Posts Categorized: Agriculture

Preparation For Fairs, Festivals And Farmers Markets

A collage of photos of people and tents. Blue background with white type reading Fairs, Festivals & Farmers Markets: Preparing & Running a Booth, with a white version of the America's Maine SBDC logo.

Maine offers businesses year-round opportunities to display their products to potential customers. The state has 24 agriculture fairs, 70 festivals, 115 summer farmers markets, and 35 fall/winter markets. Participating in fairs, festivals, and farmers’ markets can be an excellent way for businesses to promote their products and increase sales. However, it’s essential to prepare your… Read more »

Trailside Gardens – Abbot

  Trailside Gardens evolved from a lifelong interest in the natural world surrounding us, particularly plants and landscape design. For eight years, Trailside Gardens in Abbot has offered an impressive selection of healthy plant material. As a small nursery selling plants, business owner Pauline Eldredge was facing supply issues and decided she was ready and… Read more »

Wandering Goat – Union

Since 2013, Tanya Rudy and her mother Cheryl have been making handcrafted soaps from their family farm in Midcoast Maine. This mother-daughter team located in Union makes their soaps in small batches and uses only the finest quality ingredients. They combine fresh goat’s milk from their own herd with organic oils to create naturally scented… Read more »

Employee COVID Vaccine Policy?

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR: Maine Law and MeRTEC 2-26-2021 Coronavirus cases continue to be reported throughout the state. As of mid-February the total number of cases in Maine has exceeded 43,000, with more than 1,500 hospitalizations and 650 deaths. The data shows that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and many Maine employers and employees alike may be wondering whether an… Read more »

COVID’s Impact on Maine’s Small Businesses

In August 2020, Maine SBDC partnered with Richard Arend from the University of Southern Maine to survey hundreds of Maine small business owners. The survey sought insight into how businesses have been impacted by the pandemic and the steps they have taken as a result. Here’s our findings…

Why *YOU* should shop small this holiday season

By: Jennifer Boutin, Maine SBDC Maine would not be the same without the small businesses that make our communities unique, or without the hardworking business owners who create jobs for our families, friends and neighbors. Small businesses are the core of our economy, making up over 99% of businesses in Maine.  And, these small businesses… Read more »

How to Survive and Thrive this Holiday Season

By: Maine SBDC Business Advisor Alison Lane  As we close the year with the same uncertainty that plagued our Spring, Summer, and Fall, small business owners hope to capitalize on the season that is “merry and bright”.  However, changes to consumer behavior, recovering markets, and the scars from many rough months make the success of… Read more »