Morgan Kellock of MO~YO Movement & Yoga Interviewed by Karen Whittier

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Morgan Kellock for several years; first meeting in a yoga teacher-training course. I found her then to be knowledgeable and genuine, someone I could depend on for reliable guidance in yoga and solid advice. Her answers to the following questions verify those traits.

Q: What led you to start your own business?
Morgan: When the local studio where I taught went out of business, students asked me to continue and everything fell easily into place.

Q: What’s unique and innovative about your business?
Morgan:  Mine is primarily a home studio aiming to serve yogis who live close by and want to practice regularly in a familiar community.

Q: As a small business woman, what challenges have you faced?
Morgan:  My biggest challenge is accepting and keeping up with social networking as a marketing tool. I’m more reliant on word-of-mouth referrals.

Q: If there was one thing you that you had the power to change to make your local economy stronger, what would it be?
Morgan:  I would encourage more barter and trade options, and loosen the sign restrictions on home businesses.

Q: What’s been your greatest success so far?
Morgan:  I’ve brought students into committed practice who might not have continued elsewhere.

Q: Has the economy affected your sales? If so, how?
Morgan:  Not really, but that’s because I’m so small. My growth is slow and steady.

Q: Share your words of wisdom for women considering starting a small business in this economy?
Morgan:  Do it, but start small and don’t over-commit financially (credit, rent, services) until you can afford it.

Q: How are you currently marketing and advertising your business locally as well as online?
Morgan: Through word-of-mouth, email newsletter, Facebook (limited), local bulletin boards.

Q: Do you consider yourself to be social media savvy or do you need help navigating LinkedIn, Facebook, & Twitter?
Morgan:  I CAN and probably should do more but I find most social media tedious and superfluous from both ends: provider and consumer.

Q: Are you on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter? If so, how can we find you on them?
Morgan:  Facebook: MO~YO Movement & Yoga (linked to Morgan Kellock page)

Q: Do you have a monthly newsletter? If so, is it an e-newsletter or print?
Morgan:  Yes. I send a simple monthly email with studio and schedule news

Q: Do you have a program in place to give back to your community?
Morgan:  I teach yoga in prison for Yoga Behind Bars(YBB), and donate 5% of all class fees to YBB annually. This way, students at MO~YO take part in community giving just by taking classes.

Q: Are a lot of the businesses surrounding yours owned by women?
Morgan:  No.

Q: Do you cross promote with businesses near your business?
Morgan:  Not much. Within the studio, students cross-promote their own businesses and services.

Q: The focus of the Women’s News Bureau is facilitating collaborative business relationships between business women around the globe. Are you open to local, national or international cross marketing partnerships?
Morgan:  Possibly, I don’t sell merchandise or brand myself so marketing partnerships would have to make sense and maintain mutual integrity.

Q: If so, what types of businesses or professionals are you open to cross marketing with? And are you interested in cross marketing to share the cost of admin, advertising, marketing, etc.?
Morgan:  I would consider cross-marketing with yoga, dance, health and fitness professionals, but I’m not interested in new expenses right now.

Q: Small businesses make excellent cross marketing partners for other small businesses as well as virtual businesses.

Morgan:  They have counter space, customer bags, window space, flat screen TVs and more that a business can get exposure for their marketing messages. If another small business or virtual businesswoman wanted to cross market with you, where would you allow them to place their marketing materials?
For businesses and professionals I know personally, I share business cards and contact information with students who ask. I could set up a referral page on my web site for businesses I endorse. We’ve talked about doing this internally for students who cross-refer with each other.

Visit Morgan’s website and if you’re in the greater Seattle area, I encourage you to visit her studio. See below for contact information.

Health, Wellness & CURES!!
Karen Whittier
Chief Activist, Embrace Activism
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)
www.EmbraceActivism.com
425-894-3210

Interviewee
Name: Morgan Kellock
Business: MO~YO Movement & Yoga
Title: instructor/owner
Years in business: just over a year
Address: 17200 Brookside Bl. NE
City: Lake Forest Park
State: WA
Zip Code: 98155
Metropolitan area: Seattle
Email: morgan.kellock@gmail.com
URL: www.morgankellock.com

This post was submitted by Karen Whittier.