With workers in short supply, recruiting becomes an art
Maine has seen its share of job losses at paper mills and other facilities. But there are at least three companies planning major expansions.
Tyler Technologies, Wayfair and SaviLinx each plan to hire hundreds of employees in coming years. Each is making an investment in infrastructure. Each has a plan for how to populate the cubicles, offices, sales centers, tech departments, loading docks and so on.
Recruiting is at the crux of any business expansion.
As Senior Writer James McCarthy reports in his cover story, these businesses have extensive plans. Each has launched an aggressive recruiting strategy, reaching out on Facebook and HR sites.
Tyler Technologies is in the midst of a $27 million expansion, and Wayfair is upgrading sites in Bangor and Brunswick. So, business growth, hiring, new construction and other investment go hand in hand. It's a beautiful thing.
For more, please see Jim's story.
Coffee with a shot of entrepreneurial spirit
Elsewhere in the issue, Senior Writer Lori Valigra talks to coffee roasters and retailers around the state.
Like craft brewers, coffee roasters are popping up everywhere. The industry has been embraced by youthful entrepreneurs as well as those seeking second careers.
“Having more great coffee roasters raises the bar,” Bob Garver, owner of Wicked Joe Coffee, tells Lori. “We like that. Coffee is a fun, interesting, vibrant and dynamic industry.”
We have written a good deal about Coffee By Design and have featured co-owner Mary Allen Lindemann in Mainebiz several times.
I've had my own coffee experiences, regularly visiting Coffee By Design, Arabica and a few others. Recently, I stopped by the Sugarbird Coffee Truck, which I'd been noticing on Commercial Street near India Street.
The owner, who introduced himself as Justin, said he's buying coffee from a small roaster in Hampden. That would be Micha Beaulieu, owner of UnRest Coffee. He is fire-roasting coffee beans in his yard. I love coffee but I'm not a coffee expert, so the best I can tell you is the coffee has a smoky taste I associate with barbecue (or that one time we tried to roast a pizza on the grill). UnRest's coffee can be found at Giacomo's in Bangor, Central Street Farmhouse in Bangor, Tiller and Rye in Brewer, Miguel's Restaurant in Bangor and Market Street Co-Op in Fort Kent.
It's a cool concept, one many are embracing: small businesses helping small businesses.
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