Dylan John and his fiancé Ellen turned their passion for style and community into Fore & Wharf, a boutique located in the heart of Portland. Specializing in thoughtfully curated men’s and women’s clothing, the shop embodies the charm and lifestyle of New England. Dylan’s vision was to create a store that celebrates coastal living while… Read more »
Posts Categorized: News & Events
Stand Out This Holiday Season: A Small Business Guide to Success
As the holiday season approaches, consumer spending is expected to rise. Even more promising, nearly 50% of shoppers prefer to visit physical stores to “assess products first-hand,” according to a recent Accenture Holiday Shopping survey. In this guide, we share three strategies to help your small business make the most of this shopping season. Tip… Read more »
Maine Names 2024 State Star
The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) has selected Stephanie Case as the 2024 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. Stephanie Case is the Administrative & Data Manager at the Maine SBDC. In… Read more »
Our Commitment to You
The Maine SBDC is preparing for an upcoming shift in its organizational structure. Rest assured, entrepreneurs and existing small business owners across Maine will continue to receive the same high-quality, no-cost, and confidential Maine SBDC business advising services they rely on. What’s Changing: Starting October 1st, Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI) will no longer be providing… Read more »
Choosing the Right Business Name
Part 7 of the “Things we wish we knew” blog series By: Tina Oddleifson, Business Advisor Your business name can be a cornerstone of a successful and memorable brand, or it can lead to unforeseen complications. For some clients, choosing the wrong name has resulted in administrative hassles, marketing missteps, and even cease-and-desist orders. To… Read more »
Intro to Using ChatGPT in Your Small Business
For small business owners, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) can be a game-changer. Among the various AI tools available, ChatGPT stands out as an accessible and helpful tool. ChatGPT specializes in generating text and having human-like conversations. It can assist with various tasks, including writing, brainstorming, planning, and more. In this blog post, we’ll explore how… Read more »
Cybersecurity Basics for Small Businesses
Part 6 of the “Things we wish we knew” Blog series By: Tina Oddleifson, Business Advisor Most small business owners don’t spend time worrying about cybersecurity attacks. Who would want to pick on your small business anyway, right? Wrong! As business advisors in Maine, we have heard many stories from our clients about attempts and… Read more »
Maine SBDC Recognizes Newly Certified Business Advisors
The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a state-wide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, recognized two business advisors who received their Core Competencies Certification from the New England Professional Development (NEPD) group on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Newly certified advisors include Chase Nelson (Maine SBDC) and Jodi Cordes (CEI’s Women’s Business… Read more »
Things to Know Before Signing a Lease
Part 5 of the “Things we wish we knew” Blog series By: Tina Oddleifson, Business Advisor You’ve got a business idea that you’ve been thinking about for a while and suddenly you see the perfect location. You’re convinced your business will not work anywhere other than in that adorable shop on the corner of… Read more »
How to Reach Your Customers
Part 4 of the “Things we wish we knew” Blog series By: Tina Oddleifson, Business Advisor “If you market to everyone, you’ll market to no one” – Famous Marketing Guru As business advisors, we review a lot of business plans. One thing we see regularly are marketing plans with vague references to social media… Read more »