Check Out Hailey Sorensen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Sorensen.

Hi Hailey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My junior year of highschool I stumbled into the “Future Business Leaders of America” club (FBLA) which changed my life! I competed in the business plan competition and immersed myself into the entrepreneurship mentality; the following year I was inspired to start my first LLC called BellaAnne Boutique which was a custom jewelry gift set company. This evolved for two years with my business partner/best friend & even morphed into a new brand called Bella Luna Treasures before coming to a close at the end of 2018. I was having the most fun I’ve ever had and I’m so grateful I decided to start my entrepreneurial journey so early on. It’s where I realized my passion for fashion could take me places and I also learned how much fun I have making jewelry/art.

High School naturally gears you up to go to college however and I decided Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver would be it. I thought this would be the answer to becoming the BEST business woman-long story short, it wasn’t. I was drowning in the workload regarding subject matters that had barely anything to do with what I wanted to build or business. I wasn’t progressing in the direction my soul intended so I decided to drop out of college a year and a half in. The idea was to work on my own business and ride the wave as long as I could. I wanted to prove that I could be an entrepreneur to those who doubted me.

Initially I fell into work experience doing sales at an office furniture company. With all the extra free time I worked on my business. More production, marketing and networking. When your heart is invested, it doesn’t feel like work; it’s a passion project where energy flows. I started modeling and meeting the world of creatives within Denver. The network I was a part of led me to the next HUGE chapter in life.

When preparation and opportunity meet, magic can happen in your life! I knew I wanted to be involved in a startup and as fate would have it, I met a person starting one. In the beginning of 2018 I became a founding partner in the Good Vibe Mafia, which is a creative collective here in Denver; we also have a retail space [Good Vibe Mafia Shoppes] and studio space next door [GVM Studios] right on Elm & Colfax in downtown Denver.
When we originated, we were only the Good Vibe Mafia and focused on modeling and content creation for brands in the cannabis industry. Our CEO Todd Cynecki saw an opportunity to branch into this industry ourselves and we developed our staple brand Good Vibe CBD. My 4 partners and I have done some incredible things as a team over the last 4 years. We developed a sister line called Chakra Skin in 2019 which features luxury skincare & spa products. This May 2021 we won Westword Magazine’s Best of Denver competition for “Best CBD Store” and our store front GVM Shoppes also received the “Best Recycled Clothing Store” award.

When Good Vibe Mafia Shoppes first opened there were only a few CBD products available with a bit of art and fashion sprinkled in the mix. As each year passed we grew in every direction. The 2 CBD lines expanded immensely, the shop space improved and my creative flame continued to grow. The knack I have for curating fashion and creating jewelry finally had a place to thrive. Last year I decided to start a solo concept called Sunshine Designz- this is an embodiment of everything style, art, and decor related that I curate or make by hand. Under this umbrella there are no limitations to my creativity!
I share my work in the shop and bring in new featured artists throughout the months. The shop is becoming the best version of itself everyday; I hope to help other brands come to life by providing shelf space for local artists and vendors in my city. Stay tuned because this is truly only the beginning for me and GVM!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The startup life is one that is full of obstacles and barriers – long nights, early mornings. Tears and defeat on some days and the purest joy life can bring others. Having a start up is a gamble but if your heart and soul is in it, chances are likely in your favor! I pray for the life of my business like I pray for the lives of my loved ones & myself. With this mentality, struggles never seem to weigh me or (US) down for too long. There is substance from struggle and every day I am a business owner is a privilege. I fight to make the most of the abundance and intend on using the struggles I face to build character. Failing is part of the game but if you get up and try again each and every day, success will find you. Patience and persistence is key when choosing the road less traveled. I retain information I gain through the struggle so I can pass it along to others and make the road smoother for the next wave of entrepreneurs. It’s not always smooth but greatness can be achieved with the right mindset, no matter what struggles come along the way.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am always working on polishing myself and my public speaking skills. To help I participate in the Cherry Creek Toastmasters club to practice. That environment helps me transform and tap into what I have the power to accomplish. I desire to lead conferences or retreats in the future.
Until then, I host smaller sized events at GVM Studios throughout the month. For the last year I have been hosting a monthly art gallery and vendor market – featuring 16+ local artists every month. It’s been a great way to bring the community back into the studio space since Covid. I am looking forward to 2022 because I plan to expand upon the events I carry out within the space like CBD Sip & Shops or educational wellness workshops.

I believe wholeheartedly in the power of visualization and manifestation – it is how I have gotten to this point and is how I will climb mountains to come. I also do vision board events at GVM Studios to share clarity with myself and others. I give people a safe space to dive into their own mind and make visualizations using magazines. Everyone comes out with something tangible to look at and take home.

I love writing so much, I honestly could go on forever about the different facets of myself. Stay tuned! I can feel a Good Vibe Mafia podcast or youtube coming in the future so I can share so much more about this Journey and myself!

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I have had the most beautiful upbringing – I can’t isolate a single memory but I can sum it all up. I am an only child, so love was never missing. I had it coming towards me from every angle. My family is everything to me. These people nurtured me and raised me with the most amazing principles. I owe a lot of my greatness to them and want to work harder than ever to repay for the beautiful childhood they provided me.

Pricing:

• GVM Studios – $40.00 per hour
• Good Vibe CBD – Products ranging from $20-$400
• GVM Shoppes – Fashion, art and local goods from $1-$75

Contact Info:

• Email: hailey@goodvibemafia.com
• Website: https://www.depop.com/sunshinedesignz/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haileysdesignz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWuk0qJwCye1FNEdjY3uOEA
• Other: https://goodvibecbd.com

Image Credits
Aaron Bonilla, Edward Brice, Sara Kane, Melissa Estudillo