Amy Upchurch
CEO of Pink Stork
What inspired you to start your business?
During my first pregnancy I was diagnosed with severe hyperemesis gravidarum while my husband, Thomas, was away on military deployment. I knew there had to be a purpose behind the suffering and believed God wouldn't put these challenges in my life without reason — I had to trust in Him and His plan. With the help of my faith, my support system, and notably, the power of natural and organic products, I was able to overcome my health struggles. Because of my experience, I wanted to help other women and inspire hope. As a result, Pink Stork was born.
How has being a WBENC-Certified WBE helped your business?
Within the wellness space, I found that there was not a lot of representation from women owned businesses. Being a WBENC-Certified company has allowed us the opportunity to bring representation into this community. We also were able to exemplify our company’s mission to support and inspire women with hope.
What do you love about being a business owner?
What I love most about being a business owner is being able to connect with our customers. I feel very blessed to be given a platform that gives me the chance to inspire hope through my own journey and struggles. Our mission is to empower all women to feel their best through faith, wellness, beauty, and fashion.
What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
My advice would be to not be afraid to fail. If women let the fear of failure hold them back, then the world would be a completely different place today. It takes a leap of faith and trust in God’s plan to overcome fear. Fear is natural, but overcoming fear is what creates power.
What women inspire you?
A huge inspiration for my company was my own mother. As a nurse, my mother has always been a natural-born caregiver and ended up being a blessing in disguise! She selflessly moved in to take care of me during my pregnancy struggles and spent countless hours researching new solutions that ultimately changed my life. My mom played a big role in creating Pink Stork and inspired me to create products for women who are transitioning into new phases of life that are far beyond just motherhood.
How do you define success?
I define success as being able to bring glory to God by serving others. I knew during my times of struggles that God had a bigger plan for me than I could have ever imagined. Through these struggles I now can create products that serve women and their families through their times of struggle by providing hope.
What are you reading or listening to now?
I am currently reading the book No Man’s Land: Where Growing Companies Fail by Doug Tatum. Pink Stork is currently in a transition phase where we are no longer a startup and, in the area, where we are too big to be considered small but too small to be considered big. This book has been giving me inspiration on how to navigate Pink Stork during this time of rapid growth.
How do you unwind after a long workday?
The best way for me to unwind is by spending time with my family. When I leave the office, I try to devote my time to being fully present with my kids. I also take the time to prioritize self-care which for me is taking the time to take care of my body, thoughts, and beliefs.
Quote:
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that what is ahead for you is greater than anything you could ever imagine.
pink stork
Pink Stork is a wellness, beauty and fashion brand. They offer an assortment of products including teas, sweets, supplements, and apparel items for women in all stages of life ranging from PMS through menopause.
