Meet Amy Chandler | Owner/Operator/Naturopathic Momma

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

Hi Amy, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factors behind my success and the success of my brand are not so much a thing, but a who! I have two sets of individuals to thank for my business success:

1. My business is family-owned and operated and I am only half of two parts which makes my business whole. My mother and full-time business partner did not expect to go all-in on a new business start-up only months after retirement, but when I asked for help, she was quick to offer it up! She is the brute force behind the scenes at Heart 2 Home Health. The one who primarily spends long days/nights in the kitchen, doing deliveries, and mailing out shipments, while at the same time helping me juggle my two crazy kiddos under the age of six which always have something going on! It is with her continued support, encouragement and dedication that I have been inspired to transition this little side business into a full-fledged operation which is now thriving. There are few and seldom times where you will see me without her right by my side, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

2. The second set of individuals who have made our brand so successful are our customers! We have a loyal following of like-minded individuals who feel very passionately about using naturopathic means for supporting their families health and wellness goals, and they know that coming to us means that they will not only be supporting local, but that they will be getting quality/organic /artisanal products straight from the makers! We strive to not only serve our customers but truly get to know them. To understand their needs, learn their stories and build off of that time and time again. We truly believe that the word-of-mouth from our customers has been the driving force behind our business success. Starting out with minimal social media and zero advertisements we were still able to successfully build a strong following. It’s all in the relationships and connections!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although I was not entirely sure what it was I “wanted to be when I grew up” I always knew that I’d be helping others. That passion and drive took me from California to AZ where I obtained my masters in social work from ASU. I started out in mental health, working with a non-profit providing services to low-income children and families (primarily those who have experienced some form of trauma). As a therapist, I was honored to witness their stories and experience their resilience and growth. After giving birth to my first son, I experienced my own mini trauma as my son was born with a medical condition that resulted in multiple tests/procedures and hospitalizations throughout his first year of life. Ultimately this left him immune compromised after being on medications that suppress his immune development. To say he was always getting sick was an understatement! I was absolutely sick of doctors offices, hospitals and modern medicine, and needed to find a way to help support him naturally. After doing some research I landed on a few recommendations I wanted to try out, one of them being Elderberry Syrup for immune support. What I found however was there were very few options to turn to for purchasing. I wanted something organic and local. Something free of artificial sweeteners, preservatives of thickeners. So I decided to make it myself! After making this for him and using it for about six months, I noticed he went from being sick every other week to being a healthy and thriving kiddo who was able to overcome a mild cold as opposed to having it overcome him. After talking more about it with other mommas and friends, I realized there were others out there who were also in need of similar support and suddenly I had a new passion and means of helping others! While still working full-time in mental health, I set forth to start up my elderberry wellness line on the side with a small vision of being able to support friends and family and those in my immediate community. What I found out was that being able to produce and sell legally was a major endeavor. From start to finish, getting permitted and legal took an entire year! This year was filled with lab testing, health reviews, kitchen and product inspections and even schooling. Just when one piece of the puzzle would come together a new roadblock would arise, but instead of letting everything end in defeat I allowed these challenges to fuel my passion and determination and continued to push. The struggles and determination pushed me to dream bigger, and ultimately helped me to come to the conclusion that if I am going to do this, I am going to have to go all in. The small side project was now going to need to become something bigger, it deserved to be. So I expanded my resources to include markets across the valley and worked to begin developing relationships with retailers alike. We are now selling online, in 8 different physical retail locations, at 4 farmers markets,will be represented at this years Ultimate Women’s Expo, and have collaborated with some amazing local vendors to make cross-over products such as Elderberry Infused Local Raw Honey, Elderberry Ice Cream, Elderberry Yogurt, and even an Elderberry IPA beer! We are having a blast making new friends and having new experiences. I always tell people, I am so grateful to have growth within my business, however the amount of personal growth and the experiences I have had have been most memorable.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Given that we are mommas our idea of a great time might be a tad underwhelming.

We would probably grab breakfast at Butters Cafe and snag some of their amazing pancakes before taking the kids to the OdySea aquarium or McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, followed by lunch or dinner at Comicx (all in the Scottsdale area). You can’t go wrong with Medieval Times either!

Maybe we would spend another day shopping at a farmers market such as Park West or Arrowhead. Grab some goodies to make a picnic lunch and head to a local splash pad.

For a day with just the girls we would probably do a mommas-only brunch at Lolas in Glendale, grab a massage or facial, take advantage of the after 8pm wine/bruschetta deal at Postinos and maybe hit up a comedy show at Stand Up Live in Phoenix.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yikes! I believe I already answered this in the last section! First and foremost I give all my success to my business partner and mother who made all of this possible. Without her continued dedication and support I think I’d have gone running for the hills by now! When not helping on the business side, she helps me with my two crazy boys and for that I am eternally grateful.

I am also lucky enough to have a fierce girl-gang who has stepped up to help with many different aspects of the business, and let me tell you… I could not have done it without them!

Yelena G. who has been a friend, mentor, therapist, and helps us with all things tech and design!

Megan H.who has been a long-standing support at our local farmers markets, and has recently taken over our social media!

Vicki and Candace who are providing on-the ground supports at the markets.

Website: www.Heart2HomeHealth.com

Instagram: www.intagram.com/Heart2Home_Elderberry

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Heart2HomeHealth

Other: Check out our recent Taste of Az podcast at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xhld6fu5Cw&feature=youtu.be