Blog

Taking Your Marketing from Effort to Impact

By Alison Lane, Maine SBDC Center Director and Business Advisor

We all know that marketing is essential in small business, but many owners still find it overwhelming. According to Constant Contact’s 2025 State of SMB Marketing Report, small businesses are investing more time and money in marketing and trying out new tools. Yet confidence has slipped.

Only 18% of business owners feel “very confident” in their marketing effectiveness, down from 27% in 2024.

How sure are you that you are getting a return on the valuable hours you spend thinking about and executing marketing efforts?

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Mourning Ventures – Dover-Foxcroft

Lisa Joy White, LMSW, MThanatology, CT founded Mourning Ventures of Maine in Dover-Foxcroft to offer personalized, evidence-based grief care and advance life planning support to individuals and communities as well as workplace consultations rooted in grief-informed practices. With fifteen years’ experience, Lisa holds a master’s degree and certification in thanatology. She is also a licensed master social worker.Read More

Boldly Lacquer – Machias

Ellie Hammond launched Boldly Lacquer in Machias after developing a nail allergy during the pandemic and struggling to find polish that met her standards. That experience sparked her passion for creating “10-free” nail lacquers, formulated without many of the harsh chemicals found in conventional products.Read More

Preparing for the Maine Winter Tourism Season

Fat BikesWinter in Maine is Changing. Here’s How Businesses Can Adapt.

Maine’s winters have always been a magnet for visitors. From skiing and snowmobiling to ice fishing and holiday festivals, the season fuels billions in economic activity. But as anyone who lives here knows, winter is changing, and with it, the way we approach tourism.Read More

Maine Compost Co – Lewiston

Joshua and Olivia Flynn founded Maine Compost Co LLC to tackle a growing problem in their community: food waste. Based in Lewiston, the business offers convenient compost pickup services to residential and commercial customers across Androscoggin County. With scheduled weekly or biweekly pickups, the Flynns aim to make composting easy and impactful for local households and businesses.Read More

The Cultivated Thread – Wiscasset

Hilary Crowell is the owner of The Cultivated Thread, a small batch weaving company based in Wiscasset that produces high-quality, handwoven textiles. After more than a decade of farming, she transitioned her weaving hobby into a full-time business in 2020, drawn by the chance to work independently and apply her practical skills in a new way.Read More

Waterville Food Truck Park & Jay’s Dumpling Truck

Zhanpo (“Popo”) Lu wanted to bring more food variety to Waterville, and in May 2025, she did just that by opening the region’s first dedicated food truck park. The Waterville Food Truck Park features six rotating food trucks and operates seven days a week. It’s home to more than 20 vendors offering everything from Thai and Caribbean cuisine to barbecue and baked goods.Read More

Tailz ‘er Waggin’ Barkery – Albion

Mary and Allen Blank launched Tailz ‘er Waggin’ Barkery to blend their passion for pets with their dream of a meaningful retirement. After years of corporate work at Deere & Company, the couple had already run a pet shop in the Midwest before taking a six-year journey across the U.S. in a motorhome with their five dogs. When they relocated to Albion, Maine in 2023, they knew they wanted to reestablish their all-natural dog treat business.Read More

Within the Whale – Topsham

Jessica Woodend turned a lifelong passion for marine education into a traveling business with a unique twist. Based in Topsham, Within the Whale brings marine mammal science directly to Maine schools, libraries, and summer camps, featuring a life-sized inflatable humpback whale named Chunk. Students can step inside the whale to explore anatomy and ocean conservation topics in an immersive and memorable way.Read More

Cuties – Portland

Nick Coffin and a team of seasoned industry veterans opened Cuties in Portland’s Old Port to fill a gap they saw in the local hospitality scene. Cuties is an all-day bar where guests can sip coffee, cocktails, or natural wine from 9 a.m. to midnight. With its seamless transition from laptop-friendly mornings to lively evenings, Cuties has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.  Read More