She Risked $6,000, Her Reputation, and a Small Town’s Opinion
What started as “divine timing” became a sanctuary people now swear by
Small towns talk.
In Roseburg, word travels fast. Twenty four thousand people. Everyone knows someone who knows you.
So when she got fired, people talked.
And she smiled.
“THANK GOD,” she said.
That was the moment Wholistic Earth stopped being a thought and became a decision.
She had been managing properties.
Stable job.
Predictable path.
Safe.
Then it was gone.
One last paycheck. Six thousand dollars on a credit card. No backup plan.
“Now is as good a time as any.”
Faith. Determination. Divine timing.
She opened the doors on 2/12/19.
Weeks before the world shut down.
A Sanctuary in a Skeptical Town
Let’s be honest.
Opening a metaphysical and holistic wellness shop in a timber town is bold.
Some people rolled their eyes.
Some whispered.
Some were curious but would never admit it.
She called it a sanctuary.
Not a store.
A sanctuary.
“Sanctuary is where you go and you know you will not be judged, lied to or manipulated.”
That word matters.
Because people don’t just walk into Wholistic Earth to buy crystals or herbs.
They walk in carrying something.
Stress. Grief. Confusion. Physical pain. Spiritual crisis.
And the first thing they notice?
Relief.
“A noticeable relief reaction, like a weight has been lifted.”
That reaction is intentional.
Prepared Her Whole Life
This wasn’t a midlife whim.
She had been on a path of conscious living since she was 22. Maybe earlier.
She learned from her mom. Her grandmothers. Teachers along the way.
People had been coming to her for advice since middle school.
They did not always like what she said.
But they trusted it.
Honest. Direct. Sincere.
Before Wholistic Earth ever had a sign on the door, she was already doing the work. Helping family. Helping friends. Studying. Listening.
Then life pushed her.
Sometimes getting fired is not a setback.
It is a calling.
Opening Before the Storm
They opened in February 2019.
Then COVID hit.
If you were here, you remember the fear. The confusion. The isolation.
Small businesses folded.
But Wholistic Earth flourished.
Why?
Integrity.
People were desperate for alternatives. For conversation. For grounding. For someone to talk to without judgment.
They helped people navigate physical and mental struggles during one of the most chaotic seasons of our lifetime.
“We helped so many people physically and mentally during that time and continue to do so.”
Notice she says we.
Not I.
WE.
Wholistic Earth.
And the people who helped bring it to life.
From One Room to Expansion
It started small.
One room.
Shelves. Herbs. Crystals. Incense. Jewelry.
Curiosity.
Then growth.
Loyal customers turned into friends.
Doubters turned into regulars.
Skeptics kept coming back.
They expanded into the office next door. More space for events. Classes. Inventory.
They were questioned.
Scrutinized.
Tested.
And they passed.
“We’ve passed the test of doubters, skeptics, time and haters.”
In a town this size, that matters.
Trust is currency.
Why People Keep Coming Back
You might think it is the crystals.
Or the bulk herbs.
Or the naturopathic medicinals.
Those are part of it.
But the real product is something else.
Safety.
Comfort.
Conversation.
Education.
“There are no right or wrong ways, there is only the way that works for YOU.”
People ask questions here they cannot ask anywhere else.
Questions they are afraid to voice.
Questions that might get them judged or shut down.
Here, they get honesty.
They get options.
They get met where they are. Not where someone thinks they should be.
That difference is everything.
Built on Trust and Loyalty
Ask her what she is most proud of.
Not revenue.
Not square footage.
Trust.
“Trust and loyalty. It goes both ways.”
In a town of 24,000, loyalty spreads.
One friend tells another.
A spouse comes in out of curiosity.
An ex husband stops by to “get his fix.”
And slowly, what once felt controversial becomes normal.
Even necessary.
“I can’t believe I found a shop like this in Roseburg!”
If they only knew.
Where to Find Wholistic Earth
If you are curious, you do not need to whisper about it.
You can walk in.
536 NE Winchester St #102, Roseburg, OR 97470
Find them online and on Facebook.
Comfortable. Clean. Well lit. Organized. Inclusive.
From Agnostic to Zen and everything in between.
Why You Should Go
Here is the truth.
Small businesses are the heartbeat of this town.
They are built on risk. On credit cards. On faith. On stubborn belief.
Wholistic Earth started with a firing.
It survived a pandemic.
It grew because people walked in and felt something they did not expect.
If you have ever been curious.
If you have ever needed a reset.
If you have ever wanted to ask a question without being judged.
Go see for yourself.
Because in a town like Roseburg, the best stories are not the ones you hear about.
They are the ones you walk into.
P.S. Who is your favorite local business owner? Drop their name here. I’d love to feature them next.
Why Bing Matters More Than You Think
If you are ignoring Bing, you are leaving money on the table.
Most small business owners in Roseburg only care about Google.
They set up a Google Business Profile.
They post on Facebook.
They call it good.
Here is the problem.
Bing powers more than you think.
It powers Microsoft Edge.
It powers a large portion of voice search.
And it powers ChatGPT.
Yes. That ChatGPT tool…..crazy huh?
When someone asks AI for the “best coffee shop in Roseburg” or “a plumber near me,” that information has to come from somewhere.
If you are not visible in Bing, you are invisible in more places than you realize.
Why This Matters in a Small Town
In a city like Roseburg, you do not need thousands of leads.
You need consistency.
Five extra calls a month matters.
Ten extra website visits matters.
One new customer a week matters.
If your competitor is listed correctly on Bing and you are not, guess who AI recommends.
Not you.
The Real Cost of Ignoring It
Lost calls.
Lost direction requests.
Lost website visits.
You will never know they existed.
That is the dangerous part.
You cannot fix what you do not see.
Meanwhile, the shop across town gets the referral from a voice search on someone’s iPhone or laptop.
And you wonder why things feel slow.
What Is Bing Actually?
Bing is a search engine owned by Microsoft.
But that is the simple answer.
The bigger answer is this.
Bing feeds data into:
• Microsoft Edge
• Windows devices
• Voice assistants
• ChatGPT and other AI tools
If your business information is wrong, outdated, or missing, AI cannot recommend you confidently.
And confidence drives visibility.
Simple Action Steps
You can do this today.
Go to Bing Places for Business.
Claim your listing.
Make sure your name, address, and phone number match Google exactly.
Add real photos.
Write a clear description using the words customers actually search for.
Do not overthink it.
Just be accurate and complete.
When DIY Breaks Down
Here is where it gets tricky.
Consistency across platforms.
Structured data.
Directory citations.
AI indexing.
This is where most owners quit.
You are busy running payroll.
You are not thinking about how ChatGPT pulls local data.
And you should not have to.
If you want to make sure your business shows up where AI is looking, that is what we do at âlyft digital.
Quietly.
Correctly.
Seamlessly.
P.S. If you are not sure whether your business is visible on Bing or AI tools, connect with me.
I will take a quick look and tell you straight.
No pitch.
Just clarity.
Why LinkedIn Boosts Your Credibility Even If You Run a Local Shop
You think LinkedIn is for corporate people.
You run a café.
A boutique.
A construction company.
You do not need LinkedIn.
That belief is costing you trust.
Google Is Watching More Than Your Website
When someone searches your business name, Google looks beyond your website.
It looks for signals.
Real person.
Real owner.
Real business.
A complete LinkedIn profile connected to your business sends a powerful message.
This person exists.
This business is legitimate.
This owner stands behind it.
In a small town like Roseburg, reputation is everything.
Online signals now shape that reputation.
Customers Check More Than You Think
Before someone calls you, they search you.
They look at:
• Your website
• Your Google reviews
• Your Facebook page
• Your LinkedIn profile
If LinkedIn is missing, empty, or outdated, it creates friction.
Even if they never consciously say it.
Trust is built in layers.
LinkedIn is one of those layers.
The Cost of Ignoring It
Less credibility.
Fewer backlinks.
Lower search visibility.
Lost partnerships.
Missed media opportunities.
You might think that sounds dramatic.
It is not.
Google connects dots.
And if your digital footprint is thin, you look smaller than you are.
What You Can Do This Week
Keep it simple.
Create or update your LinkedIn profile.
Use a professional headshot.
Clearly state you are the owner of your business.
Add your business name in your headline.
Write a short summary about why you started the company.
Link to your website.
That alone puts you ahead of most local businesses.
When It Becomes Strategic
Here is where it goes deeper.
Optimized keywords.
Authority building.
Connecting your LinkedIn to press, guest posts, and local features.
That is where visibility compounds.
Most owners do not have time to think about this.
They are running operations.
If you want your online presence to match the quality of your real world business, that is what we help with at âlyft digital.
We build credibility assets that work quietly in the background.
P.S. If someone Googled your name right now, would they trust what they see?
If you are not sure, reach out and ask.
I will give you an honest answer.
Let’s Keep It Simple
Marketing does not have to be confusing or expensive.
If you want a clear picture of how your business is showing up online, where you’re missing leads, or what could actually bring in more customers, I can help.
No gimmicks. No jargon. Just straight talk about your business and what’s really working.
If that sounds helpful, hit reply or reach out and let’s chat.
-Gary