That time I lost 250+ followers overnight ...

This blog post wades into a topic that may not seem to pair with Airbnbs and Alpacas, BUT stay with me. In the end, I think you'll see why the Decatur Alpaca Cottage is SO much more than your average Airbnb (and this time I'm not just talking about being a Superhost!)

So ... about that blog title …

Over the past year as the deep divide of inequity, social justice and civil rights came into an undeniable focus, it became abundantly clear that even though we are a small business, the Decatur Alpaca Cottage could not and should not exist in a vacuum separate from the whole of humanity. When I started speaking candidly about equity and racism, I got a lot of push back.

I received countless comments along the lines of "keep politics out of your business and stick with Alpacas." In response to one particular post, we lost 250+ followers and a cottage booking literally overnight. I grimaced, but was actually okay with it. <see me grimacing below LOL!>

Here's the way I see it ~ I've always been outspoken as an individual. Also, a lot of heart goes into caring for our animals, cultivating our gardens, and hosting our Cottage guests well, so why wouldn't the things I value personally ALSO be a part of my business? Many current political issues are about human and civil rights. That's personal. In fact, that's about as personal as it gets so, like many companies I admire, I integrate those values INTO my business. Yes, I'm going to talk about them from time to time. For me there's just no other way to do it and I'm glad y'all are here for it!

The core values behind the Decatur Alpaca Cottage Mission Statement were actually a big catalyst for our recent brand refresh and website update. I wanted to ensure the look and feel of the brand represented the heart of my business. If you're curious, take a look at this blog post; it speaks to how I conduct my business and, in turn, what I talk about in and around Alpacas, Llamas, and Airbnbs! While you're there you can check out the rest of our shiny new website too! I'm head over heels in love with it!