BeerME is a Maine based group of friends that celebrates all things of Maine-the places, the stories, the people and the BEER. All their creations are inspired by Maine that ranges from cool T-shirts to fun accessories.

My quest to learn their story made me contact BeerME for a small interview with us. And we have Chris, one of the BeerME co-founders, to enlighten us about their company and tell us what they are up to. Catch his interview below:

Chris, please introduce yourself to E-junkies.

I'm an Art Director from Portland, Maine. I was born and raised in Maine, went to school in Colorado where I studied advertising and pursued a career as a professional snowboarder. I moved back to Maine after school and now live in Portland with my wife and dog. I love typography, design, the ocean, being outdoors, snowboarding and anything creative. I currently work at The VIA Agency and run BeerME as a side project.

We would love to know more about 'BeerME'. Tell us about its inception. 

The whole thing began with a bunch of friends at The Maine Brewer's Festival. It’s always a little chaotic at these events and we needed a way of finding each other in the crowds. So we would wear blaze orange hunting hats, bandanas or whatever else we had laying around. In the fall of 2009, I decided to design a t-shirt logo that we could wear to the event. I went through a couple rounds of designs that weren't so hot and then came up with BeerME. It made perfect sense. It displays a love for the state and our beer! The shirts were such a hit at the event I had a friend literally sell one off his back. So I made a few more and decided to set up an online store.

BeerMe was formed in late 2009. Now, it has a huge fan base. What do you consider to be the primary reason behind this rising graph?

I think the primary driver so far has been the simple and playful nature of the company. It's relate-able to people who are from the state or people who just like the state. Social media has also played a key role. We don't spend any money on advertising and rely heavily on word of mouth. I had a lot of help from my friends getting it started. They would share the page with other friends, and then their relatives would find out about it and then some of their friends would share it and suddenly it started to catch on.

What all does 'BeerME' offer?

We're all about Maine! Our products include T-shirts in a bunch of different designs such as BeerME, LoveME, SurfME, SailME, RideME, and FarmME. We also offer hoodies, hats, pint glasses, mugs, tote bags, stickers and more to come!

Your store has so many interesting products! I really liked Pint Glass and Beverage Key. Which is your favorite?

I still really love the original BeerME t-shirt in blaze orange. It's the shirt that started it all and the color is also kind of iconic for Maine. It's also a color people either love or hate. One of our most popluar items right now is the LoveME camp mug. It's a handled mason jar mug that has a retro feel to it. They make awesome drinkware and are perfect for just about any occasion.

What is your vision for 'BeerME' as a whole? 

Broadening the company to include more Maine themed products, it's a celebration of the State of Maine and I'd like to include a little something for everyone.

How do you consider 'Social Media' as a promotional tool in today's scenario? How important it is for small-medium biz owners like you?

It's a tremendous growth starter for companies just starting out and a tool that every small business should be using. Platforms like Facebook and twitter allow a small brand to truly engage with fans and consumers. It gives your brand a voice and let's fans share a connection with your company. Plus it's free!

What's your take on E-commerce?

It's been a huge learning experience for me. I come from a creative background and really just followed my gut. Having very little background in E-commerce, I had to do some homework. Hosting plans, payment solutions, cart systems, there are tons of decisions and plenty of options. I think one of the most important things about e-commerce is having a site that stands out. A lot of that comes with the design. Keep it simple, easy to use and make it fun.

Many of the aspiring business owners would draw inspiration from you. What message do you have for them?

1. Find a niche. You won't be able to market to everyone. 

2. Pay attention to details, this is what will help your company stand out from others. 

3. Don't take on too much at once, it only makes things harder when your first starting out. 

4. Draw inspiration from what other companies are doing well and learn from others mistakes. 

5. This one's important. Be passionate about what you do.

Do you have any sales or coupons you would like to share with our readers?

Use ejunkie at checkout and receive 10% off your entire order.

Any last words or shout outs?

I'd like to thank my family, friends and fans who've supported the brand from the beginning. Thanks for the interview.

Chris, Thanks to you too for such a refreshing interview. It was great to learn your story with BeerME. We wish you all the very best!

Visit their website at BeerMEMaine.com.

Become their fan on Facebook.