Pet of The Week: Kennebec (8/5)
Meet Kennebec! Kennebec was adopted out to a great family with her mom, but she was returned as the two stopped getting along and were endangering each other. As such, Kennebec would do best in a home with no other cats. Kennebec is a larger cat, and she takes gabapentin daily to help her process everything that is going on around her. She will most likely need to take it for the rest of her life. Kennebec can get a little spicy, but is a very sweet girl at heart. She loves getting pets and
How Bar Harbor Retailers Are Building Seasonal Campaign Visuals Without a Design Budget
Every retailer working to a seasonal calendar knows the squeeze. The window display needs to change, the social feed needs fresh artwork to go with it, the email needs a header, and the person responsible for all of it is the same person opening the register, chasing a delayed order and covering a shift that fell through. In a town where the visitor season compresses most of the year's revenue into a handful of months, there is rarely a spare week to brief a designer and wait for a first draft. The
More Than a Home: Island Housing Trust Brings Community Together 7/28
July 23, 2026 Somesville, Maine More Than a Home: Island Housing Trust Brings Community Together More than 100 community members gathered at The Gallery at Somes Sound for An Evening with Island Housing Trust, where the message was clear: Island Housing Trust is about far more than building homes. It is about the people who anchor our year-round community. Doctors. Nurses. Teachers. First responders. Librarians. Park rangers. Carpenters. Plumbers. Small business owners. These are the people who make
Visual Creation for Fitness Businesses: A Practical Guide to Adobe Firefly
What Is Adobe Firefly? What is Adobe Firefly?This product is a standalone generative artificial intelligence application built for creative professionals and small business owners. It functions by translating text descriptions into standard digital assets, including graphics, illustrations, and videos. The key output specifications include high-definition image formats and standard video files that are fully cleared for safe commercial use. Running a fitness facility or local gym involves constant
How to Write a Business Plan That Works in Bar Harbor's Seasonal Economy
Running a business in Hancock County means planning around rhythms that most business guides don't account for — the summer surge into Acadia National Park, the shoulder-season slowdown, and the specific financial pressures of a tourism-anchored economy. A strong business plan doesn't just tell investors what you do; it maps how your business sustains itself across the full calendar year. Here's how to build one that actually holds up.Why the Numbers Make the Case A lot of business owners treat a plan as
Why Financial Literacy Is the Skill Hancock County Business Owners Can't Afford to Skip
Financial literacy — understanding bookkeeping, financial statements, taxes, and cash flow — is one of the most direct predictors of small business survival. The numbers behind this are hard to ignore: nearly half of small business owners say they've lost at least $10,000 in profits due to low financial literacy, and 13% believe they've missed out on $500,000 or more. For business owners in Bar Harbor and across Hancock County, where seasonal swings make financial timing everything, knowing your numbers
Key Considerations Before Opening a Franchise
Starting a franchise can be an exciting path for entrepreneurs seeking a proven business model. However, success requires thorough evaluation, strategic planning, and operational readiness. New franchise owners must understand both the opportunities and responsibilities before committing.Essential Takeaways Choose a franchise with a proven history of profitability and growth. Understand the initial investment and ongoing fees. Evaluate franchisor support, including training and marketing
Your Sales Pitch Has 45 Seconds: How Bar Harbor Businesses Can Make Them Count
The most effective sales pitch is short, buyer-focused, and built around a single clear value — not a tour of everything your business does. For small businesses in Hancock County, where a compressed tourism season means every conversation with a potential client, buyer, or booking contact carries real stakes, a sharp pitch is a measurable competitive advantage.The Logline Problem Most buyers form an impression before you finish your opening. Research tracked by Harvard Business Review shows that buyers
How Bar Harbor Businesses Can Turn Data Visualization Into a Local Advantage
Bar Harbor’s business community thrives on clarity—clear seasons, clear visitor patterns, and clear decisions that keep small enterprises nimble. Data visualization offers a practical way for local organizations to see patterns sooner, communicate insights faster, and make choices with more confidence. In brief: Data visualization helps small businesses quickly identify trends, seasonality, and performance drivers. It improves team communication, turning complex numbers into clear
The Essential Playbook for New Home Service Entrepreneurs
The home services sector — encompassing cleaning, plumbing, landscaping, repairs, and remodeling — is one of the fastest-growing areas of local entrepreneurship. Whether you’re a handyman, electrician, cleaner, or painter, building a home services business is as much about trust and structure as it is about skill.The Short Version To start and grow a home services business: Choose a clear service niche and define your target customers. Register your business legally and set up financial and
Smart Ways to Invest in Your Business from Day One
Launching your first business is both exciting and overwhelming. With limited resources, you have to decide what’s worth the early investment and what can wait. Choosing wisely now can save time, money, and frustration down the road. Below are some of the most impactful areas new owners should prioritize. 1. Foundational Financial Tools Separating personal and business finances should be a top priority. Opening a business bank account with providers likeMercury helps establish credibility,
