August 2024 - 47

EVENT CENTRAL
Goat
A
Partnering with a local business helped
CountryMax Stores host an event with
a crowd that can't get enough.
By Teresa McPherson
fter their first class sold out in 24 hours,
CountryMax Stores knew they had a hit with a
goat yoga class. Now, they host several sessions
per year and demand keeps growing. Brian Rapp,
creative director, explains why it's a big draw - and
how other garden centers can partner with local
organizations to host events in their stores.
How did the goat yoga event come about?
One of our team members has a friend who owns
Kaizen Ridge Farm, which raises goats and other farm
animals. They introduced goat yoga at their farm in the
summer and it was a hit. As the weather got colder, they
asked if we would like to host a class in one of our stores.
It sold out in 24 hours, so we scheduled another one, and
another. Customers can't seem to get enough goat yoga.
How long have you been offering goat yoga?
We hosted our first class in late October 2023;
now we're booked a month in advance.
Photos courtesy of CountryMax Stores.
What has the response been like?
Response has been goat-tastic! Every session
is sold out at $25 per person. Of course,
most of that goes to our partners with
the goats. But these classes are
great traffic drivers for the
stores - and they get the
community talking about
CountryMax.
How do you promote
the event?
Email to our
local customers,
posters in stores
and social media
posts - that's
all it takes.
What has surprised you about having goat yoga at
your garden center?
The surprise has been the sustainable, repeatable
interest in goat yoga. We thought it might be a novelty
at first, but people keep asking when the next class is.
Even our store managers are asking about it.
Any advice for other garden centers considering
such an event?
Finding the right partner makes all the difference. There
are a lot of variables in terms of the age and socialization
of the goats, safe transportation and an instructor who
knows how to work with people and goats. Oh, and the
poop! We had to include a " goat poop clause " in the waiver
that participants sign. That's something you don't read
every day.
LGRMAG.COM | 47
Yoga

http://www.LGRMAG.COM

August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2024

Editor's Letter
Contents
AmericanHort
Headlines/Calendar
The Garden Center Show Attendee Guide
GCS: Schedule at a Glance
GCS: Educational Sessions Schedule
GCS: Meet Our Speakers
GCS: Show Floor Map
GCS: 2024 Exhibitor Listings
Innovator of the Year: Innovating the Future
Technology: Embracing Change
Showcase: Garden Accents & Décor
Management: Turning a Lifelong Education Into a Business
Showcase: Miniature/Indoor Gardening
Event Central: Goat Yoga
Showcase: Garden Pharmacy
Marketing: Mastering Live Selling
Holiday: A Winter Wonderland
Pohmer On ... : Who Packed Your Parachute?
Marketplace
Ad Index
5 Minutes with ...: Melinda Koetsiers
August 2024 - 1
August 2024 - 2
August 2024 - 3
August 2024 - Editor's Letter
August 2024 - 5
August 2024 - Contents
August 2024 - 7
August 2024 - AmericanHort
August 2024 - 9
August 2024 - Headlines/Calendar
August 2024 - 11
August 2024 - 12
August 2024 - The Garden Center Show Attendee Guide
August 2024 - GCS: Schedule at a Glance
August 2024 - 15
August 2024 - GCS: Educational Sessions Schedule
August 2024 - 17
August 2024 - 18
August 2024 - 19
August 2024 - GCS: Meet Our Speakers
August 2024 - 21
August 2024 - GCS: Show Floor Map
August 2024 - 23
August 2024 - GCS: 2024 Exhibitor Listings
August 2024 - 25
August 2024 - 26
August 2024 - 27
August 2024 - Innovator of the Year: Innovating the Future
August 2024 - 29
August 2024 - 30
August 2024 - 31
August 2024 - 32
August 2024 - 33
August 2024 - 34
August 2024 - A1
August 2024 - A2
August 2024 - A3
August 2024 - A4
August 2024 - 35
August 2024 - 36
August 2024 - 37
August 2024 - Technology: Embracing Change
August 2024 - 39
August 2024 - 40
August 2024 - 41
August 2024 - Showcase: Garden Accents & Décor
August 2024 - 43
August 2024 - Management: Turning a Lifelong Education Into a Business
August 2024 - 45
August 2024 - Showcase: Miniature/Indoor Gardening
August 2024 - Event Central: Goat Yoga
August 2024 - Showcase: Garden Pharmacy
August 2024 - 49
August 2024 - Marketing: Mastering Live Selling
August 2024 - 51
August 2024 - Holiday: A Winter Wonderland
August 2024 - 53
August 2024 - 54
August 2024 - 55
August 2024 - Pohmer On ... : Who Packed Your Parachute?
August 2024 - 57
August 2024 - 58
August 2024 - 59
August 2024 - Marketplace
August 2024 - 61
August 2024 - 62
August 2024 - 63
August 2024 - 64
August 2024 - Ad Index
August 2024 - 5 Minutes with ...: Melinda Koetsiers
August 2024 - 67
August 2024 - 68
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