Blog

King Eider’s Pub – Damariscotta

Scott McArdle & Damon Waltz have been close friends and co-workers in the food industry for years. They’ve been building up experience in different positions at a variety of locations, but have been long-time employees at King Eider’s Pub in Damariscotta. They truly knew the restaurant industry inside & out, co-managing & growing together – but when the opportunity to purchase King Eider’s arose, it put the business in a new light. The existing owners were committed to the transition and understood the value Scott & Damon brought, but they wanted to fully understand the risks & challenges that came along with the opportunity.  Read More

Networking For People Who Hate It

A group of 4 young professionals in an office building. A young caucasian man and woman are smiling in the background, while a young man of African descent is wearing a buttoned-down white shirt and a gray blazer, smiling and shaking hands with a blond-haired Caucasian woman wearing a teal blue blazer.Some of the best parts of networking are meeting people from all backgrounds, building your business, finding new clients, and getting your name out there, but it can also be an uncomfortable experience. If you’re an introvert, networking may be one of your least favorite activities. So here are some tips and tricks to make it effective and as stress-free as possible!

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Rangeley Adventure Co. – Rangeley

Michelle and Seth Laliberte are passionate educators who have enjoyed the Rangeley Region for over 20 years. And like so many others, the COVID pandemic had them re-evaluating their career and life goals. Having always dreamed of owning a small store they began exploring the options in their local area. Simultaneously, the owner of “Ecopelagicon” in Rangely was looking to retire after 29 years of providing gifts and outdoor gear. Read More

Developing Your Brand Identity

Did you know that establishing your brand identity is crucial to your marketing strategy and helps you better articulate your brand image? After all, the brand’s personality and originality are what people remember about your company and how your customers recognize and experience your business. 
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The Osprey – Georgetown

Group Photo of The Osprey Resturant, two white men and two white women with their arms around each other inside a restaurant doorway.The pandemic created an opportunity for Sarah (Armstrong) Kecskemethy, Zoli Kecskemethy, Tessa Boepple, and Dylan Boepple to come together to form the Four Cuckoo Birds, Inc. These two couples, who share vast experience in the food industry and a passion for food & community, were eager to get their dream business going and use their combined culinary skills to bring the Osprey back to Derecktor Robinhood Marina in Riggs Cove. With a strong belief in connectivity, they are fully committed to “fostering relationships within the community.” Read More

How To Prepare Your Business for Wholesale

Women of Asian decent sits crisscrossapplesauce on the floor in a loose teal long sleeve shirt and blue jeans. She is surrounded by boxes, a computer and a calculator. She is holding a pad of paper and seems to be adding on the calculator. It is a white room with natural light on a dark grey couch and a few plants. If you’re planning to start a business or already have an existing one, you may have considered whether wholesale is the right approach for your business. There are various factors to consider, so we’ve highlighted some major points to ensure you have the right tools to get started!  Read More

2022 – Leaning into Change

Maine SBDC Center Director & Business Advisor Raynor Large provides an overview of 2022, a year where we began to catch glimpses of “normal” and began to lean into the changes the pandemic has brought into our everyday lives. He also outlines the essential areas of business ownership that remain unchanged. 

A look back at 2022

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Seacoast Senior Advisors – Scarborough

Many seniors face large transitions and changes later in life and Dani Rockey loves getting to help families unravel and understand their options. So she started Seacoast Senior Advisors, a community-based organization focused on helping families navigate Senior Living options, understanding that transitions are hard enough and wanted to help make them easier. But to get started she needed some guidance herself. Read More

AWEN – Portland

Brinn Flagg, a white women with blonde hair leans on a wooden wall. Wearing a tan wide brimmed hat, denim overalls, and a dark patterned long sleeve shirt. AWEN; Family Recovery and Relationship Coaching, is an educational and counseling service for friends, partners, and parents of people with substance use disorder. It is different from most programs, as it uses a holistic experience-led approach. The coaching program offers support, education, resources, and community.

Founded by Brinn Flagg, AWEN is unique in that Brinn is an impacted loved one herself. Feeling the effects of her sister’s substance use disorder with nowhere to turn at the time, she sought support, strength, and knowledge by becoming a certified coach and counselor in order to share her experiences. Read More

The Nexus Arcade and Gaming Lounge – Winslow

The Nexus Arcade and Gaming Lounge logo, on black background. Cobalt blue graphic lines outline "The Nexus" in white, the X is larger and insects the whole logo.Mark Blaschke and Nicholas Murray, the partners behind The Nexus Arcade and Gaming Lounge, wanted to create a place that brought the local gaming community together around their shared passions. They brought a lot of enthusiasm to the project but not much knowledge about the business side of things, Mark knew he needed help making sure he was doing things correctly and legally. He was seeking expertise from someone who already had experience running a small business when he connected with Maine SBCD at CEI Business Advisor Peter Piconi. Read More