"I couldn't have done it without the help I got from SCORE counselors Jan Nichols and Skip Orem"
Cindy first met with SCORE Counselors Jan Nichols and Skip Orem seeking assistance with expansion plans for her antique retail and reproduction business in Kennebunk. Working with them, she developed a business plan and financial analysis for presentation to local lending institutions. Her counselors provided guidance in analyzing her business objectives and developing financial projections. Recently Cindy hosted the grand opening of AMERICANA WORKSHOP's 200% expansion. Since then, income has more than doubled and profitability has been excellent. Twice named York County Antique Dealer of the Year, in late 2006, Cindy completed another 50% expansion of her business. She has stated that "I couldn't have done it without all the help I got from Jan and Skip."
Elm Street Assisted Living Topsham, ME Jill Wallace, Founder and owner
“SCORE helped me when I worked for a non-profit and again when I started my own business.”
Jill Wallace first encountered SCORE when she was employed by a charity and attended SCORE workshops. That learning experience helped her in her job, but also gave her the confidence to write a business plan for a new small business endeavor. “It was simple, but SCORE had convinced me I needed a plan to guide me in my new venture.”
That venture involved renovating an 1840’s mansion in Topsham to provide assisted leaving for up to six women in a caring group setting, offering them spiritual, emotional and physical nourishment. Creating the accounting structure for a new company employing five people, and learning Quckbooks presented a challenge to Jill as it does to any new business unit. So Jill turned to SCORE again for help. “SCORE counsellor John Frothingham made a real difference – showing me how to use Quickbooks, set up invoices and generate accurate billing.”
““I knew the real estate business inside-out, but counted on SCORE for advice in the personnel area as my new venture started to grow quickly
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Setting out on his own in 2000, Bruce has seen his Homes &Harbors Real Estate business grow to 10 agents and brokers and a consolidated number one position in Harpswell real estate over the last few years, with an ever-increasing standing all along the Portland to Wiscasset waterfront. Although growth came very quickly in the early days so did possible concerns on the personnel front. It was at this point that Bruce set up a counselling session with Portland SCORE.
SCORE counsellors talked with Bruce about ways to handle possible employee problems before they developed and in particular how to deal with key employee retention. Since then, Homes & Harbors has been able to shape itself into a boutique agency with great local knowledge which buyers and sellers are coming to expect of realtors in this current market.
“It’s always a comfort to talk to experienced business people in strict confidence. I would go back to SCORE to discuss any business concern, any time.”
"I wanted to start a business in Maine and I approached SCORE to guide me. I was counseled on how to start a business and write a business plan"
Maine is fast becoming a thriving haven for small high tech businesses. The Portland area provides a job pool of recent technology graduates and returning experienced IT specialists. Offer that combination to an entrepreneur like Ashok Nalamalapu and you have the basis for business success.
In 1997, when Ashok was setting up his computer consulting firm, iCST, one of his first moves was to approach Portland SCORE for business advice. He took SCORE’s basic workshops and then came in for counselling and mentoring. He credits his SCORE experience with helping him get a sound start and develop a focus on his business niche. Today iCST employs 50 professionals and has won numerous awards for business excellence, including the SBA’s Minority Owned Small Business Award.
“I regularly recommend SCORE to small business persons and entrepreneurs in need of business planning assistance”
M. R. Brewer Fine Woodworking Portland, ME Rusty and Patty Brewer, Founders and Owners http://www.mrbrewer.com
“Portland SCORE has provided guidance to two generations of Brewers.”
Like many small businesses, M.R. Brewer Fine Woodworking started its life in the family garage. However, within a few months of its founding in 1987, and with 12 employees already on board, the company moved into its own premises and began concentrating on its two main business areas: residential construction/renovation and cabinetry.
Rusty and Patty Brewer first came to SCORE six years later, in 1994, for counselling on financial management for their fast growing company. In 2004 they returned to SCORE with their sons, Matt and Jeff, who had just joined the family business. Several sessions were held at the Portland chapter office to discuss topics ranging from company mission to succession planning. All found the meetings helpful in expanding the dialogue among the principals of a company which now provides employment for 24 skilled workers. Rusty expressed his appreciation: “SCORE is huge – you can spend time with experts and not have to have $10,000 in your pocket.”
"If I had not had that business plan I don't think I would have been successful"
Little did Betsy Hanscom know when she created a warmer for her husband's bad back that it would transform her into an entrepreneur and successful business owner. Today, Maine Warmers LLC, a developer and manufacturer of microwavable heating pads and ice packs, distributes their Maine-made products around the world through retailers and directly off their website. Betsy keeps busy doing the design work, purchasing fabrics, running the website, and orchestrating the activities of three subcontractors. SCORE has been with Betsy from the beginning. "SCORE provided me with the building blocks of a business-materials, templates, and knowledge for developing a business plan." Bob Marlowe brought marketing expertise and when Betsy had difficulty finding fabric suppliers Bob brought in Bill Shubert who provided information that led to a solution. "SCORE is part of my team."
“SCORE ‘s involvement has been ‘making a difference’ in my new business ever since its launch.”
Roy’s business idea had all the hallmarks of a classic Maine start-up when he decided to approach SCORE for advice. His late father, Barry Nelles, a Maine public school art teacher and illustrator, had left him a wonderful legacy of original cartoon drawings and prints which seemed ideally suited for decorating t-shirts. Roy and his wife had met the Directors of the Organic Consumers Association who introduced them to an organic t-shirt manufacturer that could provide them with just the type of ecologically friendly product they wanted to offer. All that was needed was a plan to turn an appealing business idea into a business reality.
SCORE counsellors provided advice with possible family concerns, copyright and trademark areas, financing, marketing, web support and, most importantly encouragement in producing a realistic business plan. Roy’s plan has now evolved into a successful enterprise with t-shirts bearing his Dad’s characters being sold from a retail outlet in Cornish, ME, trade shows all over New England and nation-wide on an attractive “shopping-cart” website. Encouraged by the enthusiastic response to his father’s prints, plans are being made to add other lines of shirts and other products using artwork by his mother, Mary Lou Nelles, a prolific artist in both watercolor and oil, ensuring that Makin a Difference remains a strong family concern .
“I like to keep in touch with my SCORE counsellors; their advice/suggestions always motivate me into more action.”
“Even with five
successful years of business behind us, we decided that SCORE
could help us with our possible relocation in this difficult economy.”
Patricia met with
SCORE counsellor, Alan Shaver, as
soon as she realized that moving her successful antiques and European
handcrafted furniture business from Portland to Brunswick was inevitable. “We
had every confidence in how to run our retail enterprise from a business sense,
but we wanted to make sure we weren’t overlooking something with regard to
moving to a new location,” Patricia noted. In the event, she was able to get
advice about changing her bank and banking facilities as well as the costs of
relocating which proved invaluable.
Mulberry
Cottage Interiors specializes in English and
European country furniture of which pine pieces are the most
prevalent. Most date from the middle 1800s when this type of furniture was
popular in Europe. Great Britain imported pine lumber from New England
and its cabinet makers turned the wood into furniture. One hundred and fifty
years or so later, Mulberry Cottage is bringing the pieces back to Maine to be
offered next to American antiques, furniture made from reclaimed old wood and a
selection of table top antiques, Maine giftware, home decor items, fine
linens and home fragrances.
“We were right.
That one meeting with Alan made all the difference with our relocation to
Brunswick. We are certainly appreciative of SCORE’s
assistance.”
"When I started my own business I depended on SCORE's workshops to put me on the right path"
C S is the epitome of a Maine entrepreneur. Starting her career at the
age of 16 by running her own gift store, she is now the CEO of Premiere
Web Services, a company she founded in 2000. With the confidence and
knowledge gained by relying on SCORE's advice during the start-up
phase, she has grown her business into one of the region's leading
internet strategy firms. She has also recently launched a second
company, Gift Shops of America , which trades solely on the web and has
fast become one of the nation's largest gift shop directories. She also
finds time for one of her favorite activities-teaching and lecturing. C
S gives seminars around the country and is the presenter of Portland
SCORE's informative website workshop series. When C S started her first
company she turned to SCORE to learn more about owning and running her
own business. She attended the Writing a Business Plan,
Marketing/Sales, and Buying a Business workshops. "These workshops
played a critical role in my early success." Now she helps others to
understand the value of using the web in their own small businesses.
Business Concepts (QS): This workshop is your start in developing a feasibility plan for your business. You will examine how your business idea meets a need or solves a problem. You will clearly identify the features or benefits of your product or service. You will examine whether your personal skills and background are a good fit with your business idea. You will learn how to find critical information about your industry, customers and competition. You will be assigned a SCORE mentor to help and coach you through the process. Thursday Sep 09, 2010 6 - 8 PM Register Now
Marketing(QS): In this workshop you will start to develop a marketing plan. You will
identify your target markets, discuss pricing strategies, focus on
creating a consistent marketing message, and discuss different
marketing communication methods. In addition, you will work on
identifying and developing an appropriate business plan. Thursday Sep 16, 2010 6 - 8 PM Register Now
Financial Projections (QS): This workshop is designed to teach you to develop financial projections to see if your business concept is feasible in dollars. You will learn the importance of having a financial plan.You will look at start-up costs, operating expenses, breakeven analysis, the financial risks and rewards, and what funds will be needed to finance your business. You will see how financial statements are used to help manage your business. Don’t panic! An experienced SCORE mentor will be there to guide you through the numbers.
This final workshop exposes you to traditional and non-traditional funding sources to finance your business. You will learn what information a bank needs to consider your loan request. You will learn what key elements go into the bank’s loan decision. You will learn to recognize your financial strengths and weaknesses. You will review your progress through the various workshop sessions and discuss what next steps may be needed to make your decision: “go” or “no-go” with your business concept. Your SCORE mentor will continue to work with you to complete any remaining items.
Americana Workshop
