Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Wilson.
Lindsey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My health journey started ten years ago when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her diagnosis, I began to approach nutrition and lifestyle choices as a form of preventative care. Years later, after eating all organic and trying every diet: vegan, paleo, keto, etc., my gut was a mess and my immune system was shot.
I had read about the healing powers of bone broth and wanted to give it a try, but I couldn’t find any on the market that were void of common allergens (specifically garlic and onion) and that tasted good without needing to add salt or spices. This inspired me to create my own recipe using ginger and turmeric in place of the garlic and onions. I infused it with medicinal herbs and created what would become OWL’s signature product, Bone Broth Elixir. After a few months of healing my body with a restrictive diet and a daily mug of bone broth, I feel like I needed deeper ‘cleanse’, which is why I created OWL’s Reset Program. I wanted something that was all liquid, but rather than a juice cleanse that is high in sugar, low in calories, and encourages ‘crash dieting’ and other unhealthy habits, I designed the program to be gut nourishing, nutrient dense, and non-restrictive as it allows for approved foods that are easy to digest. The idea is to reduce the digestive load so the body can spend the extra energy doing what it knows best: Healing. The program pushes people to look at eating well and cleansing as an act of self-care. It encourages us to invest in ourselves and tune into our bodies’ inner wisdom and natural intuition.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not! Our growth has been organic in every way, meaning non linear, constant growth, which inevitably entails everyday challenges. I’ve never done this before! I’ve never worked in a commercial kitchen or for a food and beverage company (aside from waitressing in my early 20s). I’ve gone deep educating myself on wellness for over a decade and OWL was born purely out of passion for personal growth and discovery; from a desire to care for myself and inspire others to feel the same. When we feel good, we do good.
At each stage there have been different challenges, but we’ve been blessed with ‘good problems’ overall. Our number one challenge has been and still is: How do we make more? I’m passionate about not compromising on quality. I’m insistent upon using locally sourced ingredients and sustainable packaging, and offering fair wages to a team of people I love is a non-negotiable for me as a business owner. I don’t know how I’d find joy in growing any other way, but I’ve seen forks in the road and understand the temptation to bend. Ultimately, I know it may be a long road to reach and impact people at a larger scale, but I’m enjoying the journey. I don’t think there’s a business owner out there that doesn’t enjoy problem-solving. That’s why we do this! There’s a new hill to climb every day, but it keeps life interesting and meaningful.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
OWL is founded on the belief that to heal the world we must first heal ourselves. If we don’t have the energy to break down and receive information from the food we are putting into our bodies, how can we expect ourselves to go out into the world and make a positive impact? When we feel good, we do good. The better we feel, the more we have to give and the more we can steward our friends, families, and communities into a more wholesome existence. I truly believe in the ripple effect that comes from each individual choosing to care for themselves. I also believe in the impact we have as small businesses when it comes to how we make decisions on sourcing and packaging at OWL. We source locally and package sustainably. We are very much a family-run business. My team has become my family over the years and we all work together in love to deliver a quality product and a positive customer experience.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
We love Venice! I’ve always had such a strong pull toward this part of SoCal. It has such a small-town feel, but with all the opportunities and conveniences you’d expect in a city like Los Angeles. I love the community we’ve built here with so many health conscience and like-minded individuals that really understand the vision for OWL and have seen it from the beginning. We are starting to spread our wings as we scale our online business, but I’m grateful to have laid our foundation and have strong roots in Venice.
The best place to start a business really depends on the type of business and the business owner. LA is a great place for wellness and a lot of other industries, but it’s all about being in a place that brings you joy. I love walking to the beach with my dogs every day and appreciate the ability to drive up the coast and hike on the weekends. There’s so much I love about LA aside from it being the birthplace of my baby, OWL. 🙂
Pricing:
- OWL 4 day Reset $270
- OWL Broth Elixirs $22
Contact Info:
- Address: 1613 Abbot Kinney
- Website: Owlvenice.com
- Phone: 4242529226
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @owlvenice
- Facebook: Facebook.com/owlvenice
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