Business news

Bangor

Farm marketing workshop

University of Maine Cooperative Extension of Penobscot County and Coastal Enterprises Inc. will hold Farm Marketing and Image Building, a three-hour workshop for farmers and value-added agriculture producers, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Extension county office, 307 Maine Ave.

The workshop will provide information on ideas for marketing farm products, the development of farm logos, brochures and product labels.

Participants will learn basic marketing terms and concepts, the value of developing a business and marketing plan, the importance of planning and designing farm promotional materials and exercises and tools to develop an effective farm image and related promotional materials.

Marketing and promotional materials planning are fundamental for direct-sales farm businesses. A well-planned marketing strategy, along with a professional farm logo and related promotional materials, help build and maintain a consistent and positive farm image, resulting in greater consumer loyalty and increased sales.

Gabe McPhail of the Maine Farms Project, a program of Coastal Enterprises Inc., will facilitate the workshop. McPhail coordinates Image Building Concepts, a program providing farms with graphic design, logo illustration and other promotional materials.

Farm Marketing and Image Building workshops are offered for a materials charge of $3 a person. The workshops are funded by a grant from the Harvest Fund at Maine Initiatives.

Light refreshments will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring to the workshop their farm promotional materials and marketing plan.

Limited space available and preregistration is strongly advised. To register for the workshop or to receive further information, call the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County, at 942-7396 or (800) 287-1485.

Accounting certification

Mindy Cyr, a staff accountant at Hollingsworth & Associates, CPA, recently achieved QuickBooks certification from Intuit.

Martha Lloyd, corporate tax specialist at the firm, has been QuickBooks certified for the last three years.

Accessories for body, home

Metropolitan Soul, 128 Main St., owned by Tracy Darcy, opened for business on Oct. 26. The store sells adornments and accessories for the body and home.

On opening day, Darcy donated a percentage of profits to the Bangor Parks and Recreation Department. Opening week events are pizza and soda at noon Thursday, Oct. 27; family happy hour, 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28; and an ice cream festival at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

Old Town

Gift basket business

Jennifer Whitney-Dudley of Old Town has established a new business, Water’s Edge Gift Baskets, which she runs from her home.

Her product line includes gourmet foods, bath and body items, candles, pet, baby and gardening items, and even dorm baskets designed for university students. She also designs gift baskets to order to suit a client’s particular need. To learn more, call Whitney-Dudley at 827-4561.