The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Portland School Board to Confirm New Superintendent Tuesday with “Unapologetic Commitment to Equity”
  • Maine Democratic Rep Wants Respectful Burials for Coyotes but Cosponsors Late Term Abortion Bill
  • RSU 10 School Board Candidate Labels Republican Rep “Bigot” for Backing School Transparency
  • Top Maine Businesses Are Funding Push for Late-Term Abortion and Far Left “Trans” Policies
  • Taxpayer-Funded Domestic Violence Resource Center Sponsors ‘Drag Story Time’ at Sanford Library
  • The Maine Wire Podcast: Sen. Trey Stewart
  • Pro-Abortion Satanist Berates Christians Protesting Outside Portland Planned Parenthood
  • Liberals Roast “Great White Mother” Mills for Opposition to Tribal Sovereignty Bill
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Saturday, June 3
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Maine Made: Trade show offers local entrepreneurs the opportunity for success
News

Maine Made: Trade show offers local entrepreneurs the opportunity for success

Steve RobinsonBy Steve RobinsonMarch 17, 2014No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Balsam

PORTLAND, Maine – Entrepreneurs from northern New England gathered at at the Portland Sports Complex this weekend for a chance to sell their wares in stores and shops across the country.

The 30th annual New England Made Giftware & Speciality Foods Show brought together products from 275 Maine companies with more than 2,000 buyers representing small mom and pop stores as well as retail giants like L.L. Bean.

Maine Made

For store owners, the trade show offered an unparalleled panorama of unique New England products – from Moxie flavor jelly and moose dropping earrings, to handcrafted jewelry, driftwood home decor, and locally themed children’s books. For local entrepreneurs, the event provided a chance to turn a weekend hobby into a full-time job or a small-time operation into a major production.

Penny and Ian Bigmore were among the buyers at the show this weekend. They run County Airs, a small gift basket company in Salem, Mass. They try to attend the trade show every year to find new and interesting products to include in their baskets. 

“We come to see lots of fresh new products,” said Penny.

The Bigmores said the New England Made trade show is different from other shows in New York in that you see more custom work and lower minimum purchase requirement – and ideal arrangement for their small business.

The Maine vendors exhibiting their goods range for well-known companies, such as Stonewall Kitchen and Wicked Joe Coffee, to recent start-ups looking to gain market entry.

Gavin and Mary MacDonald, the purveyors of Swineheart BBQ sauces, say a passion for food got them interested in smoking meats at contests run by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. From there, said Gavin, it was a “hobby that went sideways.”

swine smallNow the MacDonalds produce and market dozens of creatively labeled BBQ sauces at tradeshows across the country.

image_8 (640x478)
Maine Pie Company

Jill Miller, owner and baker of Maine Pie Co., opened shop in October and is looking to expand her operation. The Kennebunk-based bakery specializes in gluten-free pies and will soon be relocating to a large space in Biddeford.

“Everyone has loved the pies today,” said Miller. “We’re hoping it leads to more business.”

The yearly event is produced by Giraffe Events, a family-owned Maine-based company that does similar shows throughout New England.

“Our successful spring show has long been known as the showcase for quality New England made products,” said Stefa Normantas, show producer with Giraffe Events. “Retailers look to us as a one-stop shop for unique New England made gifts and speciality food.”

Exhibitors pay fees based on the size of their display booths. The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development supports the event with a small grant of roughly $20,000 each year.

The next trade show will take place in Sturbridge, Mass., Sept. 14-15.

Previous ArticleMaine jobless rate at 6.2 percent for January
Next Article Maine GOP fields full slate of House and Senate candidates
Steve Robinson
  • Twitter

Steve Robinson is the Editor-in-Chief of The Maine Wire. ‪He can be reached by email at Robinson@TheMaineWire.com.

Related Posts

Portland School Board to Confirm New Superintendent Tuesday with “Unapologetic Commitment to Equity”

June 2, 2023

Maine Democratic Rep Wants Respectful Burials for Coyotes but Cosponsors Late Term Abortion Bill

June 2, 2023

RSU 10 School Board Candidate Labels Republican Rep “Bigot” for Backing School Transparency

June 2, 2023

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Portland School Board to Confirm New Superintendent Tuesday with “Unapologetic Commitment to Equity”

June 2, 2023

Maine Democratic Rep Wants Respectful Burials for Coyotes but Cosponsors Late Term Abortion Bill

June 2, 2023

RSU 10 School Board Candidate Labels Republican Rep “Bigot” for Backing School Transparency

June 2, 2023

Top Maine Businesses Are Funding Push for Late-Term Abortion and Far Left “Trans” Policies

June 2, 2023

Taxpayer-Funded Domestic Violence Resource Center Sponsors ‘Drag Story Time’ at Sanford Library

June 2, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.