Meet Kathleen Goerner | Owner, Pinspiration Houston Heights

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathleen Goerner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathleen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve lived in the Houston area for over 25 years, along with my husband and two daughters. Pinspiration Houston is a family business–my husband, Philip, and my daughters, Elise and Cameron, have worked hard to help us open, and I run the studio. Elise and I are both former teachers, so we know first-hand the personal benefits of getting creative. We want our studio to be a hub for the art community in Houston: beginners can interact with professional artists and learn more about their craft, and people can just enjoy plugging into a creative world. Artistic expression gives us the opportunity to deeply relax, experience the “flow” of creation, and have quality time together with the people we care about most. We hope our studio can serve as a hub for the unique brand of creativity found in Houston, allowing folks of all artistic abilities to reconnect and create something meaningful. Houston is a melting pot of so many cultures and experiences, and our studio is the perfect place to explore and express your individual Houston flavor.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been in education for over 25 years–first as a secondary science teacher, then as a district administrator. I was eligible for retirement, but I was not ready to stop working, and I wanted to serve my community in a different way. I was looking for an opportunity to do something different when I came across the Pinspiration franchise, and something clicked! I’ve always been a creative person, but I haven’t had the space or the supplies to actualize all of my ideas, and I knew other creatives were struggling with the same obstacles. Pinspiration solves those problems, provides a beautiful and creative environment, and is a family-run business that will sustain us through our golden years.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston has such a diversity of experiences, people, neighborhoods, and cultures! I love taking out of town folks to the museums, especially the Natural Sciences and the Museum of Fine Arts. If the weather is nice, the Zoo and Hermann Park can be really beautiful. Buffalo Bayou park and Memorial park have some really stunning views as well. For food and drink, we might get lunch at Brother’s Tacos, Empire Cafe, or A’bouzy, then happy hour at Holman Draft House, Under the Volcano, or Pitch 25. Dinner at B&B Butchers, Goode Company Seafood, or Riel would be perfect. Top it all off with a splatter date at Pinspiration Houston Heights!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We joke that my husband, Philip, is our ‘silent partner’ because he isn’t at the store every day – but he has been instrumental to the opening of our studio. Philip built all of the cabinetry and shelving in the store, as well as the tables on our outdoor patio. He’s also a CPA, so his accounting experience has been so important for us. And of course, he withstands all the stress that comes with opening a business — helping us find solutions to problems, and being an understanding presence when I feel like it’s all about to fall apart.

Aside from my husband, I couldn’t have done this without the support of my family. My daughters, my siblings, my cousins, my aunts and uncles – everyone has been so supportive and showed up to help us when we needed it.. I am so grateful for my family’s support!

Website: https://www.pinspiration.com/locations/houstonheights/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinspirationhoustonheights/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinspirationhoustonheights