PubHub Maine - Black Dinah Chocolatiers on Making the Leap to a Bigger Facility

YARMOUTH, Maine - May 17, 2016 - PRLog -- Kate and Steve Shaffer started making a living from chocolate in 2007 when they launched Black Dinah Chocolatiers in 2007. From their Isle au Haut haven, they were featured in Down East Magazine, Gourmet Magazine, and Martha Stewart Living. Kate won national awards, including the 2016 Good Food Award. And they produced as much of their exceptional truffles, barks, and caramels as possible from their 500-square foot location. But in 2015, they recognized that if they wanted to grow, they had to move - not only to a larger facility, but also to an off-island location where it would be easier to manage their mail order business and work with suppliers and retail accounts. Today, they are poised for growth from their new state-of-the-art facility and retail store on Main St. Westbrook. Kate and Steve will speak at the June 1 PubHub all about scaling up: what factors they had to consider when deciding to upgrade to a new space, the challenges to overcome, and how they made the transition.

PubHub is held on the first Wednesday of each month. This networking event features a speaker with real-world business expertise to share insight on business development, growth, and entrepreneurship. The new home at Mechanics' Hall is spacious and accommodates Maine's community of entrepreneurs, business service providers, investors, and others interested in connecting.

Sponsors who make PubHub possible each month are internet services sponsor Time Warner Cable Business Class (https://business.timewarnercable.com/), legal sponsor Opticliff Law (http://opticliff.com/), accounting sponsor Hobson & Company (http://www.hobsonandcompany.com/), and IT services sponsor WGTECH (http://www.wgtech.com). Managing sponsor is Harris Marketing Services (http://www.harrismediaservices.com), beer sponsor is Baxter Brewing (http://www.baxterbrewing.com), pizza sponsor is Leonardo's (http://leonardosonline.com/), and the venue sponsor is the Maine Charitable Mechanics' Association (http://www.mainecharitablemechanicassociation.com/MCMA/MAINE_CHARITABLE_MECHANIC_ASSOCIATION.html).

What: PubHub

When: June 1, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Where: Mechanics' Hall, 519 Congress St., Portland, ME

Cost:  PubHub is a free event but attendees must preregister at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pubhub-50-steve-and-kate-shaffer-of-black-dinah-chocolatiers-on-scaling-up-tickets-25520989968 (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pubhub-49-tim-ludlow-cfo-of-vets-first-choice-on-managing-the-financial-reins-tickets-24717900907)