Wayne Drake had a unique opportunity, to purchase and take over the business where he began his professional career. When Wayne was a teenager, he worked at Better Living Center, an organic, whole food store located in Farmington Maine. He not only assisted with customer service duties but helped with bookkeeping, payroll, and ordering supplies…. Read more »
Posts By: MaineSBDC_Admin
Lessons Learned: Weathering the Financial Storm
By Tina Oddleifson The first in a series of blog posts of what the small business community learned from Covid 19 Economic downturns have been a regular but painful part of small business ownership. Yet unlike other recessions, Covid 19 hit Main Street businesses first and hit them hardest. When it comes to financing your… Read more »
Lessons Learned – A Series
By Tina Oddleifson Over the last 16 months, Maine small business owners were put to the test by a global pandemic. Over the next few months, the SBDC will offer a series of articles focused on the lessons learned from one of the most challenging years in our collective history. Look for posts on how… Read more »
Live Life Family Practice – South Paris
After years of practicing in a large medical facility, Cortney struggled with the all-encompassing role the insurance industry played in providing care. To remove this from the equation and provide more direct care in addressing her patients’ needs, she launched her own private practice based on a Direct Primary Care Model, in which a subscription-based… Read more »
Trailside Gardens – Abbot
Trailside Gardens evolved from a lifelong interest in the natural world surrounding us, particularly plants and landscape design. For eight years, Trailside Gardens in Abbot has offered an impressive selection of healthy plant material. As a small nursery selling plants, business owner Pauline Eldredge was facing supply issues and decided she was ready and… Read more »
Unmatched Apparel – Lewiston
Alexis and business partner Tawni have a shared passion for using creative tailoring skills to upcycle thrift-based clothing into unique and expressive apparel. While originally only doing so for themselves and friends, and an appreciation for their environmental movement, a vibrant brand quickly grew. They name their unique business Unmatched Apparel. As the two experienced… Read more »
Should I Raise My Prices?
By: Business Advisor Lori Allen Even in the best of times, pricing decisions can be agonizing. It is one of the most critical decisions you need to make in your business model because your profit margins hinge on being able to price effectively. Price too low and you will lose money; price too high and… Read more »
COVID’s Impact on Maine’s Small Businesses
In August 2020, Maine SBDC partnered with Richard Arend from the University of Southern Maine to survey hundreds of Maine small business owners. The survey sought insight into how businesses have been impacted by the pandemic and the steps they have taken as a result. Here’s our findings…
Long Shot Revival Homestead
The Long Shot Revival Homestead, in Orland, is a family farm owned and run by Joe and Haley Brown. Joe is an Army National Guard veteran and initially thought farming and raising pigs would be a good therapeutic outlet as he transitioned back to civilian life. Starting off with just a few piglets, Maine SBDC… Read more »