Posts Categorized: Hospitality

Should You Raise Your Prices?

Should You Raise Your Prices? text over an image hands working at a desk writing and using a calculator

As a small business owner, one of the biggest challenges you may face is determining when it’s time to raise your prices. Maintaining loyal customers and earning a profit can be a delicate balance. However, there are times when raising your prices is necessary to keep your business viable.  A winning price strategy includes knowing… Read more »

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 »

Nature-Based Tourism In Maine

A collage of photos of people doing outdoor activities. White background with navy blue type reading Nature-Based Tourism in Maine, with a red and blue version of the America's Maine SBDC logo.

Maine’s outdoor industry is a vital and thriving state economy component. With its rugged coastlines, dense forests, and stunning mountain ranges, Maine is one of the top five states in the country for the outdoor recreation industry. In 2022 alone, Maine attracted over 15 million visitors, adding around eight billion dollars in revenue to the… Read more »

King Eider’s Pub – Damariscotta

King Eider's Pub front sign

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 –… Read more »

Networking For People Who Hate It

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… Read more »

Rusty Bus Brewing – Lewiston

Rusty Bus Brewing Logo, red, orange and yellow type is in the shape of a bus

Nikki & Peter Ouellette shared both a passion for good beer and a talent for creation. Together, they wanted to share those skills with the community. However, after investing in some equipment, they had difficulty in finding a supportive location in which to invest the time, money, and energy necessary for establishing themselves and opening… Read more »

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… Read more »

Bad Little Brewing – Machias

Kathryn Toppan and husband Sean Lent, of Bad Little Brewing Company, are an excellent example of how important persistence is when it comes to starting a small business. They have been working with Maine SBDC advisors throughout our network to get their brewery and restaurant open since 2019! Moreover, throughout the process there has been… Read more »