Maine Day Trip Tours in the Top 100 and in the Top 10 of the “Boomers Back in Business and Most Slacker-Friendly” Categories
Congratulations to Maine Day Trip Tours, located in Scarborough, Maine, for being named in the Top 100 for 2014 Home-Based 100 Business Winners and in the Top 10 of the Boomers Back in Business and Most Slacker-Friendly Categories. We caught up with business owner and entrepreneur Norm Forgey and asked him to answer some questions and share some words of advice and inspiration with our StartupNation audience.
Tell Us About Your Journey
StartupNation: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Norm: It is great to have the independence to provide services exactly the way customers want them as circumstances change.
StartupNation: To what do you attribute your success as an entrepreneur and business owner?
Norm: My previous corporate jobs provided the basis of being customer focused. This customer focus is the foundation of providing an excellent customer experience.
StartupNation: What ignited the spark in you to start/select your particular business as an entrepreneur?
Norm: My ‘spark’ happened on a Caribbean cruise where I learned about shore excursions. I enjoyed it so much I knew that I wanted others to have the same experience here in Maine.
StartupNation: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Norm: The top skills include:
- A joyful customer focus
- Tenacity
- A willingness to learn new things
Words of Wisdom – Inspiration for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
StartupNation: If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Norm: The best advice is to remember to stay focused. That is why you wrote your business plan when you started contemplating starting a new company.
Inspiration
StartupNation: Where do you find your greatest inspiration?
Norm: The natural beauty of Maine and the desire to share it with others.
StartupNation: What is your favorite motivational/business quote as an entrepreneur?
Norm: Customer focus – your style – your pace – your experience
StartupNation: A motto you live by?
Norm: Enjoy what you do and the people you meet.
Tell Us About Your Business, Experiences, & Funding Your Startup
StartupNation: How did you get funding for your startup?
Norm: Maine Day Trip was self-funded.
StartupNation: Recommendations for others starting out?
Norm: Start small and determine you preferred customer demographic. Listen to the customer and grow with their needs.
Marketing and Building Their Customer Base
StartupNation: How do you market and build your customer base?
Norm: We market with our web site, the local Visitor Center, Chamber of Commerce, and other tourism related businesses.
StartupNation: Recommendations for others starting out?
Norm: Understand and target your marketing to your specific customers.
Changes in the Business Market
StartupNation: What changes have you seen in your business market since starting?
Norm: The economy has been a major factor since we depend on the vacationing public. Our target market has never changed.
StartupNation: What do you see coming that will impact your business?
Norm: Increased cruise ship and tour bus visits to Portland along with increased vacationers will have a positive impact on our business.
Learn more about Norm’s business and view other businesses that entered and placed in the competition by clicking here for the top ten and a full list 2014 Home-Based 100 Business Winners and entrants.
Do you have a startup? Are you a passionate entrepreneur with an idea that has taken off and want to share your success with others? Would you like your business to receive priceless exposure in the media and be positioned to take your business to the next level? Then join us this fall for the 8th Annual StartupNation Home-Based 100 Competition which ranks outstanding home-based businesses and the amazing people behind them! Watch for your change to enter! In the meantime, be sure to visit us daily for new content to support and grow your business!
