5 Minutes with Beth Shissler
President: Seabags
1. What ignited the spark in you to start a new business venture?
I was traveling a lot with my job at the time. In looking for a local position that would allow me to stay home at night, I realized there wasn't another company as exciting as the one I was working for, or a position as lucrative. I took about six months to analyze my skills, and realized while I had big corporate experience, I hadn't done a start-up and the more I contemplated, the more exciting it became. Couple that with the fact that I, like many Maine kids, had to leave the state to get experience, and a start-up seemed to be the best option. Fortunately, my husband went along with the scheme. Unfortunately, I had no product. When I met Hannah, my business partner and the founder of Sea Bags, I knew she had something special and hoped I had a skill-set to help her take it from a hobby to a business.
2. Where did your organization's funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it?
I had a career and planned long enough in advance that I was able to seed the initial start-up. Early on we also developed a great relationship with a local bank. Our banker (lender) is an important part of our growth. I review the business with him semi-annually without him asking. I never want anyone to wonder if we are a good investment. We also have grown cautiously--we've had many opportunities for large scale investment and growth and really felt it the responsible thing to make sure we got the kinks worked out first.
3. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
A) Perseverance: it won't be fun or easy every day but if at the end of the day, month, quarter or year you can say you moved the ball forward and enjoyed doing it, you're good.
B) Adaptability: the best business plans in the world won't allow for unexpected opportunity. Being able to stay nimble and change gears when those opportunities come along will help.
C) Ability to multi-task: because you will be the one to answer the phone, change the print cartridge and ship orders for a long time and because its easier to hire well if you've done the job yourself.
4. How important have good employees been to your success?
Our staff is key. Many have been with us since our second year--so a good employee to us means growing their skills as the business grows. Recently we've been fortunate to attract some great talent and amazing experience. Integrating new folks with fresh eyes with our long-time staff has served us well as a group and our employees are the core of the company. Our promise to every employee is that they leave more experienced and more marketable than when they came, and hope we as a company are better off too.
5. How do you define success?
My definition of success has changed over time. Now success for me equals life balance, happy employees, and loving what I do. I'm fortunate in a million ways.
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Upcoming MCED Entrepreneurship Week Events
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E-Week Maine is February 9-16 and 16-23
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For a full List of E-Week Events around Maine Visit:
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Monday, February 11, 2013
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Calling All Creative Entrepreneurs
MCED, Casco Bay Tech Hub, 30 Danforth Street, Suite 204, Portland from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Feedback sessions for individuals or groups in the creative economy track: Artistically Innovative Entrepreneurs and university connected entrepreneurs (students, faculty and companies leveraging university resources). In these sessions, you or your team meet one-on-one with investors & experienced entrepreneurs to discuss your business idea, learn more about resources for Maine businesses, and find out what investors look for. Opportunity to exchange ideas; no formal presentation required. Sessions limited to 20 min max. Please email [email protected] for an appointment, or call (207) 774-8111.
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Tuesday, February 12, 2013
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Pitches, Pints & Pie
Casco Bay Tech Hub, 30 Danforth Street, 2nd Floor, Portland
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Sponsored by Casco Bay Tech Hub and MCED from 5:30 to 7:30
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This will be a light-hearted pitch event that will be humorous, supportive and FUN. This free event will feature an hour of networking with beer and pizza followed by Pitching. Everyone is welcome to attend, but space is limited to 12 entrepreneurs for pitching. All entrepreneurs who pitch will receive prices. The audience will actively participate in the judging process. To register, or for more information, please visit:
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Wednesday, February 13, 2013
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Facebook Marketing for Small Business
102 Wishcamper Center, USM Portland Campus
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Thursday, February 14, 2013
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Calling All Entrepreneurs
MCED Offices at 30 Danforth Street, Portland
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Sponsored and presented by the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Entrepreneurs sign up for 15 min dialog with a panel of business professionals to get feedback on a business idea or perhaps help navigating a troublesome issue. In these sessions, individuals will meet with a panel of business professionals and mentors. Sessions will be limited to a maximum of 20 minutes. Pitch your idea, explain your most pressing challenge, talk about whatever is on your entrepreneurial mind and, in the process, perhaps build a basis for a relationship going forward. Open by appointment only to any interested entrepreneur in the community. This is an opportunity to exchange ideas, not to pitch for funding. No formal presentations or written materials are necessary; backs of envelopes are most welcome. FREE.
Please email [email protected] for an appointment, or call (207) 774-8111.
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Happenings
| Top Gun graduate company, Beach Glass Transitions & Maine Senior Guide present the 2nd annual Senior Expo at the St Maximilian Church Hall at 150 Black Point Rd in Scarborough. 9am-4pm. 900+ attendees expected. There will be 40 Exhibitor Booths, 12 Educational Sessions throughout the day, and multiple Experience Rooms for hands-on product and service sampling for attendees. There are limited spaces still available for each of these options, as well as for event sponsorships. If you are a business interested in showcasing your products and services to Maine adults, ages 40-75, contact lpeel@beachglasstransitions.com or call 207-272-2797 for more information.On April 19, Beach Glass Transitions will be celebrating 5 Years in Service! Join them for an evening celebration at their office at 28 Brackett St in Portland from 4:30-6:30. Wine, beer, and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Top Gun Maine is pleased to announce an addition to our 2013 class. We welcome Black Dinah Chocolates to the group!
Won't you be our Neighbor? New Community Office Space: The internal walls and offices are now complete in suite 206! Go check them out! The Casco Bay Tech Hub is excited to announce the new community office space for individuals, small teams, and entrepreneurs in Suite 206 is almost complete and will be leasing in February. There will be up to 25 small lockable offices with a shared kitchen, conference rooms, wifi, etc. If you know of any individuals or small teams who would be interested, have them contact Marc or Dave. FMI: [email protected] and [email protected] or stop by Suite 207/307
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Did you know about Start-up Weekend Portland?
March 22-24 2013
Collaborators Host Area Entrepreneurs for a Crash Course in Creating a Business Portland, ME | This is a no talk, all action event. People with new business ideas are invited to participate and sign up now since space is limited. A Startup Weekend is unique because it brings together entrepreneurs, designers, developers and startup enthusiasts to participate in an intense 54-hours weekend to take new business ideas from concept to launch. Participants start at 5:30pm Friday night and work all weekend until they leave on Sunday night at 8:30pm. Nationally, 36 % of ideas developed during a Startup Weekend have developed into new businesses.
Individual volunteers from PelotonLabs, AIGA, Blackstone Accelerates Growth, Maine Center for Creativity, Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, Olympico Strategies, Portland Greendrinks, Portland Public Library, Rising Tide Consulting, Shines and Jecker laboratories, and SMCC are organizing this first local effort. This first time in Maine event will takeplace on March 22-24 2013. There are limited early bird tickets so go to http://portlandmaine.startupweekend.org/ for a schedule of the weekend activities as well as a way to get tickets in order to participate. First come, first serve. |
Don't Miss it! Events
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February 5th Campus Ventures Office Hours at MCED
The Tech Hub has partnered with MCED and USM to provide drop-in office hours prior to PubHub each month for USM's Campus Ventures program. Campus Ventures is the University's commercialization accelerator program for technology and manufacturing in Southern Maine and the program provides a portal through which the business community can access University resources. Visit between 4:00 and 6:00 PM in MCED's new office, which is located in Suite 204 of the Tech Hub.
Greg Cavanaugh, Program Manager in USM's Department of External Programs, will be available each month to talk about the program and provide free consultation for potential clients. Office hours are for USM's Campus Ventures program at MCED's new 30 Danforth Street (Suite 204) location starting in October at 4:00 PM and continuing each month prior to the monthly PubHub event. For more information or to make an appointment: call- 207-749-1478 or email Greg: [email protected]
February 5th
MTI Office Hours in Portland
MTI staff will be available at the offices of Hall Internet Marketing from 9am-4pm.
To make an appointment : please contact Jessica Watson at MTI at 207-588-1015, or by email at [email protected].
Hall Internet Marketing is located at 30 Danforth Street, Suite 207 in Portland.
February 5th
PubHub Event
For February's PubHub event, we will be hearing from Greg Fryer, board member at the Maine SEGF and a Partner at Verrill Dana LLP. Greg has over 30 years of experience in corporate and securities law and he will be making sense of the JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act and what it means for our innovators and entrepreneurs in Maine. According to Congress, the JOBS Act was created "to increase American job creation and economic growth by improving access to the public capital markets for emerging growth companies."
Like always, February's event will feature free admission, drinks thanks to Baxter Brewing and food thanks to the this month's premier sponsor, Vantage Point Recruiting
Free Event- REGISTER HERE
When : February 5, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Where : Casco Bay Tech Hub - 30 Danforth Street, Suite 206, Portland, ME
What : The JOBS Act with Greg Fryer
February 14, 2013
Blackstone Accelerates Growth Portland Office Hours
Join Blackstone Accelerates Growth Executive Director John Voltz along with other business and entrepreneurship mentors for an open and engaging "Pitch and Q&A" forum. This regular monthly open forum provides an easy access point for start-ups, experienced entrepreneurs, and others seeking to accelerate their businesses. The discussions are centered around helping people determine where they are in the development of their business, identifying concrete next steps, and connecting to resources to accelerate growth.
3 - 5 pm
Think Tank
533 Congress Street, Portland
RSVP: [email protected]
February 15, 2013 ACE Monthly Meeting Maine Ideas Worth Spreading: TEDxDirigo and the Treehouse Institute 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM Portland Country Club, Rt 88, Falmouth Maine
FMI or to Register Here UPCOMING MTI Workshops February 5 Development Loan Webinar Webinar Register: Jessica Watson at 207-588-1015 or [email protected]. February 25 TechStart and Seed Grant Lunch and Learn Workshop Noon-1:00 PM MTI, Brunswick Register: Jessica Watson at 207-588-1015 or [email protected]. |
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