276:Purpose Over Product: How Pink Stork Built a Brand Women Actually Trust with Amy Suzanne

Amy: 0:00

So it's cool to see now, you know, we're coming up on 10 year, our 10-year anniversary, and it's so cool to see how we've grown as a brand, but it's not because of us, it's because of all the women out there that have allowed Pinkstork to be a part of their journey.

Camille: 0:23

So you want to make an impact. You're thinking about starting a business, sharing your voice. How do women do it? Chase after those dreams. Listen each week as we dive into the stories of women who know. This is Call Me CEO. Welcome back, everyone, to Call Me CEO. This is your host, Camille Walker, and I am so thrilled to chat with you today about our guest because we have Amy Suzanne Upchurch, who is the founder of Pinkstork, a multi-million dollar women's wellness brand built on faith, purpose, and resilience. She is a mom of six, a military spouse, and a powerful example of how leading with conviction can change everything. So get ready to be inspired by her journey and also personal struggle that helped to lead to empowering millions of women around the world and also employing a team of women, which I think is just so cool. So, Amy, thank you so much for being on the show today.

Amy: 1:24

Oh, thank you so much for having me.

Camille: 1:26

Yeah, so just getting into the weeds of it a little bit. I mean, wow, mother of six, we were just chatting right before we pressed record. You are right in the middle of it. Tell us a little bit about the ages of your kids, just so the audience has a reference point of where you are in that term of motherhood. And then also how Pinkstark began.

Amy: 1:49

Okay. Okay. So I'll start with the ages of my kids. So my oldest is 15, um, just got his learner's permit. So we're starting um that whole fun. And then my youngest is two. So still got the car seats and all the struggles there. Um, and then a bunch in between. So I have six kids that, you know, they're all in between those age groups. And I actually started Pink Stork when I let me think, I like get lost in it all. But when I was right after I delivered my fourth, um, my fourth son. So actually it it started from his pregnancy. Um, so I'll kind of back you up because my first pregnancy um was really where things went really crazy for me. Um, so I was diagnosed with something called hypermesis scrabbid arm, which basically happens to about 1% of pregnant women. And um I was also told that I was not even going to be able to have kids. I found out I was getting, I'd just gotten married. My husband was um in the Marine Corps, so I was getting on like military insurance, and my insurance company called me and said, Oh, by the way, you're pregnant. I was like, Are you what? Like you wait, wait, wait, wait. You found out from a phone call you didn't know? Yes. I remember it like clear as day, sitting in DC traffic, and I get this phone call, you know, letting me know that, you know, all my blood work is approved and blah, blah, blah. And I'm, oh, by the way, you're pregnant. Oh my gosh. Okay. So we got pregnant on our honeymoon. Like, life started as we as we life started as we knew it right then. And um, anyways, I ended up just a few weeks later really, really being tested physically with the high primisis gravitarm, which I explained to people, if you don't know what that is, it's like morning sickness on steroids. So I would throw up 30, 40 times a day. I ended up, you know, living in the hospital, um, had pick lines, administer me medicines just to try to keep me and my baby um alive. Like I wasn't able to eat or drink anything and keep anything down. So it was a real struggle. And then at one point in the pregnancy, I also got sepsis from a blood infection from the pick line that had been installed in me. And it's really deadly. I think it's fertility rate is something like 80%. Like it's shut down complete hospitals, and doctors gave me 24 hours to live. So my gosh, like, you know, motherhood is is holy work, right? Like, and it's a challenge, and it started off for me very, very rough. I'd say, yeah. And um, so for me, you know, I I just got married, had this rough pregnancy, then I actually turned around and got pregnant again three months later. So I went through really four challenging pregnancies. My fourth one is where I was like, hold the phone, like I cannot do this anymore. I knew like my body was getting ready to have it a battle of a pregnancy, so to speak. And I really decided to work with a team of doctors to like figure out what are other options for me besides just, you know, pumping me full of medicines. Like my body was just so fragile and depleted of everything, not just physically, but also like mentally and spiritually and emotionally. I was just, I was, I was done. Um, and so I really decided to try to do something different. And this is kind of where pink stork came from is from my fourth pregnancy, where I was had a completely different experience. Take it, took a completely different approach, you know, really relying on natural vitamins and minerals to help give my body, my physical body, everything that it needed to be able to survive and flourish. And this was, I'm trying to think, I four kids under five. So my husband was also deployed, like it was just a trying time, right? Oh wow.

Camille: 5:51

And did you have did you have the hypermeses with all of them?

Amy: 5:57

Yes. And and typically it gets worse each pregnancy. So doctors don't recommend, you know, that you try again or have, but I I, you know, that was God's plan, really, is you know, people always ask me, like, why did you have so many kids if you knew you were going to be battling this? But you know, God's plans are not always our plans, and that's what you know, what where where God had me. And um I'm so glad He allowed me to experience those trials because out of my trials and pain really came this calling to be able to help other women with their own bodies and their own frustrations and challenges that they have. So started Pink Store right after that fourth pregnancy, uh, living in a military base, not having any experience whatsoever in business. And I'm learning a lot every day.

Camille: 6:49

Wow. There is so much to unpack there because, first of all, having four under five and being so physically challenged through the pregnancies, how was your how are you even thinking straight? I when I am not getting sleep, I'm like not used to anyone. Uh so I'm just I'm blown away by that. How are you even operating in a place of and I know personally for me, if I can be in a space of creation, it gives me fuel beyond my physical capacity. So there is that for sure. But tell me, like, how how did you even manage that with your husband not being there?

Amy: 7:25

And I know it was hard. I mean, it wasn't easy at all. Like, I don't know if I would even say I was managing, I would say I was surviving. Um, and you know, I was relying on complete strangers again, being in the military, you move. I mean, I think we move 15 times in 10 years, so you're always moving. I was switching hospitals, relying on complete strangers to help me with other kids. You know, my family would come and help as well. And I mean, it's it was survival. It was survival. And I was extremely frustrated spiritually, just like with God. Like I did not understand why. Like I would look around and see, you know, all these other pregnant women that look so happy and glowing and all the things. And here I am, very like I couldn't even move without throwing up. So I didn't understand why it was happening to me. Now I have this great thing called perspective. Yeah. And uh time helps a lot of that too. So I understand now why, but when I was going through it all, it was it was me really wrestling with like God, like, what are you doing here? And I do think having mindset is such an important part of any time you were going through any issue or trial or struggle, like how you approach it with your mind. Like, I believe I'm a big believer of like as your mind goes, your body will follow. So, you know, really just trying to to understand. I was trying to understand what God was doing. And I feel like each day it was just, you know, I was learning a little more each day.

Camille: 9:07

Tell me, what did the early days of Pink Stork look like? Was there a moment when you knew, like, oh, I'm onto something big? Right.

Amy: 9:16

Um, so I mean, I remember like waking up in the middle of the night and like I would have my phone next to me that was hooked up to our uh web store, our website. And so when we get an order, like ding would come through and I'd be like, oh my gosh, like I'm wake up. My husband's so excited. We got one order. Um, and so he was so basically what happened is he, you know, it pink stork starting out, you start out, you're very humble, you're not sure if it's gonna get off the ground or not. You don't know if it's gonna be able to, for me, I was just focused on like helping women. Like I my goal was like to help as many women as I could help. And then it started to turn into something where I was like, actually, this might, you know, financially be able to provide for our family as well. And so um, my husband was trying to transition out of the Marine Corps, and he I basically said, Hey, give me a year and let me see if if Pink Stork is able to grow and do this for our family. And if, you know, he was studying for law school. I did not want to go to law school with four kids. It was like real motivation right there. Yeah. Um, and during that year, we got a break. Um, Target called me and said, Hey, love your products, love what you guys are doing, would love for you to come up and pitch. And so that was kind of the moment where I would feel like I was like, Oh my goodness, if we pitch to Target and go into Target, like this could be something more than just you know, shipping orders out of our military base, out of our garage on our military base. So um did that, went into Target nationwide, and that was kind of where then my husband was like, okay, fine, like, and he got out and he um joined Pink Swork as well. So wow.

Camille: 11:03

How many years into that? I feel like we need we might need to back up a little bit because what was the pilot product first and what was the purpose? Because I know I'm assuming guessing it was meant to help women with pregnancy and with feeling okay. And and how did you formulate that? How did you know how to get in production?

Amy: 11:25

It was really the we started with nine products, and the nine products were what I really used during my um during my fourth pregnancy that kind of gave me that that big aha turnaround moment where I wasn't living in a hospital anymore. So um, and we were really focused on gut health. So helping women, you know, that were dealing with like morning sickness and maybe some gut issues. Um, so that was where we started, and it was nine products. I don't recommend anyone started.

Camille: 11:53

Nine's a lot, nine is a lot, and how did you discover the nine?

Amy: 11:57

Was it just through it was all through like research with my doctors and trial and error on my own body and what would work well. So it was really a personal, you know, this is a probiotic that had these strands in it, where I had tested it for myself at the time. I didn't know it was gonna be pink stork. So I was just kind of when I I don't even know if I talked about this, but during my fourth pregnancy was where I was really focusing on natural products and testing and seeing like what I could do to help my body physically combat this extreme morning sickness and all the things. So um that was an amazing experience, which then led me to be able to help say, okay, I want to take this and uh and bottle this and help every other woman who's struggling with their bodies. So I probably forgot that piece of the puzzle, which is really important.

Camille: 12:48

Yeah, I mean, I've had personal friends who have been in this situation, been in the hospital, had to have IVs set up even at home. So this to be able to unlock that code, were you able to be out of the hospital then at that point with your completely?

Amy: 13:03

And I was chasing three kids around while my husband was gone. So my gosh, it was like a big 180 from all my other pregnancies, which was just amazing. And that's where I was like, oh my goodness, like God, I get it, I get it. It like wasn't about me at all, it was my experience to be able to like help other women with their bodies.

Camille: 13:25

Okay, so you come out with nine products, nine products, and just for people who have thought about developing a product like this, how did you even know where to begin? Like as far as like packaging and fulfillment and manufacturing, what did you do?

Amy: 13:41

Well, so I mean, I knew what I wanted because of you know, I was just taking my own personal experience with what helped me. And then I started really just Googling, okay, where can I get something like this made? Calling around, you know, working with uh designers for the labels. And I had a vision of what I wanted it to look like. I knew, you know, the ingredients that I wanted and things like that. So it was really just kind of used Googling everything to figure out the the school of Google? Yeah, I was the school of Google and figuring out what I could do to make it all come together. Um and yeah, that's what I did.

Camille: 14:20

And was there anything in the beginning, especially with you know, fulfillment and website development and orders, was there anything in the beginning that you looking back wish you would have known? Maybe that there were hiccups in like getting it going that would be helpful for someone?

Amy: 14:34

Yeah, I would not recommend starting with nine products. That's a lot to just the skew with yeah, to learn. Yeah, maybe start with one and then grow from there. Um, because it's a lot to you know, different, all different manufacturers, all different types of compliances, and um, you know, building a website. I just we Googled that too. So I mean, now there's so many great resources out here where you can use AI to get connected and and come to the world faster, come to market faster. Um, but you know, I would I guess I don't know. I look back and I think, yeah, that was a lot of products, or I don't know. I'm not I'm also not afraid to fail, which is I think really important. So I used every I still use every mistake that I I make as like a learning. Um, I didn't go to school for business, so I didn't know what I didn't know. And I was just willing to test and kind of throw things at the wall and see what I can make work to be able to help help women. That was really all I cared about. And still so cool.

Camille: 15:37

I love, I mean, obviously, it had to come from a place of true desire for that. Otherwise, figuring out all of that on your own would be, I mean, it is overwhelming. I that's just so impressive. I would love to know as far as building your audience, because I know that's a huge fear for a lot of people starting a new business. How did you build an audience to be able to sell to? What was your key for that?

Amy: 16:02

So I think this came pretty organic for us as a brand. Um, you know, I was really just obsessed with helping her, helping her deal with whatever she's dealing with. And we're still obsessed with that. It's one of what we call our three uniques, it's customer obsession. So really going above and beyond to connect with them. We're not just a brand, we're we're literally a community of women that come alongside and help you. So if you ask a question and we don't have an answer or solution, we will help you find that answer and solution. And I think that that just creates trust between your customer and your brand. And without that trust, you're not going to be able to build anything. So I would say we were very intentional about creating that trust with her. And so she trusted us when she was pregnant, which is a very vulnerable season. And then we kind of grew into well, people would ask us, you know, what I'm I'm struggling to get pregnant, or I'm struggling with postpartum depression. Like they would just like ask for help and we would help them. And that's a lot of how we've grown as a brand is just strain staying true to helping her wherever she is in what season of life. So it's cool to see now, you know, we're coming up on 10 year, our 10-year anniversary. And it's so cool to see how we've grown as a brand, but it's not because of us, it's because of all the women out there that have allowed Pinkstork to be a part of their journey. Wow.

Camille: 17:39

Yeah. So okay, if you're coming up on 10 year, so you started in 2015. Okay. So was that like days of was Instagram up and going at that point?

Amy: 17:51

Or I don't think I've ever had anyone ask that question before. But now that I'm like, I don't think so. I think it was Facebook.

Camille: 17:58

Oh my goodness. I'll bet it was Facebook because I am a grandma in the space of creating online. I started in 2011 and for sure Instagram was not a thing yet. It was mostly Facebook.

Amy: 18:09

I don't think it was. I think you're so right. Wow, I'm having a aha moment right now.

Camille: 18:16

Hey, Facebook is still, you can still it is. I know the targeted tags with me with Facebook are unmatched with Meta and what you can do there. Is that something that you I imagine at that time with a page, they didn't block um page growth as much as they do now, from what I can see, where people can tag and grow a page uh in a little bit different way than it is now. But are you still active on Facebook?

Amy: 18:43

Yes. So I love, we have a great community group there. And I was just in it this week, actually, um reading stories. I think it's so incredible when people share their own personal story. And this woman, I just have to say share this because I won't share her name, but she just had like a stillbirth and it was at 20 weeks, and it's just so sad, but it's so cool to see all the community that we've built of, you know, all this love that women, other women surround her with. And um, I just I don't know, I feel like every time someone is vulnerable back to the brand and allows, you know, us to be a part of their journey. I just that's that's a trust that I don't take lightly, and that I don't want anyone who works for the company who we all just like don't take lightly, and it's just so cool to be a part of. And so to answer your question, yes, I'm still very much a part of it.

Camille: 19:35

Yeah, I think Facebook still offers a community aspect that no other social media does. So I know that there are a lot of businesses that thrive primarily on Instagram or only Instagram, but especially exactly with what you just said, where people can share a story and respond to that person specifically, it is so unique. So that's so cool that you're still a part of that and so uniquely tied with that. I love that. So you're a mom of six and you're already doing a full-time leadership role with that. How has motherhood shaped the way that you lead your business?

Amy: 20:15

I think it's really similar to be honest. Like I'm a big believer that like motherhood and business are two and the same. Like they're they're so similar. And so um I don't know. I don't know if it's like shaped my business or if it's just kind of authentically who I am. Like, you know, I I don't know. I started this when I was a mom. Like my kid, my family has been so woven into the business and how we started as a company that it just it seems like one and the same. Um so I don't know, that's just it's part of us.

Camille: 20:54

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Amy: 22:05

Um, so well, funniest funny story. I remember I was out in the driveway or I was in the garage, the kids were in the driveway, just kind of riding bikes, and I was packing some orders, and I get a phone call, and it was Target on the phone. And my son had been out there like collecting rocks, and so he dropped this massive rock on my foot while I was on the phone with Target. I was like crying tears as they're telling me, Hey, do you want to come up and pitch? And I'm like, Yes. So um it was, I mean, it was like year one where I got that call, and then year one, year one.

Camille: 22:41

Wow.

Amy: 22:42

Yeah, wow. So um, that was kind of, you know, I don't know, it just all moved really fast. I was having kids and building a business, and it was just a very cohesive part of my life, I guess you could say. Like it wasn't one of the same, and I never tried to balance it as as like they don't compete against each other. I think there's, you know, so many women out there who maybe think they need to put motherhood here and business here. And I just I marry them. Um, my kids come to work with me. We structure things really different, so that might be it too. Like, I don't, I don't look at, you know, look what how other people do things. I kind of do things that work for me and my family. So when I go to the office, the kids come to the office too, and they do school at the office. So we homeschool and we have a lot of flexibility to set up our day-to-day life to run cohesively together as a as a unit. And that I think is really important too, is for women to kind of think outside the box like what works for you and your family and your needs and your priorities, and not to compare yourself against like what works for Amy or someone else, because it might look completely different.

Camille: 23:57

Yeah. So I'm curious about how that structure works with doing homeschooling and business and motherhood. What does a typical day look like for you with managing six kids and running this very successful business?

Amy: 24:15

Well, I will say there's been different seasons of life too. So sometimes, you know, when when my babies were young, they would come into, I would just wear them and carry them with me and whatever I was doing, they were doing. And that's honestly very easy. It's when they start to get like a little older and you've got, you know, sports that are coming into play, and people need to be here and there. That's where I've had to make some shifts and what my day-to-day looks like and how I I function as a leader um within the company, but also making sure I still show up and prioritize my family to know that they're, you know, my priority. Um, and honestly, I I you know what comes first is my family, and they will know that, and everything else comes second, and I fit it around that.

Camille: 25:02

Yeah, that's um awesome.

Amy: 25:04

So every day looks different. So it's not one day, there's not like this, you know, if if if I'm traveling, then they come with me. Um, if there's sports that we have to come, you know, I can I I really have a lot of flexibility, which is what I think is great about business, is you get to set up for the most part, you are in control of your time. And I think time is the only thing that we will never get back. And for me, that's really important how I spend my time. I really, I ruthlessly prioritize that. And I can say no, like nobody's business.

Camille: 25:39

That's a big that's a big skill to have, especially. I feel like to be a mom of six, you really have to be okay with uh change, a change of plans because having more than I feel like one, even having one kid, you have to be able to be flexible, but then two, three, four, five, six. It's like there's so many unknown moments that will come up or a rock being dropped on your foot or whatever the thing is where you're like, okay, I've got to roll with this. Is that a skill that you've always had or has that developed over time?

Amy: 26:11

I would say maybe it's perfected over time, but I also think it's one of the things that make women mothers such great business leaders. Like you're solving problems all day long. You have to roll with it no matter what shows up, and you've got to find the solution. Like, so that business to me is solving problems. Like, I'm that's my job as the CEO is to solve the biggest problems of the company that other people cannot solve. And I feel like as mothers, you're also there to solve all the issues that happen for your kids or get in the way. Um, so I I see them as the same skill sets that can, you know, do a lot of things that have a lot of leverage.

Camille: 26:54

Yeah. So what advice would you give to a mom who wants to start something but is already feeling overwhelmed with this idea of doing it all?

Amy: 27:05

I hate that. I hate that. Um I would say don't do it all. Like don't do it all. I think I'm a big fan of focusing on what is like the one thing that you can do each day that's gonna make the biggest impact. So I would say instead of doing it all, do one thing. What is one thing that you think is gonna be most impactful? Because I I think that putting all your effort and energy into that one thing will be so much better than spreading yourself thin across 10 little things. You're not gonna see the biggest impact there. But if you pick that one thing that you think is gonna be most important to focus on and get it done, and it might only take you 10 minutes. It might take you two hours some days, but I in the long run, you'll preserve your energy and you'll prioritize your days better, which will make you more um, I don't, I don't want to say productive, but maybe reach your goals faster.

Camille: 28:01

Yeah, yeah, I love that focusing on the one thing because looking at it at all as a whole can always feel overwhelming no matter what stage of life you're in, because our mind just blows up where we're like, I can't do everything. And also in terms of helping with your your family and or the business, when did you start hiring out to help your team grow so that you could stay in that decision-making role and not be lost in the day-to-day tasks?

Amy: 28:32

I mean, pretty soon I feel like we, you know, when we started going into Target, which was like year one, you know, we had to handle logistics and operations. And so I I I hired before I got overwhelmed. And I think that's important too. It's kind of, you know, be able to have the foresight to see like where your strengths, where your weaknesses are, and where you need help, and you know, I planning strategically to hire for that help before it's like a 911 issue. Um so um that's what I would advise.

Camille: 29:07

Yeah. And then as far as getting with Target, was that something that you had pitched them or how did you get on the radar with Target?

Amy: 29:16

Your guess is as good as mine.

Camille: 29:18

Really?

Amy: 29:19

Yeah, they I don't know. I just the goddamn call out of the blow guess it was you know God's destiny there.

Camille: 29:25

Wow. So you've talked about faith a lot with guiding you through this. And the more I hear your story, I'm like, yeah, because who are your customers? Where are they coming from? How did Target know about you in your first year? I mean, I really feel like you hit a nail on the head of such a desperate need for women to be able to do all of the things we're called to do and having our bodies put under such extreme demand, you know, whether you're going through exactly the same physical ailments you had, but also all the phases where it's, you know, if you're breastfeeding, if you're You're trying to get pregnant, if you're having infertility, if you're having perimenopause, menopause, like women always need something. And I feel like that is a conversation that's happening now more than ever. Thank goodness. But your timing was really good.

Amy: 30:14

I don't know if it was really good, but it, you know, I think that's what's, you know, so incredibly powerful when you do step out on faith. It's it's not my timing. It wasn't my foresight. It wasn't my, you know, genius business idea. It was really just trusting God with my life and with what I felt like He was calling me to do. Um, I didn't, I still don't know what's gonna happen. Um, but my hope is that we continue to help women all around the world.

Camille: 30:47

Yeah. So being in Target, is that something that you're now in Targets nationwide or yeah.

Amy: 30:54

So we're in Target, Walmart, I'm trying to think Amazon. Who doesn't love Amazon? We've got a lot of products on Amazon. We just released in the UAE, like we're in 25 different countries as well. Um, really working on some more international expansion too. So, you know, the mission is to be able to help women all around the world. So we have we still have a lot of work to do. That's amazing.

Camille: 31:19

And as far as like FDA, did you have to jump through hoops with that for being products, especially for pregnant nursing mothers or yeah, so the FDA, FTC, you know, their rules and regulations are always changing.

Amy: 31:33

So um supplements are, you know, when you're pregnant, it's it gets kind of gray on what like the FDA does and doesn't regulate. But I mean, we have a whole compliance team that handles that and is up to date on all the certifications and you know um legalities of of selling and selling in other countries too. That's a whole other thing.

Camille: 31:58

Uh yeah. The wellness industry moves so fast. How do you stay grounded in your mission as you're innovating and growing your product line?

Amy: 32:08

I mean, I think it's easy. You just keep her first, you keep the customer first. How can you help women? How what issues are women having today? And how can we be here to help her on her on her wellness journey?

Camille: 32:21

Do you have a a team meeting that happens weekly, or how often are you playing that CEO role? Because I know you have a big team, over 30 members. So, how what does that look like? If you could give us a picture of what that looks like as you're building your team.

Amy: 32:39

Yeah. So we work off of a great um tool called EOS. I don't know if you've heard of it, but it's the on entrepreneur operating system. And that's the whole company works off of this program. And it's basically like a common denominator language for every department. So each department, every meeting is run the exact same way. There's an agenda to every meeting, every minute is controlled. So I know what's happening across all departments and all capacities at every level. Um, I get reports sent to me about them all. And then we have what we call like a company meeting. And then we have annual planning that goes on top of it. So I'm basically setting the strategy for the whole year. You do a year, three-year, five-year, 10-year goals. And so then you set your strategy and you back out, and then you break them down into 90-day quarters. So everyone operates in the same under the same kind of language and systems and communication tools. It's phenomenal. I highly recommend it to any um company out there, especially if you're growing, you want to get all the teams focusing on the same things, pushing in like the same directions, or else you'll end up wasting a lot of people's time and money and resources and you know, not moving forward.

Camille: 33:57

Wow, that program sounds way cool. How long have you been using that? We've been, oh geez, maybe like four years. Okay. And as far as identifying, identifying and finding the right people to be on the team, what has been your best advice or experience with that? Because that can be one of the hardest parts, right? Growing a team of people that you trust. How have you been able to do that for your business?

Amy: 34:22

Yeah, I think we have a phenomenal team at Pinkstorg. They're amazing. Um, and I really um relate it down to like our core values. So we have five core values. So really we evaluate everyone monthly. So everyone in I don't care what seat you're sitting in gets evaluated off of our core values. And um, that tells us whether you're a good fit or not. Because I think you can, you know, people that want to grow and want to, you know, move forward, I guess, in their professional careers, there's room for growth. You just have to train them and teach them. But are they a good fit for your culture and your organization? I think that's kind of where some people, some companies can maybe overlook things. And to me, culture is such an important part of growing in a phenomenal company. So having those core values um is just so vital for anyone that works at Pink Store.

Camille: 35:18

That's cool. I like that that you have that so dialed in. And sorry, you said that your husband joined you a year in. What role does he play?

Amy: 35:26

So when he was helping, it was kind of we were growing really rapidly. Um, and so he was the COO at the time. He's he doesn't, he's not in the day-to-day operations at Pink Stork anymore. He's actually gone on and started his own thing too. Um, but he was, you know, hand helping with like operations.

Camille: 35:46

Yeah, that makes sense. I think that it's so wonderful and unique to find couples that can build a business together and keep that their relationship and the business conversation separate enough that it's, you know, because that's hard. Oh, it is it's a huge challenge, especially with the company growing that fast. What has been something that's really helped you to keep grounded as a as a team, as a married couple?

Amy: 36:10

You know, Thomas and I have we've, I would say we've always done a pretty good job of being able to tag team. And I think the military really helped us, you know, you don't, we don't, we look at each other as partners. So it's not I'm doing this, you're doing that, and this is this is your role, this is my role. I think at different times our relationship has called for different needs for each one of us to be able to be a you know better partner to each other. So when he was deployed, there was definitely a lot of roles that I was playing that he maybe would have been playing had he been present. And, you know, so when you're growing a company and growing a family, we I don't we look at it as like, how can I be a good partner to you? What do you need from me? And what do I need from you? And I think there's different seasons of life to that. And I think we just have a really special relationship where we've been able to do that really well.

Camille: 37:01

Yeah.

Amy: 37:01

Oh, for sure.

Camille: 37:02

Sounds like it.

Amy: 37:03

How long have you been married now? Oh, let me think. Um Wow, okay. My oldest is 15. I always do it off my oldest because we got pregnant on our honeymoon. So 16 years.

Camille: 37:14

Okay, that's awesome. So, what do you hope women feel when they discover Pink Stork for the first time? I know you've talked about this a lot, but I really think I'm guessing there are women that are listening now that are looking for the solutions you're offering. So, what are some things that you hope to help solve and what they're feeling for the first time working with your company?

Amy: 37:35

I mean, I hope they they I hope that they feel a sense of hope whenever it is, like whatever issue that they're going through, like a little hope for a little brighter, maybe easier tomorrow. Sometimes I think a lot of women can feel really isolated or lonely, maybe you know, unheard, unseen. And so I hope that when you know Pink Stork enters their life, they feel that sense of hope and betterment for tomorrow, supported, seen, heard, loved, you know, like we're really here to root them on in their journey. And it's not, you know, we're not promising any magical pills or anything like that. It's gonna take a lot of work from them as well. But we wanna be a part of the journey with them and getting to a maybe brighter tomorrow.

Camille: 38:25

Yeah. Do you have a product that you think every woman should try if they oh my goodness, it's okay. I know.

Amy: 38:32

I'm like, tell me this one right now because it's top of mind and it's brand new. Um, I don't even know if it's out yet. I think we just released it like yesterday, but it's our beef organ. So I know um it's got five different. Um my brain just went crazy for a minute. My brain just went a bunch of different places, but it's got five different organs: the kidney, the liver, the uterus, the ovaries, and like just great resources for women, um, for iron, for energy levels, for mood support. So I'm really excited about that. It could be just because it's one of our newest product editions. I also love, and this is a staple. It started as one of our original nine, but it's called Monolin. I take it every day religiously. So I would say anyone out there, if you feel like you're getting like a cold or maybe you know, those first few days where you're like, oh, I think I might be getting something, but I'm not sure. Take Monolore. Just trust me, it's amazing. Um, I take it every day. I even give it to my dogs. Like it is so good for your immune system.

Camille: 39:37

Oh, I needed that right now. I'm just getting over something where I started developing bronchitis. And I'm like, oh, and I do zinc and vitamin D, but I would love to try that because that sounds how thin you've done. Yes, okay, perfect. I'm excited to try that. And so as far as defining success now and as a CEO and a mother, what does that mean to you if you were to say this is success to me?

Amy: 40:06

That's a hard question. It is because I don't know. I mean, success to me, I mean, this it has nothing to do with my business, everything to do with like my husband and I were talking the other day. Like, what is the goal of life? Like, and I'm like to get my kids to heaven. I want to get to heaven and have as many people there with me that I know and love. And so I know that doesn't have anything to do with like I think it does.

Camille: 40:31

I'm right there with you.

Amy: 40:32

Yeah. Um, I mean, that that to me is something that I strive for every day and is a goal. And if I do that well, I would say that I've been very successful here on my time on earth.

Camille: 40:46

I love that. Do you have a special morning or evening routine that's just for you? I love that you laugh.

Amy: 40:55

Funny question.

Camille: 40:56

Well, especially with a two-year-old. You might get there. I don't know. But maybe, maybe there's something.

Amy: 41:01

Um, no, I really enjoy though I've done this. I I played tennis growing up. I played tennis in college, so I've started taking an hour out of my week to go play tennis, which has just been really fun to get back into. But you know, I'm I'm trying to think. I love sleep.

Camille: 41:19

So I'm like, listen, this is like a question for you, maybe five years from now.

Amy: 41:25

No, I I love to be busy too, though. Like I feel like for me, working and being busy is where I thrive. So um, I don't know, maybe one day I'll just be sitting on a beach and you guys will see me there. And I probably will get up in 10 minutes though, and be like, okay, I next, what's next?

Camille: 41:45

Have you always been a busybody in terms of like wanting to get up and go?

Amy: 41:49

Oh, yes. My parents were like running, I was always like the one that was like running all the through the house. They were like, Amy, stop, stop moving. Like, where are you going?

Camille: 41:59

That's what listen. Any entrepreneur that I've talked to that can handle the six kids and the huge business, you have the qualities of crazy where you can handle it. Like you're you're ready to get up and go. You don't necessarily need all the hours of sleep, or if you don't get them, you're like, it's fine, I can get up and do it anyway. Like it it's very admirable. And also, I love that you say that staying busy for you is doing something for you because that's your thriving uh speed, like that's where you feel the best. So I think that that's very cool that you recognize that and and see that as being for you because it's how you like to operate. So do you have a go-to time-saving hack? Time-saving hack. Um let's say I'm gonna twist it a little bit.

Amy: 42:52

Okay, okay.

Camille: 42:53

What about how do you feed your family? Period.

Amy: 42:58

How do I feed? I I order masses of massive amount of Costco.

unknown: 43:04

Okay.

Amy: 43:05

Um, no, I mean, I wish I could say delivery.

Camille: 43:08

Is that a time saving? Like, do you do Costco delivery?

Amy: 43:11

I I am I am a full-on, I don't know. The last time I've been to a grocery store, I deliver everything. I don't plan meals like I should. Um, I kind of just like wing it, but I will cook like massive amounts of food at a time. Um, but I don't know, time-saving hack. Yeah. That you just named it though. Yeah, I love a good Instacart. I mean, they know me. They know me. I don't know if that's good or bad, but they know.

Camille: 43:40

Do you have a favorite go-to few dinners that you're like, oh, this is an easy yes?

Amy: 43:46

Um, like spaghetti.

Camille: 43:48

I fed my kids spaghetti last night. Yes.

Amy: 43:51

And um chili and anything in a crock pot is awesome. So I don't know. Perfect. My family's not picky either, which is kind of nice. They will eat any and everything. I do they do love like breakfast though. I'm a big breakfast person as well. So we will like everyone will make breakfast, and it is probably rather a large breakfast. Like we do the bacon and the pancakes and the eggs pretty much every morning. Like we have a full-on, a full on. Like they don't do cereal or like bars or oatmeal, anything simple. It is the kitchen is a complete disaster when we leave the house.

Camille: 44:32

Well, I bet doing homeschool probably helps with that, where you're not having to do like a morning, a really quick morning, right? Because are all of your kids homeschooled or no?

Amy: 44:42

Yeah, no, they all are. No, we've all got to get out the door. So, I mean, we're still going to, you know, we're still headed to the office to meet, you know, they've got their teachers there. So there is still like, yeah, we've got to be out of the house by a certain time and things like that.

Camille: 44:55

Um, so you're working with teams of people, teachers outside of a traditional public situation. Yes, yes.

Amy: 45:02

I have teachers that uh that we've hired in and they meet us at the office.

Camille: 45:07

Oh, that's so awesome. What is one of the number one things you hope that your kids have learned from watching you do all of this?

Amy: 45:15

I think to fall in love with like, you know, their passion and where they feel like God has called them to be. So I I hope that, you know, when they grow up and they're thinking about, you know, what they want to do. And I just hope that they see how fulfilling it can be to follow God's will for your life. And that doesn't mean it's gonna be easy. That doesn't mean, you know, you're not gonna have to work hard, you're not gonna be tired, you're not gonna have struggles, but that ultimately God's in charge of their destiny, and that, you know, if you follow him, it it he's in control and you don't have to worry about it. You just need to be faithful in everything. Wow.

Camille: 45:57

Wow, what a beautiful way to wrap up the episode. This has been so inspiring. Will you please tell your audience, our audience, and now your audience, where they can find you, support you. We talked about where they can buy the product, but where can they specifically find your website?

Amy: 46:14

Uh so pinkstore.com is our website. We're also on Amazon, which I know is everyone's favorite. Um, and then um, you know, we're on social. So TikTok, our Facebook group, which we talked about, Instagram, and you can also find me personally there too. I love to show just like a little behind the scenes of you know the chaos and how it all can look, because it's not perfect by any means. And I love to show that.

Camille: 46:43

And your handle is at Amy Suzanne, right?

Amy: 46:46

Yes, Amy Suzanne. So look for me, Amy Suzanne.

Camille: 46:50

Perfect. Awesome. Well, thank you, Amy, so much. Thank you so much for having me. And everyone listening, thank you so much for tuning into this episode. If you found it inspiring, please like and share, comment, send this to a friend, and know that there is a plan for you and that you can trust that instinct. So if you had a stirring within you today, write it down, talk to someone about it, make it real to you. And I hope to see you next time. Thanks. Hey CEOs, thank you so much for spending your time with me. If you found this episode inspiring or helpful, please let me know in a comment in a five star review. You could have the chance of being a featured review on an upcoming episode. Continue the conversation on Instagram at call me CEO Podcast. And remember, you are the boss.