We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauran Grant. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauran below.
Alright, Lauran thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.
Absolutely, with the gift of hindsight, I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way. As entrepreneurs, our ideas and businesses are like our babies; naturally, we want to get everything right. However, I now see failure as more of a stepping stone rather than a roadblock.
Looking back, one thing I’d do differently is embrace failure as a natural part of the process and launch even more swiftly. In today’s fast-paced world, speed and agility are key. So, I’d adopt a “build in public” approach, sharing abundant early content while we refine branding, design concepts, and prototypes. People love to support and engage with the team behind the scenes, and opening up about our journey would have generated early interest and brand awareness.
Admittedly, I might have been a little afraid of rejection in the past. But now, I understand that constructive feedback and criticism are essential for growth. So, I’d fearlessly put our work out there, knowing that it’s okay to iterate and improve based on valuable insights from our audience.
Another aspect I’d explore more thoroughly is funding. While bootstrapping was a part of our journey, I now recognize that there are various avenues beyond traditional sources to secure capital and fuel our growth. Crowdfunding, for instance, can be an excellent way to not only raise funds but also build a dedicated community of supporters who believe in our vision. Additionally, strategic partnerships could be game-changers. Collaborating with like-minded companies or organizations can not only bring in financial resources but also expand the reach and open up new opportunities.
Ultimately, my journey has taught me that it’s okay to take risks and be bold. Embracing failure and learning from it only makes us stronger. As we progress, I’m excited to implement these lessons and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for our business. With passion, perseverance, and an open mind, you can make a meaningful impact in the world.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m the heart behind Stratosphere41! My journey into the wellness world kicked off in an unexpected way when I was just 15. After losing my father to cancer, I found solace in a hot yoga studio nearby, and that place became my sanctuary that summer. Yoga wasn’t just a practice for me; it became a passion, guiding me through life’s ups and downs and helping me tackle some of my own insecurities. Today, I’m a certified yoga instructor with over 500 hours of training, fully immersed in the flow of life.
But my story doesn’t just revolve around yoga mats, I also spent some time soaring through the skies, working for a commercial airline in Dubai before venturing into the world of Private Aviation. That high-flying career inspired the name Stratosphere41, a nod to the altitude private jets cruise at, around 41,000 feet. My love for both aviation and yoga intertwined, giving birth to Stratosphere41.
You know, even after years of practice, I always felt like the available yoga equipment and accessories didn’t quite match my bold, sassy, and fun personality. So, I decided to shake things up and revolutionize the industry by offering something truly unique.
At Stratosphere41, we get that yoga is not just a workout; it’s a lifestyle. That’s why we’ve designed a collection of fun, high-performance hot yoga towels that take your yoga experience to new heights. Just throw one over your mat, and you can sweat it out without slipping.
Our motto is simple: “Let’s keep it real.” We believe that everyone’s well-being matters and our core values come straight from my experiences in the wellness world. Yoga has had a profound impact on my mental health, and that’s why I’m all about building a community that prioritizes authenticity and mental well-being. We want to inspire people from all walks of life to take the best care of themselves. We’re all about breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and creating a safe space for everyone. And hey, hot yoga towels today, but who knows what we have in store for tomorrow?
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Yes! My entrepreneurial journey has been one wild ride, filled with ups and downs that I never could have predicted.
When we were gearing up to launch our hot yoga towels finally, guess what? They got stuck at the dock in California at the height of the pandemic for over four months. Talk about bad timing! As a bootstrapped startup, it was a nerve-wracking moment, wondering if we’d ever get our hands on those towels and if my hard-earned savings would be squandered. Yes, lots of tears were involved. But you know what? We didn’t let that stop us!
After what felt like forever, we finally got our hands on those towels and launched our product. The excitement was off the charts, and we were riding that wave with pure enthusiasm. Just when we thought we were in the clear, a flood hit my home office like a ton of bricks, wiping out a chunk of our inventory (funds were tight so boxes were stacked to the ceiling at my house!). It was a tough blow, but we didn’t throw in the towel (no pun intended).
And here’s where the silver lining comes in — the VERY next day after the flood, a local fulfillment center reached out to us on Insta, and it was seriously love at first sight! They’ve been an awesome partner ever since, taking care of all that nitty-gritty stuff, so we can focus on building.
This rollercoaster ride taught us a thing or two about resilience. We’ve learned to roll with the punches, keep that unwavering belief in our vision, and turn setbacks into opportunities.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
My favorite marketing campaign of ours was at a popular conference where we had our first booth. As a bootstrapped company, we couldn’t afford fancy banners and merch, but we got creative with a fun raffle and questionnaire. We made sure to wear bright outfits to stand out! Then, we used my mom’s old iPad for sign-ups and went for a cheeky and risky wordplay for the intro: “Down for friends with benefits? No drama though. Just prizes!” It was a HIT! The buzz around it attracted more people to our booth, and everyone was talking about it. It was a fantastic success and piqued buyers’ interest too!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stratosphere41.com
- Instagram: @stratosphere41
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stratosphere41
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratosphere41/
- Other: TikTok: @stratosphere41
Image Credits
Marisa Sanchez-Dunning Aliah Anderson Claire Armstrong