Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 M AY 1 5 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S S M A L L B U S I N E S S e old location at 127 Marginal Way was 3,000 square feet and offered bike and ski sales, rentals, service and repair, as well as apparel. It built its base in the community by hosting events such as a Tuesday night ride series. A seasonal outlet opened in 2018 in Carrabassett Valley, at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center. Fast forward to the past year, Carleton was looking for a larger location to develop a more customer- focused experience, with amenities such as a larger parking lot and nearby green trails. He found an 11,180-square-foot retail building at 936 Brighton Ave. Renovations ensued. "Overall, it was a fairly simple build- out," he says. "We tried to keep it open as much as we could." Allspeed move into its new space in April. "It gives us a good way to lay out our inventory more efficiently and put more focus on merchandising," says Carleton. "In our previous location, we had everything jammed in. Now we'll be able to have our ski and bike inventory out for both winter and summer." Another plus? Outdoor space, which is great for both day-to-day customer parking and the shop's events. Carleton will bring back a bike swap that was last hosted in 2019, to be held May 20. "Beyond that, we're looking for- ward to taking advantage of the outside and inside space for community-based events. at's always been big part of what we've done," he says. "We'll often pair speakers or presentations or videos with a fundraiser." For the grand opening, on May 6, the shop gave out prizes and offered bike demos. It partnered with Portland Trails to do a fundraiser. Last summer, Carleton was also renovating a former gas station at 38 West Bethel Road in Bethel. e gut and rebuild meant missing the area's peak service season for bikes. "But we quickly started getting a name for ourselves and connecting with the community there on the bike side," he says. SECURITIES AND ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL NETWORK®, MEMBER FINRA/SIPC, A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR. (207) 541-9500 • 56 DEPOT ROAD, FALMOUTH, ME 04105 • BACKCOVEFINANCIAL.COM We define our success by our positive impact on people's lives. We are proud to be a newly Certified B Corp. Entrepreneurship and Innovation are Deeply Rooted in the Maine Economy When starting a business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it's hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That's where Drummond Woodsum attorneys Michael High, Alan MacEwan, Gary Vogel and Lisa Whitt can help. We provide expertise in all phases of your business, from formation and financing to strategic relationships and business combinations. It's important for start-ups and young companies to get the legal insight they need, so that they can focus on growing their business. We offer practical, business-focused advice and have shepherded many companies from formation through ultimate sale and liquidity for founders. We practice law differently. Since 1965. dwmlaw.com dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941 800.727.1941 C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » We can all do what's needed at the various locations. — Chris Carleton Allspeed Cyclery & Snow

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