He is now getting more involved in buying, a complex area of the business where red tide in Canada, hurricanes in Maryland and heavy rain along the Ipswich clam flats all become part of the calculations. Ipswich Maritime carries between 350 and 400 items purchased from 25 countries. The majority of the business is distribution although there is some processing done at the plant. Halibut is filleted, cod is skinned and clams are shucked. Of course, the take-out stand on the Cape is less concerned with reputation and more concerned with having the product to serve, so if rain does indeed close the Ipswich flats it falls to Delaney to find clams somewhere and get them delivered.
Service is key to good business and people are the key to service.
The folks at Ipswich Maritime wear many hats, and Delaney's training is multifaceted, both to provide a comprehensive understanding of the works and out of necessity. It's not unusual to see the sales manager and owners packing product, loading trucks or even making deliveries. It's not as structured as most businesses but everything I do here affects someone else, and that goes for the work everybody here does. Driving a route George actually began working during high school in the coolers pulling product, packing swordfish and cleaning up the plant. Eventually he began driving a route and he feels a truck is the best place in which to learn the business.