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
Blog
NKENNE – Portland
Michael Odokara has one of the most important elements needed to succeed in entrepreneurship, a growth mindset! Having founded ESM Global Consulting, an IT consulting firm, he’s familiar with the need to embrace that sweet spot between curiosity and taking action. So when he decided to learn his native language of Igbo during the pandemic but was unable to find a suitable African language learning platform, he built one! That platform is called, NKENNE. Read More
Sixberry Solutions – Skowhegan
Making the transition to digital marketing has not been easy, especially for rural Maine. With a lack of internet infrastructure and old-school mentalities, small businesses need to be inventive with their marketing strategies. Noah and Ashley Sixberry know this all too well, both having grown up in Maine. So they started Sixberry Solutions in 2020 to bring quality website design and effective organic marketing strategies to the Maine market, as well as across the US. Read More
MotoResto – Portland
Krystal Stone and Andrew Furbush came to the Maine SBDC in June of 2021. Andrew, a knowledgeable mechanic with a passion for antique and classic car restoration and Krystal who is great with managing all of the aspects of the auto business wanted to start their own company, MotoResto, LLC. At that time, they were looking to purchase the business where they were employed. Maine SBDC at USM Certified Business Advisor, Chris Cole worked with them on financial projections, terms of the sale, and the feasibility of purchasing the business. By doing this process, it helped Krystal and Andrew to realize purchasing that business was not the right option for them. Read More
Dobson Family Funeral & Cremation Services – Arundel
Jeffrey Dobson has a passion for helping people through hard times. Born and raised in Maine, he knows how difficult dealing with the death of a loved one can be. Facing the complex and expensive funeral system after his mother passed in 2005 taught him some valuable lessons. He is now using that experience to guide his new business Dobson Family Funeral & Cremation Services, providing compassionate and affordable funeral & cremation services in Arundel. Read More
Peace, Love, Waffles – Dover-Foxcroft
Michael Begley was the 5th generation to work at the restaurant his father’s family owned and operated. So when his mother pitched the idea of a waffle-themed restaurant, he knew it would be worth moving to Maine to help with! In the fall of 2019, they got started in their first location. However, COVID quickly had them shifting their plans and attention to their current Dover-Foxcroft location, in what they lovingly refer to as “The Waffle Barn”. In February 2021, they opened their doors as Peace, Love, Waffles – “the cutest little breakfast joint in New England, specializing in gourmet waffles!” There they offer a robust menu of sweet and savory waffles, plus community events! Read More
Understanding Your Customer Through Market Research
Market research is one of the first things small business owners should consider when starting their business. This research will help you identify who your customers are, what they like, and how best to reach them. Read More
DealPoint Corporation – South Berwick
Paul Dube is a seasoned business professional with 35+ years of experience in the finance, IT and medical device industries. He loves entrepreneurship and wanted to bring a digital transformation to Maine. So in 2022, he founded DealPoint Corporation, a Maine-based application development company. Their mission is the development of automated and cost-effective solutions for small businesses, with the goal of growing sales and increasing customer retention. Read More
Michael James Murray Photography – Lisbon
Michael James Murray has a long history of photography in his family. He grew up in Rochester, NY, where his dad worked for Eastman Kodak as a Chemist developing the emulsions for consumer photographic film. Later, Michael moved to New York City to work at B&H Photo Video Audio, where he met his wife, a fellow artist. Looking to leave the corporate world, Michael started his own photography business in 2009, producing unique 360-degree landscape photographs and found success with the vibrant community of street artists in NYC. In 2016, his family moved to Lisbon, Maine to be closer to his in-laws, and he transitioned to the seasonality of Maine’s small business community. He jumped right into a plethora of fairs and festivals throughout New England. Read More
Common Small Business Bookkeeping Mistakes
Keeping accurate records of your business’s financial transactions is critical to ensure consistency and avoid bookkeeping mistakes. However, small business owners often make common bookkeeping errors that can lead to significant financial problems. Read More