We were lucky to catch up with Amy Chandler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Amy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Taking my elderberry wellness line from idea to execution was far more detailed then I imagined it to be. I mean, how hard can it be to sell some syrups and teas right?

When I decided to transition from selling within my inner-circle to taking my products to the public, I had thought it would be as simple as obtaining a business license and getting a permit. Boy was I wrong! My first steps were looking into getting approved by the health department to produce. This is where it all started. Because my syrups use no artificial preservatives, we rely on natural citrus acids to keep our products shelf-stable. This places elderberry syrup in a food category labeled “acidified foods.” These specific products are not only regulated by the state but by the FDA and I quickly learned that there are very strict guidelines that must be followed if I wanted to obtain approval. I would need to produce in a certified commercial kitchen, submit lab samples, work with a federal process authority who would then review my process and samples to certify that my cooking methods are safe and up to code for acidified foods, complete acidity schooling, obtain two distinct licenses with the state, and register with the FDA. This whole process took an entire year to complete and included identifying the needed services and resources, making tweak after tweak to my process to ensure it met the requirements, completing multiple kitchen and product inspections, and lots and lots of patience!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello, I’m Amy! Owner of Heart 2 Home Elderberry, an all-natural elderberry wellness line for families. I’m also a full-time non-profit child/family therapist and manager of 20 employees who work to support children of trauma. At home, I’m a full-time momma to two rambunctious little boys (one of which was born immune-compromised). After a year of hospital stays, surgeries, doctors’ visits, and multiple medications, my little man’s immune system was non-existent! It seemed to be that cold and flu season were more like year-round events, and I couldn’t stand the thought of giving him any more medication. That is when I started looking into non-traditional forms of immune support which is how I stumbled across elderberry. After using elderberry syrup for about a month or two, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my son’s health and overall wellbeing. This prompted a deep-dive into all things elderberry. I quickly realized there were so many other amazing benefits it offered. Feeling compelled to share these benefits with other families in-need, I spent the next two years learning the world of herbal medicine and crafting an entire line of elderberry wellness items that are now sold locally and throughout the US.

Let’s Talk Elderberry!

The use of Elderberry and Elderflower has been present throughout Ayurvedic, Native American and folk medicine. Most commonly known for its immune supporting properties, elderberry is a superstar at warding off colds/flu and reducing symptoms and durations of illness by almost half! What is unknown to most is that Elderberry has also been used as a treatment for many other diseases and ailments thanks to its medicinal antioxidant properties. It can greatly affect the course of disease progression by counteracting oxidative stress in the body, exert beneficial effects on blood pressure and cholesterol, aid in glycemic reduction (helping to stabilize blood sugar), provide antitumor support, increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the blood plasma, and reduce uric acid levels. It helps ease constipation and promote proper digestion and can help with achy joints, headaches and infections. More recent studies are showing elderberry might also be effective at boosting mood and promoting sleep.

Let’s Talk Heart 2 Home Elderberry!

Our artisanal small-batch elderberry products are comprised of all-natural organic ingredients that are free of artificial sweeteners, thickeners and preservatives. Heart 2 Home was the first Elderberry line approved to legally produce and sell in Maricopa County. We create all products in a certified commercial kitchen and have gone through a thorough inspection process by the Environmental Health Department and the FDA to ensure that our products are safe, sanitary, and beneficial for consumption. We source the majority of our ingredients locally within in AZ (such as our local raw Palo Verde honey and citrus) and those we can’t, we source from farmers within our organic co-op. For example, our elderberries and elderflower are sourced directly from an organic elderberry farm in Bulgaria (where the elderberry originated from) ensuring that all our products are created using the highest quality berries. This not only ensures the best flavor profile but top beneficial health properties. All products are perfectly blended with your pallet in mind, making them enjoyable to consume and kid-friendly. Got dietary restrictions? That’s not a problem! We have diabetic, ketogenic and vegan options available leaving you with many opportunities to fit elderberry into your lifestyle.

What we sell/where we sell:

Our product line consists of elderberry syrup, tinctures, loose leaf teas, DIY elderberry syrup brew kits, and infused raw honey. If you are local to Maricopa County, you can find us inside retail stores across the valley or at one of the local farmers markets. Our website lists all locations so that you can easily find something near by! We also offer shipping if you are out of range.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

To be honest our growth has happened really organically. I probably shouldn’t say this as a business owner, but we never really had growth in-mind when starting out. My goal was to simply land a spot in the local farmers market. However I think the best form of growth results from forming connections. Being at the market weekly we were able to directly connect with our customers, learn about their needs and provide a solution. We were also able to develop relationships with other local small businesses which turned into an opportunity to collaborate on a few projects and opened the door to our first retail partnerships. Of course social media is an important aspect of spreading brand awareness, but if I am being honest I absolutely loathe it! I am terrible at posting and cringe at the idea of having to create videos and witty commentary. Something about it feels disingenuous and I haven’t quite figure out how to make it come across as natural. It’s my biggest work-in-progress. I am also not a fan of being in front of the camera!

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

Our primary revenue comes from the famers markets. It’s simply the best way to catch the majority of our clientele in one place at one time! However, since that is only offered at select times, we sell through our website and our retail partners across the valley.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Heart2HomeHealth.com
• Instagram: Heart2Home_Elderberry
• Facebook: Heart2HomeHealth
• Other: Tik Tok – heart2homehealth