Ever wish you could take a day trip to see the amazing attractions in your own backyard? In this episode, Sharon DeKoning talks with Lindsay Heisler, who created a business to do just that! Whisk’d Away with Lindsay is a local travel company that gives participants the opportunity to take a day trip and explore the amazing local businesses and attractions in their local area.

Lindsay shares her inspiration and entrepreneurial journey of building a tour company dedicated to supporting local, independently-owned businesses in Alberta. Lindsay’s tours, each designed for groups of 10-15 people, explore a variety of venues, from coffee shops to wineries, with each tour tailored to showcase the unique charm of Alberta's local businesses. She speaks passionately about the impact of community support, the value of personal connections, and the joy of creating memorable experiences for her clients. Lindsay also discusses the challenges she faces with her non-profit-inspired model, particularly in helping venues understand her mission to drive community engagement.

Lindsay offers inspiring advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of pursuing passions, taking risks, and staying open to feedback. She underscores the vital role of local businesses in sustaining communities and encourages others to explore entrepreneurial paths that bring people together. For Lindsay, Whisk’d Away is not just a business—it's a mission to uplift and celebrate the local economy, one tour at a time.

Lindsay Heisler, an AMA member and local entrepreneur, is committed to uplifting Alberta’s small businesses through her community-centred company, Whisk’d Away with Lindsay. Her boutique tour service offers curated day trips to spotlight local businesses and bring customers directly to their doorsteps.

A former chef at Waterton Lakes National Park's Prince of Wales Hotel, Lindsay began by sharing her favourite local spots on Facebook, sparking interest from friends eager to join her explorations. Inspired by their encouragement, she launched Whisk’d Away with Lindsay in late 2022, hosting over 20 group tours across Alberta, from Wainwright to Stettler and beyond.

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Transcript:
Sharon DeKoning: [00:00:16] Thank you for joining us, Lindsay. This is our 'It's Time for Success: Business Insights Podcast'. The purpose of our podcast is to help others in business, whether they are thinking about starting up, whether they've been doing it for a number of years, there's always something that we can share and help other people, and that's the purpose of this. Today I'm talking with Lindsay Heisler, she has a company called 'Whisk'd Away' and she's got a remarkable story. I don't think that I've ran into another business that is so community orientated than what you are, Lindsay, and your story is absolutely remarkable. Lindsay, I've probably known you for almost 15 years, since I've been in Provost for about 18 years, we've crossed paths along our little town and it's been a delight getting to know you, and of course you are a customer of ours too so I thank you for that. Lindsay has recently been in the AMA Insider. It's a local business, and they did a documentary on you. I love this one phrase, and I'm going to put it really close before we jump into the podcast. This really resonated and I think it speaks to who you are, so here it goes. It says, I love how the venues I choose share the hard work and passion for their businesses. Seeing the happiness, laughing, sharing new friendships and people supporting each other that happens on these adventures, what's better than that? That's remarkable, absolutely remarkable. I'm going to let you talk about your business before I start asking you some questions here, Lindsay. Just explain to us what 'Whisk'd Away' is.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:01:45] Thank you, Sharon, for including me in your podcast today. 'Whisk'd Away with Lindsay' is a business that I created visiting, supporting, showcasing small, privately owned local businesses. I could see the need for small business support. We would go into our small communities and see another store closing or less stock on the shelves. We all shop Amazon, we all shop online. When you live remotely, some things you can't get in our local communities. I try to support as much as I can. I always say to people, buy the gift bag at one store, go to the other store and get a gift card. That extra $1.50 will help somebody. It might be the sale they didn't have that day. With 'Whisk'd Away with Lindsay', I am bringing you a vendor, at least 12 ladies. I generally take, I guess I should say, 10 to 15 ladies walking through your door at one time. I also do groups of men and women that we can visit 6 to 14 venues in a day is what we do.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:03:08] I think I read somewhere, Lindsay, that you focus on locally owned. Is that correct when you go out with your people?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:03:15] Yes, not chains. I try to support someone that is a family owned business, someone that is a small business owner, not somebody that has five chains. I just think it's important, those people worked hard to get where they are to open the doors of that venue. I want people to be able to walk in, and I look for unique. I look for things that I like and also things that you might like. With the 15 ladies in my group or the 15 men and women in my group, not everyone is always going to like the same venue, but they will honestly learn something from every venue we visit.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:04:07] As we discussed, before we started recording, the importance of these businesses in our smaller communities. They're so important to be able to thrive. The local businesses, they hire people, that's what helps our community is these people. So thank you for helping them so they can help others. It's a ricochet effect, we're all in it together. What inspired you to create this, Lindsay, is there any 'aha' moments that you thought that, we need to do this?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:04:33] I was seeing that we all needed a fun adventure. Not necessarily days away, but one good day, I feel, is equivalent to a week holiday. Not everyone can get away for a whole week. I just wanted to create one day that was good for you, was good for me, was good to support the venues we visit.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:05:00] This is a very rare service that you're offering. I don't think I've ever heard of it before. So what triggered this adventure for you?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:05:08] I would say time spent with people. Years ago, I was with one of my friends. We had gone to visit a friend of ours that was ill, and she was in her last few months of life. She said, go enjoy the things you love, eat more cake, have fun. It was then that I thought, you know what, we all need to do more of what we love.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:05:42] We all need to eat cake.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:05:44] We need to eat cake. Honestly, I love to shop, I love to travel, I love to try new restaurants. I try to influence my family and friends, don't eat the same fish and chips. Try something you haven't tried off the menu or have an appetizer that you haven't tried. I just think it's so important to go do fun things and 'Whisk'd Away with Lindsay' has done that. I visit coffee shops, I visit cafes, distillers, brewers, wineries, boutiques, children's toy stores that are hidden around that corner in a home. I try to support that downtown business that the downtown area is failing, that it's being overrun with empty buildings. I try to find those things hidden around the corner, hidden gems.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:06:55] Hidden gems, absolutely. The next question is about market needs. We're trying to help other people out there that might be wanting to start a business, but they don't really know the guts and the grit that it takes. One of the questions I had is, how did you find a gap in the market? You are looking at, people needed a break, eat the cake and support local. Is there anything else that I'm missing for that?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:07:23] Often I was sharing with people, 'I went to this new gift store downtown, Viking', or 'I went to this great coffee shop in Vermillion that just opened', or 'I was at this new restaurant in Stettler, and they had a great little coffee counter, plus they sold clothing and had a variety of things' and people would say, 'I'd love to go there. I'm glad you shared that with me'. I bottled wine with a group of ladies for years, and some of the ladies I didn't even know, but I was in this group that we each picked a kit, that was through Lloyd Wine Outfitters. I now take my groups there because so many people have never gone and bottled wine. It's about the experiences as well, it's not just about shopping. I want people to learn, I want people to visit and reconnect and make a new friend. On my open groups, I often have people say at the end of the day, 'I'm so glad I came on my own. I'm glad you inspired me to just come. That I would end up with 13 new friends at the end of the day, or people I hadn't visited with'.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:09:00] The other day my podcast was on the importance of networking and building relationships. Of course that was more on work, but I think as mental states as well, we still need that building of relationships, it's important.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:09:25] I completely agree. Years ago as our families, we would just get in the car and drive next door to the neighbors, and not even phone ahead and say, we're coming for coffee. Now, it's like we have to make appointments and book days ahead to get together with our friends and family. I think we're losing that, I think reconnection is so important. Have supper with your friend in your home, or share that bottle of wine you made on an experience, or show them that new dip mix you bought, or I got a new hoodie and I got it made somewhere. Just share those things.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:10:11] I find that people now are sharing, did you reach out to so-and-so? Yeah, via text message. It's so crazy, our whole lives are going crazy. What you are offering, I think we can fall into another question here. How did you do your research to make sure your idea was solid? Did you do any research or you just started slow into what you were wanting to do?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:10:37] I took a risk. I picked up the phone and I started phoning venues, I communicated with people verbally, and I also communicate with people on social media. Because sometimes, if I'm doing more than one trip, it's so important to have things in writing. But I do feel like it's okay to go back to the old way, to talk to somebody on the phone, to hear their voice, to hear the excitement in our conversation. 'Oh my goodness, you're actually going to bring 12 ladies in to visit with me for only 30 minutes?' But 30 minutes can make a humongous difference in someone's day.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:11:23] You're lightening up somebody's day, what a great feeling.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:11:26] Yeah, I took a risk.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:11:27] Any challenges, learning curves, in that risk that you would like to share?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:11:33] I would probably say the biggest challenge for me was explaining why the heck I would want to do this, why I would want to bring people. Venues would say to me, is there a charge for you to bring these people? No, I'm just coming. I'm coming to share the experience, I'm coming to show them you have a great little shop hidden around the corner, or you're a really great person, I want people to feel your vibe. That's exactly why I did it, but that was probably, and still is, the biggest challenge. It's hard to get people to understand why I'm doing this, or what is the reason for it, and to get people on board sharing their story. Not everyone feels comfortable speaking in front of a group of 4 people, let alone 15. I get that, and that's why I always suggest, grab that item of clothing, throw a scarf around the hanger, show some ideas to dress it up, dress it down. Do what you can to promote your business.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:12:52] You talked about, basically, communications. We have here, how did you work through them. I heard social media, phone calls, be diligent. Any other tidbits of how to get their word out there on a business?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:13:07] I never gave up. I knew they needed us, and I also knew that I needed this and so did my clients. Again, do more of what you love. I love to shop, I love to tour around, I like to research and find cool things. You know what? Everybody else likes those things too, and I like to learn.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:13:34] So if somebody's wanting to do something, focus on what you like to do. Focus on what you love.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:13:40] Do more of what you love.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:13:42] And guess what? It's never work then, if you do that.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:13:45] You're exactly right. It doesn't feel like work to me.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:13:51] When you go to different places, for example, you went out to my daughter's, I know that for a fact, 'Six Acre Homestead', so thank you for that and that awareness. When you're at these other places are you able to, first of all, I know for a fact you build relationships with them and that's a really great. It's important to build relationships so you can bring people back more comfortably on another trip. That's the idea of it. But how do you hear of it, is it word of mouth? Say if you're at somewhere, how do you know of other places in the area? How do you find these little hidden gems?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:14:26] I do a lot of research. When I'm with my husband traveling places, I try as hard as I can to be in the passenger seat. My biggest piece of advice is, use signs. Don't use this tiny little script fancy font, use something that is legible that people can read. I sit in the passenger seat, I look at strip malls as we're driving and I'm like, 'slow down I want to see that. I want to see what that is, I wonder what that is. Honestly, also a positive to technology, because as soon as I see a sign that says 'six acre homestead' or 'the old school cheesery' or 'it's time promotions' and I want to know about it, I think, this might be great. Somebody might be really interested in learning about that, or this would be an experience. Then I open my phone while we're driving along and make a note of it, and I look it up on social media or a website or Facebook and find their pages and start following them and say, this is a really good connection.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:15:44] So you find these places, you're driving through, so as a business owner, first of all, signage you talked about. Always, I tell our customers less is better. Be current and keep your website up to date is what I'm hearing. Make sure you have positive reviews and be on social media. I think it's important to be who you are, follow your mission or your vision or your culture. It's important to connect with people.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:16:14] I completely agree. When I go to an Instagram or a Facebook page of someone, I honestly look through and I see all the things that they're sharing and I'm like, I can think of ten ladies that I've taken that would like that, or ten guys that would love to go and learn how that distillery opened, or wow it's a win, they actually have vodka, gin and beer at that distillery. Look how many people I could take there. Honestly, when I go to, say, a brewer distiller, not everyone likes beer, but you know what? Almost everybody tries it. They even have lots of nonalcoholic options, too.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:17:06] So it's the atmosphere that you're looking for when you go to these places. Any resources, supports, that you can recommend for our viewers. Little tips of the trade, what do you think? Did you read any books on business?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:17:24] I haven't read any. I would love somebody to share some books with me.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:17:31] I have a tickle trunk.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:17:33] Yes, I believe you do. I look where your business started to now, wow Sharon.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:17:38] You know what about 'it's time promotions'? I didn't know anything about what I do. I didn't even know how to thread a machine in that embroidery machine. I didn't know how to weed vinyl, I had no idea what I was doing. I liked your comment about, just do it.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:17:52] Yes, take the risk.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:17:54] Take the risk, just do it. If you're passionate and you want to do it, just do it.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:17:58] Yes, create more fun.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:18:00] It's not easy.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:18:00] No, it isn't easy.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:18:01] It's not easy. Being an entrepreneur and having a dream or a vision or a drive. I don't know what you want to call it, my dad used to call it pigheaded. Whatever it is, it's not easy. But if you want it, you can do it.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:18:13] I completely agree with you. Don't give up, focus on your plan. Again, I can't say it enough, do more of what you love and listen to the good things, but also take the bad advice or the bad reviews and learn from them. I'll be honest with you, I have so much positive in 'Whisk'd Away with Lindsay', I don't hear a lot of bad. I'm not trying to blow my own horn, these are good days. These are days that every single human needs to experience.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:18:52] I've only heard good things too, Lindsay. In fact, that's why I have you on the podcast, people are raving about it. So the fact that you had the vision, I guess we can also say you do have a niche. It's a different kind of business. I have a promotional products company, you can go down the street for another promotional products company. So you have a niche. You are offering a service that people, it's a different experience, it's a different lifestyle, what you're offering is absolutely brilliant.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:19:21] Yeah, these are so fun. I think of in my life, going on holidays and hopping in a tour bus and listening to a tour guide and thinking, they have a great job. How fun is that? Maybe some of my inspiration was because my parents allowed us to travel and when we got to go on vacations, they were because my parents worked really hard.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:19:54] Yeah, I agree. We were growing up, I was raised in a restaurant, basically. My mom had a restaurant, I was raised by an entrepreneur. She had two weeks every summer, but we lived in Manitoba, so we were able to travel. I've touched right across Canada, I've touched each ocean on each side, I've been right across Canada as a child. At that time, I didn't appreciate it. You also even hear wise men, people who have wrote books, and they say travel. You learn, there's so much knowledge in travel. Like you had mentioned, not all of us can travel, we don't have the time, we don't have the finances, we don't have the want, but you are offering a travel within our community, and you can gain so much knowledge from that day's travel.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:20:34] You can learn anything from, how the honeybee lives, what a honeybee does, going to visit a mead business. There's so many local farms, look at 'Six Acre Homestead'. Look what they have created, it's incredible.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:20:58] It's incredible. I find it amazing because she is my daughter and I don't know how to grow a plant. This one here is growing, I don't know how she does it. Again, it wasn't easy. She phoned me in July, I'll never forget this phone call, and she told me during work hours. Mom, I have a serious question. So I thought, oh boy. She says, is it really worth being an entrepreneur? She's eaten by mosquito bites, she's sweating, she's outside pulling the weeds. It's not easy, people, but if you want to do it, you can do it. You've just got to have that vision and that want.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:21:34] Yes, don't give up. Take the risk, do more of what you love and create it. Create it, share it.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:21:46] Be proud of it. What are your top three pieces of advice for anybody that's thinking about starting their business? I think we chatted about it, but let's repeat it. Three top pieces of advice from you.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:21:58] Focus on your plan, do more of what you love, listen to those around you, and don't give up. Listen to criticism, listen to the good things and take the criticism.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:22:18] It's true, be open minded. You can always learn from that, absolutely. I think if you want to become an entrepreneur, you cannot ride the defensive bus. You cannot ride on that bus.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:22:31] Yes, and look at the good. As long as it is outweighing the bad, keep moving. Keep going forward and be grateful to those people supporting you. Those people have influenced you in your life to try that new food, to think out of the box. Go sit in a restaurant by yourself. Do more for you.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:23:02] I added that tip, I've added grateful. I think that as an entrepreneur, anybody who wants to go into the entrepreneurship lifestyle. Grateful, you have to have that in you. You have to be grateful, you have to be aware of everything around you and to be grateful for those.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:23:18] Yes, I completely agree.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:23:20] All right, is there any other points you want to share with our listeners before we sign off here, Lindsay?

Lindsay Heisler: [00:23:28] No, I'm just thankful that you've invited me to this. I hope I can inspire somebody that's thinking about becoming a business owner, to take the risk.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:23:43] Take the risk, take that leap.

Lindsay Heisler: [00:23:45] Do it because something is telling you, you should go and try it. Do it because you might make a difference in somebody's life.

Sharon DeKoning: [00:23:57] Very good. Well, we really appreciate you joining us, Lindsay, on our podcast today. Our listeners, I'm sure, have taken some of those words of advice from you because they are very informative, so thank you for that.