Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lainey Morse, founder of Original Goat Yoga & The Goatel, located in Monroe, OR, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My goat yoga idea went viral in 2016, and since then, we've expanded into ten states all over the US. When the pandemic hit, we had to close down our goat yoga operation. We needed an idea that would be somewhat pandemic proof. We knew people would need to get out for a change of scenery and get a dose of nature.
We opened The Goatel in June of 2021 at 3 of our locations. It is a goat-themed vacation getaway that's focused on improving your mental health. Each night's stay includes a Goat Happy Hour Experience, which is a trademarked term meaning "goat therapy" It includes bonding with the therapy animals and spending time in some of the most beautiful spots in the US. We also offer goat yoga as an upgrade and offer packages including champagne under the stars on the waterfront or wrap-around porch, panning for gemstones in the creek, fishing, gourmet dinner packages, painting classes, and campfires and smores.
We currently have 3 locations in GA, TX, and MI, and we'll be launching two more in June and July of this year in IL and WA. Our customers are anyone who needs a vacation with a focus on relaxing and recharging.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Lainey Morse, and I'm the Founder of Goat Yoga and The Goatel. Playing it safe was not an option for me. Instead, I drew inspiration from the happy distractions provided by six adorable goats, and in 2016, Original Goat Yoga was born!
That was only the beginning of a funny, scary, and ultimately fulfilling journey. No one plans on their small endeavor going viral, and there is no roadmap for dealing with the craziness it entails. However, with 20-years of marketing experience and a business model focused on helping others start and sustain their own goat yoga enterprise, I was able to navigate the twists and turns.
After hundreds of appearances in publications and media outlets, including CNN, The NY Times, Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, NPR, BBC, and many more, I found my voice describing how to persevere in the face of adversity, the power of reconnecting with our rural roots, the fulfillment was borne of helping others to realize their dreams, and the joy that comes from a goat picking your yoga mat to lie on.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment would be creating a new industry that's focused on improving mental health. We estimate now there are over 500 goat yoga businesses all over the world and making it a 10+ million dollar industry.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The stress of making sure we weren't just a viral fad and making sure that all of our locations survive and are successful. I have so many households depending on me to make sure that we succeed.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
You have to be willing to put the time in. Long hours at first are worth it. You have to have the tenacity to keep going no matter what happens. (enter a pandemic) You have to hire people to that have different skill sets than you do to create a well-rounded team.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
They always say, build a life that you don't need a vacation from, and that is the secret of life.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://goatyoga.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goatyoga
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goatyoga/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoatYogaOregon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laineymorse/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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