We were lucky to catch up with EILA ALGOOD recently and have shared our conversation below.

EILA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to help people connect to their spirit self/intuition and to intentionally raise their vibration to assist the universe in evolving consciousness.
the story behind my mission is that in 2018 I received the dreaded cancer diagnosis. Once I recovered from the shock, I knew I needed to change my life and live my soul’s mission which is to assist people in connecting with their spirit self/intuition. After surgery to remove the cancer, I began a business to teach online and began to create videos as part of the curriculum and to post on YouTube for the public to see. I worked diligently and after teaching some of the online programs, felt it required too much of my effort for very little response. I let go of that and focused on other renovation projects, writing projects, creating, producing and hosting a virtual video show for the Hawaii Writers Guild called “Inside the Writers Studio”, beginning a new radio show “Intuitive Talk Story” with a co-host and getting my body healthy, trim and fit.

An opportunity to open a retail store came and my intuition told me to follow that path which led me to open “Raise Your Vibration” : Woo-Woo Shop in my hometown of Hawi, Hawaii in October, 2022

EILA, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was interested in the paranormal when I was in my 20’s. I was weird to my friends and family for talking about psychic phenomena, but I was captivated by the topic. Then, in 1987, my mom died after many months of illness from cancer. I was very sad and missed her. I was driving my minivan with my 3-year-old daughter, Kristin sitting in the back. It had been a few weeks since Mom died, and the feelings of grief were palpable. I said “I miss Grandma today.” Little Kristin giggled back “why Mommy? She’s here in the car.” I pulled over to the shoulder and turned slowly to Kristin and said “what do you mean, Honey?” Kristin pointed to the seat next to me as she said “she’s sitting right there, holding your hand.” My entire body got shivers. Over the next few years, Kristin would talk to and about Grandma as if she were in the room with us. I knew my mom was there, but I couldn’t feel, hear nor see her like Kristin could. That began my journey into developing my psychic senses so I could connect with my mom and other Spirits. In 1991, after the birth of my son, I enrolled in a 30 week long psychic development program that had 4 levels for a total of 120 weeks of classes. I found it so beneficial that I wanted to give back to the school so once I was qualified, I became a teacher at the school for the next few years.

Complex situations arose in my life and I stepped away from teaching, yet continued to use my psychic senses to guide my life.

In 2021, my wife and I decided to purchase a commercial property in our small town on the northern tip of Hawaii Island. This wasn’t our first rodeo, as we’d been together for 20 years and invested in many real estate properties together. The property had 5 neglected cottages downtown, requiring extensive renovation. As we got near the end of the project, I began to get messages from Spirit, guiding me to open a retail store to sell metaphysical books, sound healing instruments, and crystals. There had been a jewelry and shell store in one of the five buildings, but the owner retired and my wife purchased the displays and some of the inventory. I included those items in the store as well.
As I was struggling to come up with the perfect name for the store, my wife asked me “what’s the purpose of the business?” I replied “to help people raise their vibrations.” “there’s your name.” she said and “Raise Your Vibration” began its existence.

In the 1980’s and 90’s, I liked to go to new age bookstores just to breath in the energy of the place. The explosion in e-books and online bookselling may have put an end to those magical places. Even though I had never worked in retail, I decided I could create a space that felt peaceful, powerful and meaningful for people seeking or not seeking such an experience. In order to create such a vibe, I need to do my own personal work. I have to clean up whatever negativity I might be carrying before I arrive in my shop so I can set the positive energy for the space. This helps me on my spiritual path to be more aware and conscious of my moment to moment life choices.

A few weeks prior to opening, as I was setting up the retail space per a feng shui expert and my intuition, my wife came in with one of her Real Estate clients and I overheard her refer to my store as a “woo-woo shop”. I took instant insult, but kept my feelings to myself. As the day progressed I began to question why I was insulted. I looked up the definition of woo-woo and found many similar ideas which stated it is a slang term meant to insult supernatural beliefs not backed by science. Although I had reason to be insulted, I didn’t want the term “woo-woo” to have such negative power over me. That’s when I decided to own the term and use it on my sign, on my website and business cards by calling my store a “Woo-Woo Shop”. One day, while talking with a customer I said “we have to honor the woo-woo within” which is now part of my tagline.

I get so many people who come into the shop laughing at the words “Woo-Woo shop” and now we all laugh together. Laughter is another way to raise one’s vibration, so we’re on mission there. Many people comment on the peaceful feeling they get upon entering the store which definitely sets me apart from other retail stores. Using sage, rose spritz, singing bowls and/or palo santo, I clear the energy in the store daily. I have many water fountains, peaceful native style flute music, scents of rose, sage and lavender, chimes and lots of crystals, jewelry and other items of beauty. The store positively impacts the customer on all five senses plus their sixth sense. Customers are invited to play, whether it’s the tongue drum, singing bowls, native style flutes and drums, tuning forks, or chimes. It’s fun and meaningful for people of all ages. I had a 9 year old boy who picked up a Tibetan singing bowl and asked his parents to buy it for him for his birthday and a 75 year old woman who excitedly purchased a fairy door to put on her tree at home.

In addition to the small showroom with items for sale, there’s the Spirit Studio that holds up to 10 people in a circle for spiritual gatherings and a Reading Room for one on one intuitive/psychic readings as well as for folks to sit and read books from the reference library. The Spirit Studio is a space to connect with one’s own spirit self as well as spirit guides, ancestors and angels. During store hours, people are welcome to sit in the Spirit Studio under the copper Nubian pyramid, play a native style drum or a singing bowl, chant or just unwind. My store is unique in that there are experiences offered in addition to items for purchase.

I’m proud of this business as it’s the first successful business where I’ve been at the helm. My wife is a sharp, smart businesswoman and we’ve done many ventures together. I’m humbled by how well the community has been embracing the shop. I received daily words of gratitude for creating such a place in our town.

I have led meditation and spirit circles in the Spirit Studio and am excited to continue to offer such gatherings as well as invite other members of the community to lead small events. I feel the key to success for this business will be for me to continue to listen to my inner guidance first.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I’ve been in my community for 14 years. I’ve volunteered for many non-profits, including as a DJ for local community radio station, co=host of a radio talk show, and co-host of monthly community events. My wife and I had opened our home to the community for years allowing people to have yoga class, dance class, meetings and other events at our property, usually for no fee. I’m a Facebooker and have been posting regularly for years. In 2018, when I faced uterine cancer, I created a blog, sharing my day to day fears, joys, challenges, and triumphs. I believe what’s come through is my authenticity. I don’t try to be, I simply am who I am. I think that’s helped people to trust me. I’ve written many articles and poems for our local paper and magazine over the years, so people know my name. I also believe in the law of attraction. I put out positivity and I receive it right back.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I’ve been boosting Facebook or Instagram posts once or twice a month and will do some newpaper advertising later in the year. I feel word of mouth is what’s working best right now. Many of my regular customers love how they feel when they enter my shop and they’ve told me that they tell their friends to come in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ryvhawaii.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryvhawaii/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Raiseyourvibrationhawaii
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eila-algood-23828133/?msgControlName=reply_to_sender&msgConversationId=2-NTMxY2I5OWMtMmI0NC00YmI2LWE4ZWMtNDMxOWM5ODg4ODdkXzAxMA%3D%3D&msgOverlay=true
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eilaalgood
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAf8PzOZAGboBuMSYvZfPQQ
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/raise-your-vibration-hawi-2
• Other: https://www.alignable.com/hawi-hi/raise-your-vibration