Meet Amy Rees | Founder and Creator of Personality Plates by AmyWynne Designs

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

Hi Amy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think of myself as someone who wants to take risks but who has always needed a safety net or looked for security before taking a step in a new direction. Since I have always taken the safe route in my career, my growth was slow. After 12 years of being a stay-at-home mom, I re-entered the workforce post-divorce. At the time I had two small children, a home and bills I was responsible for which led me to make very conservative decisions about the jobs I would accept. I focused on the base salary plus the benefits. Since my risk level didn’t match my personal energy, I would quickly become bored in each role and very dissatisfied with both the job itself and the money. Once I was remarried, and my husband moved in with me, we became a two-income family with two sources of health benefits. My wonderful husband saw my unhappiness grow during COVID. At that time, I was selling movie theater advertising and I was unhappy at work and unable to make my commissions due to COVID. He convinced me it was time to take that risk. It was time to start my small business that I had been dreaming of for over 10 years. Sometimes we just need that push and or support from someone in the trenches with us.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think of myself as a creative entrepreneur. I used to hand make, paint and glaze every plate that I sold. Over time I started creating plates with more functionality however the only way to truly make them functional (food safe, dishwasher safe, microwave safe) was to mass produce them. This would also allow me to monetize my hobby and create a real business. The most difficult part about this was finding someone I trusted to handle the production of the plates. I don’t know if it was luck or fate, but my neighbor and friend of 10 years happens to have a company that handles product sourcing. I felt safe w0rking with her partners to produce and ship the plates. I would say I’m most proud of the fact that I am actually doing it! I spent over 10 years of dreaming about and planning this business. I am now making it a reality. The thing I get most excited about is seeing my very own product on the shelves of stores. It’s a feeling I can’t even begin to describe.

My entire brand is a tribute to women – friendship and sisterhood. I created the plates, and eventually the brand, in honor of all the women in my life who have supported me, mentored me and inspired me. I plan each year to donate money back to a non-profit that helps support women who do not have their own support system in place.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting and they wanted to see Atlanta, I would first take them to the Landmark Diner of course! I would also have to show them CNN as it’s not only a big part of our city but it’s where I had my very first job. I’d hope for nice weather so we could walk the beltline and check out Ponce City Market. I live in East Cobb so of course we would have to take a day to walk around Roswell Square and Marietta Square. We’d stop by Drift in the Avenue at East Cobb on our drive home for one of their specialty cocktails. I would also take them to walk around Woodstock where my mom lives since it’s become such a cute little city to walk around with great shops and restaurants! We have season tickets to Atlanta United so of course we’d catch a soccer game while they were here. Last but not least we would have lunch at my favorite home away from home – The Cafe I Am in Sandy Springs where I feel like Norm from Cheers. The entire staff makes everyone feel welcome and the energy and dynamic there is magical. Every meal is made from scratch, and they serve unique specials almost daily. Not to mention the coffee, tea and homemade baked goods!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The reality is that my entire brand and product line can be credited to all the women in my life from my mother to my chosen sisters, to my friends and mentors and even my daughters. However, I wouldn’t have been able to take this huge leap of faith without the support of my current husband.

Website: www.personalityplates.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personality_plates/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amywynnedesigns/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amywynnedesigns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyWynneDesigns/

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/AmyWynneDesigns/_shop/