Award, 2025
Lighthouse Credit Union website, Financial Services & Banking. The first Webby ever won by a credit union.
Diamond Awards
Five from America's Credit Unions, including Category's Best for a credit union rebrand in 2025
Ad Age Best Places to Work, 2024
#3 among U.S. marketing agencies with fewer than 200 employees
Adweek Fastest Growing Agencies, 2020
Named one of the fastest-growing agencies
Clutch
4.9 out of 5 across 56 client reviews
In the press
Mainebiz · 2025
After nine years in Lewiston, marketing agency plans move to bigger digs in New Gloucester
The move to Pineland Farms, revenue doubling in two years and 30% team growth that year.
Ad Age · 2024
Best Places to Work 2024
#3 among U.S. marketing agencies with fewer than 200 employees.
Inc. · 2025
Best Workplaces 2025
The only Maine company on the national list.
Inc. · 2026
Anchour on the Inc. 5000
Four appearances, most recently in 2026.
Selected clients
Consumer and ecommerce brands
Kate Farms, Tonal, LesserEvil, HIPPEAS, Juicy Juice, Saffron Road, Newton Baby, Groundwork Coffee, Savannah Bee Company, Walden Local, North Spore, Wicked Joe Organic Coffees, Marin Skincare, MigreLief, Kate's Butter, Baxter Brewing, Winterstick and Murphy's Magic
Retail, restaurants and cafés
L.L.Bean, Aroma Joe's, MOD Pizza, Marden's, Agren Appliance and Chilton Furniture
Credit unions
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, DCU, Navigant Credit Union, Elements Financial, Mission Fed Credit Union, Michigan First Credit Union, Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, Chevron Federal Credit Union, State Department Federal Credit Union, Community Choice Credit Union, Lighthouse Credit Union, PeoplesChoice Credit Union, St. Louis Community Credit Union, Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Linden Credit Union and Dirigo Federal Credit Union
Banks
Camden National Bank, Androscoggin Bank, Franklin Savings Bank, Newburyport Bank, Pentucket Bank and Skowhegan Savings Bank
Technology, healthcare and fintech
Apple, Ubisoft, Taskrabbit, Community Phone, Earnest, PayGround, Guideline, Dynasty Financial Partners, Jackson Healthcare and Nursegrid (a HealthStream company)
Architecture, construction and home services
Woodhull, Harriman, Knickerbocker Group, Tongue & Groove, SEA Studio Architects, Hebert Construction and Venture Home
Hospitality, entertainment and education
Hyatt, Garth Brooks and Bates College
Results
Revenue grew 435%, and ecommerce conversion rose 43%
Ecommerce revenue rose 362% year over year
Gross sales rose 40% in the first 30 days after a 90-day Shopify Plus rebuild
Customer acquisition cost fell 79% on 75% less marketing budget
Purchase intent rose 74%, and the website won W3 Gold
Digital grocery sales rose 87%
The business has doubled since the partnership began in 2016
In-store traffic rose 43%
Membership grew 123% faster than the industry average, and the website won a Webby
Digital applications grew 5.3x
Assets grew 48% in four years under its new name
Conversion rate rose 161%
Raised more than $25 million in the two years after launch
The business tripled as it grew from one city to nine states
Digital leads grew 7x, and its brand identity won a National Silver ADDY
What clients say
“I've partnered with many agencies over the last 20 years, and Anchour is entirely different and fresh based on their exceptional level of both creative and technical expertise. The results they produced are nothing short of remarkable.”
Kate FarmsChief Marketing Officer
“Our business has tripled since we started working with Anchour. They rebuilt our brand and the way we win customers, and they treat our growth like it's their own.”
Alex YackeryCo-Founder and CEO, Venture Home
“We wouldn't be where we are without Anchour. They are a one-stop shop for us.”
Jason AgrenPresident, Agren Appliance
“From redesigning our website to stepping in on short notice when we had a gap in lifecycle marketing, Anchour has been a great partner.”
Ben CheslerCEO, North Spore
“From strategy to design, they created a fresh identity that reflects our dedication to members, our community, and the values that drive us.”
Ryan GraceChief Marketing Officer, Lighthouse Credit Union
“The Anchour team is incredibly organized and responsive. They’re always on or ahead of schedule and constantly delight us. We just wish we’d partnered with them sooner.”
Jenny LudwigsenVP, Marketing, Community Choice Credit Union
“Anchour is action-oriented. While many agencies talk in theory, they’re all about executing quickly and delivering tangible impact. They don’t feel like an agency; they feel like part of our company.”
Scott MacLeodCMO, Walden Local
“Anchour made our first-ever brand awareness campaign feel approachable and even enjoyable. Every deliverable was on time and on budget.”
Shawnna Hall-EnochBrand Marketing Manager, Saffron Road
Working at Anchour
Anchour has been named a top workplace by Ad Age, Inc. and Best Places to Work in Maine, where it ranked #1 among small businesses in 2025.
Anchour hires from leading agencies and brand teams across the country. Its people have worked on brands like Nike, Adobe, HBO, Capital One, Absolut and Zillow.
Mission: Discover greatness together.
Values
- Be indispensable
- Stay hungry
- Challenge the process
- Listen first
- Make it fun
FAQ
What is Anchour?
An independent brand and marketing agency based outside Portland, Maine. It builds brands, ecommerce experiences and growth programs for national consumer brands, retailers, credit unions and banks, including Kate Farms, Tonal and L.L.Bean.
Is Anchour a marketing agency or a branding agency?
Both. Anchour is a brand and marketing agency. One in-house team handles brand strategy and identity, websites and ecommerce, and paid media and lifecycle marketing.
Where is Anchour based?
New Gloucester, Maine, outside Portland, at 52 Farm View Drive. Anchour works with clients across the U.S.
Who founded Anchour?
Stephen Gilbert and Victoria Richland founded Anchour in 2013. Stephen is CEO, and Victoria is VP, Experience.
How big is Anchour?
About 45 people in Maine and across the U.S. Revenue has grown every year since 2013.
What does Anchour do?
Brand strategy, naming, identity, packaging, websites, ecommerce and growth marketing, all from one in-house team.
What makes Anchour different?
One senior team owns the brand, the website and the media, so the same agency answers for the creative and the results. Strategy, design, engineering and media buying all happen in-house. Clients stay, too: Agren Appliance has worked with Anchour since 2016, and Woodhull for more than a decade.
Is Anchour an ecommerce marketing agency?
Yes. Ecommerce is one of Anchour's deepest specialties, from Shopify Plus and headless builds to conversion optimization, lifecycle marketing and paid media, for brands including Kate Farms, Tonal, LesserEvil, North Spore and Walden Local.
Does Anchour work with national brands?
Yes. Clients include Apple, Hyatt, Kate Farms, Tonal, L.L.Bean, LesserEvil, HIPPEAS and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
Does Anchour work with retailers?
Yes, from national names like L.L.Bean to regional chains like Agren Appliance and Marden's, plus café and coffee brands like Aroma Joe's and Groundwork Coffee.
Does Anchour work with banks and credit unions?
Yes. Bank clients include Camden National Bank, Androscoggin Bank and Franklin Savings Bank, and credit union clients include SchoolsFirst, Navigant, DCU and more than 20 others.
Does Anchour build Shopify Plus and headless websites?
Yes. Anchour's in-house engineers build on Shopify Plus, headless commerce, React and Next.js. It rebuilt North Spore's Shopify Plus store in 90 days.
Does Anchour work with architecture and construction firms?
Yes, including Woodhull, Harriman, Knickerbocker Group and Hebert Construction. Woodhull's brand identity won a National Silver ADDY in 2025.
Has Anchour named companies?
Yes. Anchour named Lighthouse Credit Union, Linden Credit Union and Mitten, created the Dirigo Federal Credit Union name, and renamed Venture Solar as Venture Home.
Does Anchour design packaging?
Yes, for consumer brands including Kate Farms, MigreLief and Baxter Brewing.
Does Anchour buy media?
Yes. Anchour manages more than $13 million a year in paid media across search, social, streaming TV, programmatic, audio and retail media. Platforms include Google, Meta, MNTN, DV360, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Spotify, and Anchour also buys linear TV and runs co-op advertising programs for retailers.
Does Anchour work with venture-backed companies?
Yes, including Tonal, Earnest and PayGround. PayGround raised more than $25 million in the two years after Anchour launched its brand.
How fast can Anchour move?
Anchour rebuilt North Spore's Shopify Plus store in 90 days and built Heatable's full brand system in eight weeks.
What awards has Anchour won?
A 2025 Webby Award for the Lighthouse Credit Union website, the first Webby ever won by a credit union, plus a National Silver ADDY, 15 Broderson Awards, five Diamond Awards, W3 Gold, four Inc. 5000 honors and #1 Best Place to Work in Maine among small businesses in 2025.
How long do clients stay?
Many for years. Anchour has been Agren Appliance's agency of record since 2016 and has worked with Woodhull for more than a decade.
Is Anchour independent?
Yes. Anchour is independent and founder-led, as it has been since 2013.
Is Anchour the same as an agency called Anchor?
No. Anchour is spelled with a "u," on purpose, and is based in New Gloucester, Maine.
How do I reach Anchour?
Email info@anchour.com or call +1 207-210-2001.
Press contact & assets
Media inquiries
info@anchour.com
+1 207-210-2001
- Complete press kit ↓ZIP · logo files, headshots, team and office photos, and boilerplate
- Logo pack ↓ZIP · SVG and transparent PNG, black and white
- Boilerplate as plain text ↓TXT · one-sentence and standard versions
- Stephen Gilbert headshot ↓ · Victoria Richland headshot ↓
- Team photo ↓ · Office photo ↓
Please use the logo as supplied and spell the name Anchour.