How I Built This with Guy Raz Outdoor Voices: Tyler Haney
Nov 25, 2019
Tyler Haney, Founder and CEO of Outdoor Voices, shares her journey from a Parsons graduate to building a popular athletic wear brand for casual exercisers. She discusses the challenges of identifying a niche in a saturated market and her innovative approach to promoting inclusivity in fitness. Haney recounts pivotal moments, like securing a major order from J.Crew and navigating funding hurdles, while also balancing her expanding company with motherhood. The episode also features Beth Fynbo, who created the Busy Baby Mat, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit in tackling everyday parenting challenges.
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Rediscovering Exercise
- Tyler Haney rediscovered her love for exercise in her senior year at Parsons after a period of inactivity.
- This experience, along with the realization that existing activewear was geared towards competitive athletes, sparked the idea for Outdoor Voices.
Dissonance in Activewear
- Tyler Haney observed a dissonance between the high-performance image of activewear and the reality of recreational exercise.
- This insight led her to envision a brand that catered to those seeking the joy of movement rather than competitive achievement.
Community-First Approach
- Tyler Haney's approach prioritized building a brand and community around a feeling before developing a product.
- Similar to Glossier, Outdoor Voices began with community meetups and jogs, focusing on shared experiences.