Connecting Ideas to New Business Opportunities in Maine

May 9, 2011 - PRLog -- For many entrepreneurs, success is achieved by having a lifestyle that doesn't involve a daily commute or having a boss. Success may mean not working in a cubicle, on a  farm or having only two or three weeks of vacation a year.

According to a recent story in the Kennebec Journal, local unemployment rates in Maine improved in March and retail sales grew in central Maine in February. But home sales remain tepid and commodity prices continue to skyrocket.

In two of the most closely watched indicators of regional economic health, seasonally non adjusted unemployment rates dropped in March in six of 10 central Maine communities compared to March 2010, while February’s retail sales grew fractionally in the Augusta and Waterville metro areas. March retail sales figures are not yet available.

Jim Welllehan, president of Auburn-based shoe retailer Lamey-Wellehan, said revenues at his chain of stores are strong and margins are better as retailers such as his wring savings from cost cuts and efficiencies.

Wellehan said 2010 was the best year the company has ever had. He anticipates 2011 “should be the second most.”

Still, Wellehan said March may not look as good as February for retailers who faced bad weather and a late Easter. And numerous, daunting economic challenges remain.

“Wages are stagnant; there’s higher  prices for food and most commodities, oil,” he said. “There’s a terrible wealth disparity in the country that isn’t being addressed. I think we’re going to see a difficult consumer economy for eight to 10 years.”

Retail sales in Augusta in February were $62.1 million, compared with $61.3 million a year ago and $59.3 million in January.

On the jobs front, central Maine appears in line with the state at large.

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates showed improvement from March 2010 in Augusta, Belgrade, Gardiner, Hallowell, Winthrop and Waterville.

Maine Department of Labor spokesman Adam Fisher warned that a better jobs outlook may actually raise the unemployment rate, as discouraged people who aren’t searching for work — and who are not officially counted as unemployed — return to a job market they’ve heard has improved.

Maine’s preliminary unemployment rate in March was 7.6 percent — little changed from February and down from 8.3 percent in March 2010. The number of unemployed Mainers stands at 52,800, according to the Maine Department of Labor — down 5,000 from a year ago.

“If you look at the most recent numbers, not a huge number of (job) losses but not a significant number of gains, either,” Fisher said.

The average unemployment rate in New England in March was 8.1 percent — 5.2 percent in New Hampshire, 5.4 percent in Vermont, 8.0 percent in Massachusetts, 11.0 percent in Rhode Island and 9.1 percent in Connecticut.

The Maine Real Estate Information System reported that statewide home sales volume fell 21% in March from the prior year, with prices down 3.1%.

In Kennebec County, volume dropped 4.2% but prices grew 5.6%. Sales agents said year-over-year comparisons were made tougher by last year’s homebuyer tax credits, which expired in June 2010.

Given the economic outlook going forward, consider starting your own business in Maine and the advantages of being self employed and working from home. After all, it is human endeavor and nothing else that transforms potential to actuality.

Starting your own business in Maine does not necessarily mean a brand new invention or product. In fact, many successful small businesses have found a way to deliver an existing service or product more efficiently and economically or have customized an existing product or service to fit an opportunity.

If you are motivated and entrepreneurial, and believe that you will do well with your own business and you are disciplined and willing and to put the effort, time and money, a home based business may be for you.

If you live in Maine and are in career transition, or have always wanted to own your own business, your next career move might just be as a business owner of one of the nation's most sought after franchise companies, the ACFN ATM Franchise.

The ACFN ATM Franchise Business is headquartered in San Jose, California, where the company was ranked by the Business Journal as the 43rd Fastest Growing Private Company in Silicon Valley for 2007 - 2009.

Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 listing for 2010 ranks ACFN, the only ATM franchise business in the US, #1 in category "Miscellaneous Financial Services".

ACFN the innovative ATM Franchise Business based in Silicon Valley, is North Americas only ATM franchise focused on providing ATM services to hotels and other travel and entertainment based businesses.

“ACFN is a U.S. company with operations in all 50 States and Canada, however by utilizing our franchise business model we maintain the operating efficiencies of a local company”, says Jeff Kerr, Founder and President of ACFN.

“ ACFN's ATM franchise equips you with the tools and the know how to manage the business". Avi Blankroth, Executive Vice President of ACFN says. "The process begins with each franchisee purchasing ATMs, while ACFN locates and contracts lucrative placement locations"

About  ACFN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2DuNabUgNA


Find out how you can benefit from ACFN to help deliver return on investment, positive cash flow and improved revenue.

More information is available at:

http://www.acfnfranchised.com/

American Consumer Financial Network (ACFN)
111 W. St. John St
Sixth Floor
San Jose, CA 95113

Tel: 888-794-2236

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ACFN is North Americas only ATM franchise focused on providing ATM services to hotels and other travel and entertainment based businesses. Providing ATM services since 1996, franchised in 2003 with 170 franchises, 1400 ATM Machines in the US and Canada.