Small Business

This blog post was extensively quoted by George Smith on Downeast’s web site. My original post was about how my nature trips simply do not sell very well when compared with my fishing trips.

As the Executive Director of the Maine Professional Guides Association I frequently talk with writers and reporters exploring some aspect of Maine guiding. As a result I am occasionally quoted in some publication or another. When we are discussing the industry and the future; the question of “nature tourism” or “eco tourism” always comes up.

A letter arrived in the mail last week congratulating me on Maine Outdoors becoming a favorite place on Google maps. Seems that the listing has been viewed frequently and the maps were used many times for directions to Maine Outdoors.

You can see the Google listing.

Over the last few years Maine Outdoors has put on a seminar (usually twice a winter) to help other Maine Guides run successful small businesses. During my guiding season I occasionally meet one of my graduates at a launch or at a sporting camp. It is a great feeling to see someone who has attended the seminar using some of the information and succeeding. The next seminar is scheduled for January 23, 2010.

So far August has been a very busy month, I enjoy spending time with clients in the Maine Outdoors and hearing their comments. Lately though some really stand out.

Tuesday morning we were right in the middle of a hot and humid spell. I left the house at 5 AM to meet my clients for some striper fishing. I got to the end of the Beote Road and could tell something was not right. Looking in the rear view mirror delivered the bad news. Flat tire on the boat trailer.

One of my basic beliefs has been challenged. I have firmly believed that good design really matters to business. This spring Maine Outdoors went from using brochures that I designed and had an almost homemade look to a four color version done by someone that I consider a very good designer. The images were critical so I also used a professional photographer.

I received a letter today from Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques asking me to serve on a working group on Guides formed by the Department to recommend any changes that are needed to the definition of a Registered Maine Guide. We will review the outdoor recreational activities that currently are offered for a fee in Maine. Then determine if any that do not currently require a guides license should.

Just returned from the University of Rhode Island where I attended new student orientation with my youngest son. The overall experience was excellent. They did a great job of building a bond with the students and the families. On the parent end they did a great job of explaining the realities of having a child go away to school.

All of the talk over the last six months or so about the banking system troubles have to be seemed sort of academic to me until the last couple of weeks. Guide services have never been really popular for small business loans and are still not; so no change there. Recent events though have driven the troubles home for me.

The latest Maine Outdoors brochure is hot off of the press and I am delighted with it. The improved look was prompted by a request from the Samoset in Rockport for a couple of lobby displays. Something to be on display at a location like that needs to be of a better quality than I can turn out on my best day. So I turned to Chris Mathan of the Sportsman’s Cabinet, I had worked with Chris on projects when I was with the Ruffed Grouse Society.