Amy Rempel: Elevating Women-Owned Brands with Heart and Purpose
Amy Rempel, owner of Elevation Brands, is a dynamic entrepreneur and passionate community supporter. Often spotted at workshops and networking events, Amy’s commitment to learning and engagement shines through in everything she does. Elevation Brands is a woman-owned sales brokerage dedicated to helping women-led businesses succeed by placing their products on retail shelves across Canada. Partnering with brands that value transparency, authenticity, and inclusivity, Amy’s “broker with a heart” approach ensures her clients are ready to scale and thrive. A recent graduate of our Starter Company Plus program, we’re excited to watch her journey and look forward to seeing her around town!
Read on to learn more about Amy and Elevation Brands.
Can you tell me about your journey as an entrepreneur? What motivated you to start your business?
My entrepreneurial journey has been a learning experience. I’ve started a few businesses in the past, but to be honest, none of them succeeded. It wasn’t until I truly listened to myself that I realized I was meant to return to the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry.
Initially, I worked for other companies, but after being let go from a brand management role, I had a pivotal moment. I realized I didn’t need to rely on others to move forward—I could forge my own path. The motivation came from knowing that I couldn’t let myself down. It was up to me to keep going, and that’s exactly what I did.
What services or products do you offer? In my industry I am known as a broker, so I offer brand management and sales services to help grow health and wellness brands across the country onto retail shelves.
Who do you look up to for ideas and inspiration?
I find inspiration in the brand owners I work with, especially those who are women or part of women-owned businesses. I’m intentional about the brands I collaborate with, choosing them carefully to ensure they reflect my values and inspire me every day.
What is unique about your business? What is something you want potential clients to know?
My business is unique because I exclusively work with emerging, women-owned, and/or BIPOC-owned businesses. What sets me apart is how I choose the brands I work with—not based on money or size, but on their stories and the people behind them. This approach allows me to truly see their potential and believe in their eventual success.
Why did you apply for the Starter Company Plus program? What are you hoping to get out of the program? I initially applied for the program to secure grant funding to hire a part-time team member, which I successfully achieved. However, I underestimated the immense value of the program as a whole. Being paired with a mentor whose skills complement mine—especially in copywriting and digital marketing—has been transformative, and I’m learning so much.
I hope to take away these new skills, but I’m also looking to build meaningful connections with fellow entrepreneurs. I thrive in a supportive community, even a small one, and it’s incredibly reassuring to share experiences with others who truly understand what you’re going through.
What does success look like to you – when will you know you’ve achieved it? Honestly, I feel like I am achieving success already. Being able to live off my salary is such a win for me! I like to look at success in steps, so I feel like I have achieved step 1 in success and how I view it. But the other part of success is having some flexibility in my schedule so I can be more present with my family.
What’s been the most rewarding aspect of building your own business? The most rewarding aspect of building my business is letting my brands know when I’ve gotten them into a new store, especially if it’s a chain, big or small. It is so exciting and always feels like a successful accomplishment!
What do you consider to be your core strengths as an entrepreneur, and how have they contributed to the success of your business?
My core strengths as an entrepreneur are networking and problem-solving. These skills have been essential to my success, especially in an industry that relies heavily on building and maintaining strong relationships with various retailers.
With so many moving parts in a single day, being able to quickly and effectively resolve issues is crucial. I thrive under pressure, and I enjoy the challenge of making fast, thoughtful decisions to keep everything running smoothly. These strengths have been key to driving my business forward.
How do you prioritize work-life balance? After years of working and trying the entrepreneurial journey for awhile now, I have made sure to turn off my computer no later than 5pm every day no longer work every weekend. This has ensured that I am present at home when I need to be but has also given me the time to do things that I love, like taking a dance class, being a part of a book club, or heading to the beach in the summer.
If your business had a theme song, what would it be and why? My song would be Shine Bright Like A Diamond by Rhianna because I want to be a light in my community and in my industry, but also because RiRi is a badass.
What do you read? What do you recommend?
Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of fiction—it’s a great way to unwind and give my business brain a break. However, when I was starting out, I always had a business or personal development book on the go. Depending on where you are in your journey, I highly recommend focusing on personal development to ensure your mindset is in the right place. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it!
The first personal development book that hooked me was You Are a Badass by Jenn Sincero. I also highly recommend Denise Duffield-Thomas for anyone dealing with money blocks—her books have been game-changers for me.
Connect with Amy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-rempel/
Website:www.elevationbrands.ca
Email: amy@elevationbrands.ca