We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Pohl recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarah , thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Free Air Life Co. opened in 2019 and is a boutique style outdoor shop that supports eco-sustainable brands. Our team of adventure enthusiasts hand select authentic, unique and story driven brands while we adventure around the world. Our store name is inspired by the Norwegian word, “friluftsliv” which translates into free air living, outdoor life and a commitment to celebrating time outdoors. We stand behind nurturing nature which is why items in our shop in store and online plant trees or pick up trash per purchase or are made sustainably. It’s up to us to educate our community on sustainable style.
Sarah , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started telling Free Air Life Co’s story right before the pandemic swept the nation. I took on the social media when we had a very small online shop, and our doors were forcibly closed due to government mandates. At that time, the only comfortable freedom we had was to spend time outdoors. I spent so much time on trails, beaches and exploring parks during this time that we connected on a deep level with brands we were finding on the road and such that gave back to the land and water. It seems simple right? Enjoy, don’t destroy. Nurture nature. If we love it, we should leave it better.
While so many people enjoyed national parks and trails during lockdown, people were still in deep need of education with how to properly take care of the very parks we spent so much time enjoying. This is why we chose every brand that is sold at our shop carefully, and why all of them devote a purpose to nature. This store is run by a small group of women that want to empower ALL people to get outdoors. We are not a serious outfitter, just a few gals that will never stop exploring.
How did you build your audience on social media?
We joke anytime we hand our social media handle out that we hardly ever showcase the actual goods and apparel in our shop. We have built our followers organically in under 3 years by being real people with purpose, and telling our story through our social media. We’ve built our following by sharing our adventures we’ve taken around the world, why our mission matters, and what we love most about nature all over the world.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
I met the owner of the shop, Sarah (we share the same name!) back in my previous career as a cosmetologist. I was working part-time at the salon and after she told me the story of what her inspiration was for Free Air Life Co and what its substance was, I begged her for a job. Just one day a week. I had to be a part of it as I felt her mission and shared its passion. Now she is one of my favorite people to travel and explore with, and sharing our adventures is half of the fun of the business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.freeairlifeco.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/free_air_life_co
- Facebook: @FreeAirLifeCoDuluth
Image Credits
Shawna Vine Photography