CARIBOU, Maine — Aroostook Stitches, a new shop offering quilting supplies, is now open for business on 42 Sweden St.
Owner Susan Maley of Stockholm said, “We chose Caribou because of its centralized location. We want to make sure everyone has access to quilting supplies, including our Canadian neighbors.”
Maley worked with local business resources to bring her dream to fruition. She attended a class offered by New Ventures Maine called Venturing Forth: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs, a 12-week course in business planning.
“The class helped me take off my rose-colored glasses and really helped me with research on the type of business I wanted to get into and if this business is truly viable for this area,” she said.
She met with Josh Nadeau, local Small Business Development Center business adviser, who helped put realistic estimates together for the cash flow projections and guided Susan into the lending process, connecting her to Julie Corey, business loan officer at Northern Maine Development Corporation, who pulled the best financial partners in to help secure financing.
Karin Petrin, microenterprise specialist with New Ventures Maine, said, “It is a privilege to work with folks as they shape the future of Aroostook County through sustainable business creation.”
Aroostook Stitches is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sundays 11 a.m.-4 p.m.The store is stocked with cotton fabric and flannel in yardage and precuts from Benartex, Robert Kaufman, Timeless Treasures and Maywood Studios, along with Bosal fusible batting, patterns, and notions including Olfa rotary cutters, Creative Grids rulers, Olfa cutting mats, Gingher scissors, Schmetz sewing needles and Auri Fil threads.
Maley and her two part-time staffers plan to offer quilting classes, and The Pine Tree Quilting Guild members intend to use the space for gatherings.
The store will mark its grand opening Saturday, May 20, with an official ribbon cutting, drawings, specials and refreshments.
