Mainebiz

V O L . X X I V N O. X I X S E P T E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 8 10 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E The MDI Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor announced the formation of the Morris Scientific Discovery Fund, which will provide a total of up to $250,000 per year for eligible research programs. The goal of the fund is to ensure the continued development of the laborato- ry faculty by providing short-term, pilot project support for research programs that demonstrate a likelihood of suc- cessfully competing for federal funding. The lab also said that Life Biosciences contributed $100,000 to fund its bio- medical innovation course on aging. (KoT) Contemporary Functional Craft relocated to 6 State St. in Ellsworth. Drug Free Aroostook takes aim at opioid abuse With opioid addiction becoming more prevalent, Drug Free Aroostook will ramp up its campaign to educate young people on the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse, e County reported. e nonprofit, which is part of the Aroostook County Action Program and a federal drug preven- tion grant program, will use television and digital advertisements to raise awareness. In recent years, it has used similar campaigns to debunk myths associated with the consumption of marijuana, alcohol and prescription painkillers. Its campaigns have used taglines like "Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe," referring to the legalization of marijuana in Maine; "ink before you drink," about binge drinking; and "It happens here," about opioid and prescription drug addic- tion in rural areas of the country, including Aroostook County. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N Cannuck Investments LLC in Bangor ac- quired A Body in Knead Spa & Wellness Center, at 263 State St. in Bangor. Q: What's one thing I can do to make more sales and improve my business? ACE advises: You offer excellent products or great services; your prices are fair, you're professional and intelligent; you treat your customers with care and respect … and yet you're not succeeding as well as expected. What should you do? It's simple: Give your clients something for free! Everybody likes free stuff. Almost every business professional knows the "must-have" marketing tools: websites; business cards; brochures; social media marketing; an email plat- form. However, giving something away for free is a marketing device everyone seems to forget, yet this marketing tool sometimes works better than all the others combined. Put a bonus into your products or services that your customers will receive without obligation, additional payment, or commitment on their part. Give your prospects an incentive to choose you over your competition. Run a buy-one-get-one sale, or provide the second at half price. Offer free shipping. If shipping is too expensive for you to carry, include gift wrapping at no additional charge. Work out a deal with a local restaurant where you can offer a free dinner with every purchase over a certain amount. Now, before you run off and start putting your business name on lobster hats and whoopee cushions, here are a few important things to remember. What you give away will mirror your business. Choose wisely. Make certain your give-away reflects your brand while indicating your intention of always doing more for your clients. It will pay off in the end. Simple generosity can lead to boundless rewards. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y G e r a r d B i a n c o , S t o r y t e l l e r M a r k e t i n g The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. If you have a question for an ACE expert, contact Jim Milliken at jim@millikenproject.com. Gerard Bianco, Storyteller Marketing, specializes in website design, copywriting and online marketing. Contact him at gerard@storytellermarketingusa.com B A S K I N T H E S U N L I G H T I N S I D E A N D O U T. M a r v i n W i n d o w s a n d D o o r s Fo r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t h ow H a m m o n d L u m b e r C o m p a n y a n d M a r v i n Wi n d ows a n d D o o rs c a n d e f i n e yo u r h o m e , v i s i t www.HammondLumber.com/marvin 21 Locations Across Maine www.HammondLumber.com Hammond Maine Biz Sept Ad.indd 1 8/16/18 9:23 AM As politics has become nationalized, problem solving has become local . . . power increasingly belongs to the problem solvers. – Bruce Katz in the The New Localism 2018 GrowSmart Maine Summit Oct. the 11th | Cross Insurance Center | Bangor "The Power Of Localism: Tapping Into a Maine Tradition" " " Featured speaker Bruce Katz, formerly of the Brookings Institution and author of the book The New Localism: Thriving in the Age of Populism, will discuss how the New Localism can work in Maine. Generously Sponsored By: Bangor Savings Bank | The Nature Conservancy in Maine Elmina B. Sewall Foundation | PDT Architects growsmartmaine.org N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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