Tommy Maruca and Jonathan Record are first time small business owners but long term fans of A&B Naturals, the natural food store they just bought on MDI! The couple shares a passion for a healthy lifestyle and products that are good for both people and the planet. Values they also share with the previous owner, which became apparent over the past 6 years, with Record as the Produce and Bulk Food Buyer at A&B Naturals. So when the business became available to buy, they thought Record’s personal experience in the shop and Maruca’s extensive retail management experience would make them the right team to take this Maine business into its next phase. Read More
Blog
Great Wave Sushi – Portland
Seeing young entrepreneurs launch a new business and develop roots in their community is one of the most satisfying outcomes for the Maine SBDC. It’s even more exciting to help them scale up, grow and succeed. For Alex and Megan Herzog, starting Great Wave Sushi is the perfect example of how a new business with a fresh idea can take hold and and take off.
Alex Herzog started Great Wave Sushi in the fall of 2020 as a sushi cart after spending time in California perfecting his craft before returning home to Maine. He quickly differentiated himself in the marketplace by offering a creative twist on traditional sushi with items like a sushi burger, sushi tower, and poke nachos. By partnering with a local Portland brewery, he was able to offer up his menu to hungry beer drinkers and developed a loyal following and a reliable revenue stream. Read More
Yarrow – Kittery
In 2019, Jodie Curtis opened Yarrow, a retail shop that invites customers to be curious and explorative about what wellness can look like! Jodie has a background in retail, with experience in wholesale, product development, and marketing, which helped her understand the complexities of owning a retail business. But for her, the creative freedom of being her own boss has been worth the challenges!Read More
Understanding Financial Statements – A Video Series
Do you struggle with financial management in your small business? Are you intimidated by the income statement, baffled by the balance sheet, or confused by a cash flow statement?
You’re not alone!
Most small business owners don’t use their financial reports to their full advantage or only see them only as a tool to file their annual tax returns. This means you’re missing out on opportunities to improve your profitability and make decisions that could impact your quality of life as a business owner.Read More
Cadillac Mtn. Summit Shuttle – Bar Harbor
The best business ideas solve a problem for their customers and Ellen Finn of Cadillac Mtn. Summit Shuttle definitely does that! She has lived and worked as a local tour guide on Mount Desert Island for many years, just outside Acadia National Park. A few years ago, the National Park System instituted a reservation system for driving up the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road, limiting access to this popular spot in the peak tourist season. Those who did not know about this new system, or those who made a last-minute plan to visit the park, were often disappointed to find out that they would be unable to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Ellen saw the need for a no-reservation, hourly, shuttle service to the top of Cadillac Mountain so their adventures could continue! Read More
The Frappe Shoppe – Brunswick
Jamie Alexander fondly remembers working at the Brunswick drive-in restaurant, which her grandparents started in the 1950s. The restaurant was a staple in the community and Jamie began working there as a young teen, making milkshakes, frappes, and other drive-in favorites. It has been her dream for a decade to bring that experience to downtown Brunswick and to contribute to the revitalization of Main Street. Focusing specifically on creating delicious frappes, a uniquely New England term that refers to a milkshake with ice cream, Jamie finally found the ideal location at 147 ½ Main Street. The small corner space had been vacant for a while and was perfect for her startup. She began renovating the space in the spring and summer of 2022, using her connections as a local realtor to find the contractors she needed. Read More
Maine SBDC Names 2023 State Star
The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) has selected Anne Lancaster as the 2023 State Star. The award, given annually, recognizes a member of the Maine SBDC staff who has shown exemplary performance and a strong commitment to small business success.
Anne Lancaster is a business advisor at the Maine SBDC at University of Southern Maine. She works with entrepreneurs and small businesses in York county to start, sustain and grow their businesses. In the four years she has been with the Maine SBDC, she has spent approximately 3,500 hours advising over 900 clients. She’s helped to start 13 businesses, create and save 48 jobs, and generate almost $3.3 million in capital. Anne’s clients rave about her ability to listen, her patience, and her supportive and knowledgeable approach to business advising. Read More
1 Earth Composting – Hampden
Katie Saunders, NP-C, is a primary care provider (or family nurse practitioner) and an environmental activist. Her husband, Matt Saunders, was a professional chef for over 20 years and is now a stay-at-home dad to their 3 children. Their backgrounds in farming, food, and environmental activism led them to start 1 Earth Composting, a residential and commercial composting business offering subscriptions for curbside pickups of compostable materials. They found that sweet spot within their vocations and passions! Read More
Sculpture Hospitality of Maine – Portland
Phillip Badger has 17 years of experience in the bar/restaurant industry, working his way through each front-of-house position. And though he loves the bar/restaurant world, he’s not a big fan of the late hours so he’s spent the last few years consulting. Having set down roots in Southern Maine he’s ready to share his expertise with fellow Maine restaurant owners. But setting out on his own as a first-time business owner meant he had a lot of questions! Read More
Wears & Wares – Farmington
Lisa Park Laflin grew up in the Farmington area, left for a number of years but returned to raise a family and enjoy the mountains of western Maine. After a long career in non-profit management, she was looking for a way to combine her love for community, art and upcycling. Ultimately, this led her to purchase Wears & Wares, a boutique consignment shop that sells clothing, upcycled and vintage items, and offers workshops ranging from repurposing furniture to making jewelry out of computer parts! Read More