Mainebiz

V O L . X X I X N O. X X I V M I D C O A S T / D OW N E A S T Northport-based scone mix brand goes national In just four years, Veronica Stubbs has gone from selling home-baked scones at local farmers' markets once a week to running a growing brand of scones and premium mixes that's gearing up to go national. She founded the Scone Goddess LLC in 2020 and today employs five people, with plans to hire three more as she ramps up national wholesale distribution. e company sells 70 flavors of fresh-baked scones to local customers and sells 22 mixes to retail and wholesale customers. rough a co-packaging arrange- ment with Downeast Packaging Solutions of Whitneyville, the company aims to become a nationwide wholesaler, starting in New England. e company will manufacture scone mixes and fulfill wholesale orders, according to Stubbs. "We're scaling up," she said. "We started going to wholesale shows, and we are looking to push the brand across the United States." For help with that effort, the com- pany received a $20,000 state grant to promote the brand outside of Maine, and the town of Northport is applying for a $100,000 grant that would help Stubbs buy additional equipment and hire three more full-time staffers. Originally from Vermont — where she and her husband ran a bed and breakfast — Stubbs had vacationed in Maine with her family and moved here after her oldest children graduated from high school. "We have worked really hard to plant some roots and really be an asset for our community and our neighbors," she said. A baker since age 4, Stubbs became a scone fan about 15 years ago when her last child was born and a friend brought her a few samples of the British baked delicacy. "When you're home with a baby and not a whole lot going on, you kind of get obsessed about certain things," she recalls. "We literally lived off scones, which are so simple to make." She later served scones for breakfast at her B&B, and then after moving to Maine she started selling at farmers' markets as the Scone Goddess. When COVID shut those markets down, she pivoted to premium mixes she's been selling ever since. Flavors range from double choco- late cherry to wild Maine blueberry lemon, and a gluten-free line that's temporarily on hold until the company either finds a specialty co-packer or buys another building. Cream and co-packing e scone mixes are all ready-made, requiring only the addition of heavy cream. As Stubbs steps up production, the long-term goal is to get the mixes into independent grocery stores and specialty stores across the country while expanding her mail-order business. "e cool thing about co-packing," she says, "is that you can do thousands of units a day. at's very exciting to me." Asked about the possibility of expanding into other baked goods, Stubbs said she plans to stay focused on scones as a small-batch producer. "We pride ourselves on the care we take making every single mix packed full of fabulous ingredients," Stubbs said. "We feel strongly that being a small batch producer will maintain the high level of quality we strive for. Plus, my employees scoop a little love into each mix." Dream weaver: Wiscasset entrepreneur cultivates community Hilary Crowell is a former farm apprentice who runs a small-batch weaving studio in Wiscasset she founded in 2020. She runs the Cultivated read from her home, making handwoven towels and other products sold online and at events. Crowell was a first-time vendor at the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity this year, selling woven towels, lavender sachets and gift cards made from discarded fabric ends. "is is a really special fair for me," she said at her stand under the big top. She previously participated as a farm apprentice working with draft horses. At the Cultivated read, she's a one-person operation who makes nearly all of the products herself, occa- sionally outsourcing less skilled tasks such as washing and ironing. Crowell launched her business in 2020 and has seen growth every year since then, with sales from her website and events both up over last year. "We have wonderful, loyal custom- ers who share positive feedback, con- sistently shop with us and introduce the Cultivated read to their friends and family," Crowell notes. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E F O C U S P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F S T O R Y S I L O M E D I A Veronica Stubbs is the founder of the Scone Goddess, a Northport-based maker of fresh scones sold locally and 22 varieties of premium mixes. Hilary Crowell, founder and owner of the Cultivated Thread in Wiscasset, selling her wares at the Common Ground Fair in Union last month. My employees scoop a little love into each mix. — Veronica Stubbs The Scone Goddess P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R O C T O B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 3 20

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