Backyard Tourism: Giving Back to the Community, with Lindsay Heisler

It's Time for Success: The Business Insights Podcast

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.

About Lindsay Heisler

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.

Resources discussed in this episode:

• AMA Insider Article: Local Business Owner Supports Local Businesses

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Contact Sharon DeKoning | It's Time Promotions:

• Website: itpromo.ca
• LinkedIn: Sharon DeKoning
• Facebook: It’s Time Promotions
• Google: It’s Time Promotions
  
  

Contact Lindsay Heisler | Whisk’d Away with Lindsay:

• Facebook: Whisk’ed Away with Lindsay
• Email: [e-mail]

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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 ...