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Maine SBDC offers FREE webinars to celebrate Small Business Week

National Small Business Week 2019

Small Business Week is May 5-11. We are hosting *FREE* webinars on topics that are most important to you. Here’s the lineup:

Starting a Business in Maine On-Demand Workshop | REGISTER
Monday, May 6th – RELEASE DATE
New on-demand workshop will be released on May 6th, just in time for Small Business Week. Business Advisor Josh Nadeau will walk you through the to starting a business. Register to be notified when the workshop is live.

The BARE Essentials of Digital Marketing| WORKSHOP IS FULL
Tuesday, May 7th at Noon – LIVE WEBINAR
In partnership with Flyte New Media
Guest Speaker: the one & only Rich Brooks!

Small Business Success: Tips from those who’ve been there | REGISTER
Wednesday, May 8th at Noon – LIVE WEBINAR
In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration
(Who better to celebrate Small Business Week with!)

**Space in these webinars is limited. register to save your spot! **

Want to Exit Smoothly? Start Now

By: Raynor Large, Business Advisor

Exit sign

Too often, a Seller lets external forces push them out. Unfortunately, selling a business isn’t like selling a home; a buyer’s due diligence looks deeper than the fresh coat of paint and some curb appeal. Instead, the Seller needs to start their planning years in advance for an ideal outcome.Read More

Ammo Self Storage (E&S Properties) – Hampden, Maine

Eddie and Susan Rideout are experienced business owners. They own Hampden Redemption Center as well as a Rideout Enterprises, a commercial cleaning service in the Hampden area. They had the opportunity to purchase another business – a storage unit business in Ammo Industrial Park, a former military location in Hampden from the 1960’s. They already rented several spaces at this location for their current enterprises, and did some maintenance and snow plowing for the owners. They were present on the property and had skill-sets to make ideal owners.Read More

News Release: Maine SBDC to Celebrate 3rd Annual SBDC Day

Small Business Development Centers Around the Country Celebrate Impact on Small Business on Wednesday, March 20th

SBDC DayFor over 40 years the Maine Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) has helped aspiring and emerging business owners achieve the American dream of entrepreneurship. On Wednesday, March 20, the Maine SBDC will join SBDCs around the country for one special day to celebrate their work, impact and most importantly their clients – America’s small businesses.

“SBDC Day is a great opportunity to highlight the amazing work our clients and advisors do together, and to celebrate their successes in Maine and across the country,” commented State Director Mark Delisle.

With nearly 1,000 locations across the country, SBDCs provide local businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. In Maine, business advisors helped over 1,500 entrepreneurs to start 136 businesses, create and save 810 jobs and access $38.7 million in capital in 2018 alone.

“[With] proven ROI and stellar client ratings it’s clear that America’s SBDCs are the nation’s most trusted small business resource,” said Charles “Tee” Rowe, President & CEO of America’s SBDC.

To celebrate the collective impact and success SBDCs have across the nation and in local communities each year, America’s SBDCs are hosting the third annual SBDC Day on March 20th. SBDC Day is a national movement to help share the small business success stories and notable impact SBDCs have fostered in communities nationwide.

To learn more about SBDC Day, and to join the movement, visit http://www.americassbdc.org/SBDCDay

Wilcox Wellness & Fitness – Bangor & Brunswick, Maine

Wilcox Wellness & Fitness When Paige Wilcox and her husband Mike first opened Wilcox Wellness & Fitness six years ago, they worked extensively with Maine SBDC business advisor Tom Gallant. Tom helped the Wilcox’s to create a business plan in order to obtain the necessary financing which allowed them to open the doors of their 4,000 square foot facility in Bangor. Tom challenged them to think through the value proposition and the transition process.  With that, they were set up for success from the beginning. Paige remembers, “Tom was amazing for us – 1 part business advisor, 2 parts marriage counselor, and 100% amazing.”Read More

New Center Director & Business Advisor in our Portland Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Maine SBDC names Peter Harriman as Center Director

Peter HarrimanPortland, Maine – The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a program that provides business advising and training to Maine’s entrepreneurs and small businesses, recently named Business Advisor Peter Harriman to Center Director at the Portland office located at the University of Southern Maine. Within this new role, Harriman will oversee operations at both the Portland and Saco offices, including the management of three business advisors. He will also continue to advise entrepreneurs and small businesses in the greater Portland area.

Harriman has been a business advisor with the Maine SBDC for over three years. In this time, he has spent thousands of hours advising hundreds of clients toward success. He was named Maine SBDC’s 2018 State Star, an award given annually to recognize exemplary performance and commitment to small business success. Peter can be reached by calling 207-780-4949 or emailing peter.harriman@maine.edu.

Maine SBDC hires Susan Desgrosseilliers as Business Advisor

Susan DesgrosseilliersThe Maine SBDC has also hired Susan Desgrosseilliers as a Business Advisor in their Portland office located at the University of Southern Maine. Desgrosseilliers will provide business advising to new and existing entrepreneurs and small businesses in Cumberland County.

Desgrosseilliers has a Bachelors degree from the University of Southern Maine. She has owned and operated several small businesses including a high-end design showroom and a property development and management company. She has also held positions with the City of Portland, the Rockland/Thomaston Chamber of Commerce and several real estate agencies. She can be reached by calling 207-780-4949 or emailing susan.desgrosseilliers@maine.edu.

On-demand, online seminars to prepare you for your next trade show

trade showExhibiting at a trade show is an investment.  Learn how to make the most of your next trade show at one of our online seminars!

These seminars are especially helpful for those exhibiting at the New England Made Giftware & Specialty Food Show, but are open to anyone interested in learning more about trade shows.

Read More

TGN Detailing

TGN Detailing logoHave you ever gotten your vehicle detailed and felt the stress of dropping your vehicle off for service and not having access to your vehicle for a full day? Anyone who has gotten their vehicle detailed will tell you this is the biggest downside to the service. Although many people take pride in their vehicles and want clean rides, sometimes the hassle of not having a vehicle to use during the day stops people dead in their tracks. This inconvenience is what sparked Taylor Nadeau’s creative juices to open a mobile detailing business. Nadeau has been detailing vehicles on the side for years and has worked for local dealerships in the past, and in his experience, it was always a challenge getting clients to drop off and leave their vehicle for any extended amount of time. Nadeau saw the inconvenience this caused clients as an opportunity for himself.Read More