Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health & wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Madeline Dupont, Founder of HOMTOWN Yoga, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
HOMTOWN Yoga offers in-person and online yoga classes, workshops, events, and retreats. Our customers are women and men ranging in age from 23 to 63. We see a lot of professional women in their late 30's early 40's.
Tell us about yourself
I came from a corporate career of over 30 years (Disney, Hallmark, Universal, The Jim Henson Co., etc.). I discovered yoga in my early 40s, which was very grounding. Over time, I fantasized about becoming a yoga teacher and studio owner and eventually took teacher training (I was 54).
In yoga teacher training, I became fascinated by yoga's profound influence beyond physical movement and how this 5000-year-old philosophy can guide us into living a happier, more fulfilled life. By this time, I was consulting, which allowed me the flexibility to teach yoga while still earning a paycheck.
The most rewarding part was hearing from many of my students about how I had changed their lives, that they looked forward to my class, etc. I learned the value of receiving by giving. In this process and over the next five years, I met a student who ultimately became my business partner. She invested in me and my vision for creating a yoga community for wellness and spiritual growth.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, I still need to achieve my goal of growing profitability. Still, we have a fantastic community of students, yoga teachers, and sound healers. Our students consistently tell us they're happy to have found their yoga home and feel the difference when they regularly attend. Some tell us we've helped them through tough times, and others say we've changed their lives. These are the reasons I do this.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being a solopreneur can be a bit lonely, with no one to bounce ideas off. I'm trying to reinvent the wheel when I know best practices exist. I've since found a mastermind group of studio owners, which has helped immensely.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
You've heard this before, but it's critical... have the passion for what you do because you'll need it to get through the tough times. It's okay after opening your doors (for me, the COVID closings hit six months after my opening).
Find mentors, a consultant, and a support group in similar roles. This can help avoid mistakes and the expensive learning curve of going on your own. Make time for your self-care and for having fun. We can get sucked into the work we love to the point where our well runs dry.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://homtownyoga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOMTOWNYoga
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homtownyoga/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/homtown-yoga/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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