Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Esplin.
Hi Amy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Yeah, so I grew up in a family where my parents owned their own business, and at one point, all four of us kids worked for them. I was just so impressed with the lifestyle they created, and I wanted that for my future family.
Their business created a wonderful life for us kids, and I was hooked. I had a business bug.
I married young and had a family early on in life. A time came when my spouse and I moved away from our families to Boise, Idaho.
Life moved on, and years went by. My husband was showing signs of anxiety and depression, and the road was rough. Then one day LIFE hit hard. The unthinkable happened.
I lost my spouse to suicide.
All kinds of thoughts came rushing into my mind like, “If only I could have been more…” or, ”If only I would’ve taken more off his plate…” or, “If only this and if only that…” on and on and on.
The thought that haunted me the most was, “Did he know that he mattered so much to us and that he was loved?”
Our world was shattered. Here I was, 38 years old with two teenage daughters to care for.
My oldest daughter was a couple of weeks away from graduation. My youngest was a couple of weeks away from her sweet 16th birthday. They were looking up to me to know what to do.
The pressure of these thoughts were suffocating.
So the journey to healing began slowly, with each step.
Getting through the first year was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I sank deep into my own depression; the pain was far too great.
Then some little miracles would happen.
I believe in God, and it never ceases to amaze me how and when He shows up. He gave me the strength to carry on. I believe He would inspire others to come to our aid because little miracles always would show up on days when I needed it the most.
I had so many people reach out that would do kind things for me.
I would receive little notes and messages of “I love you” and “I’m thinking of you.” I would also receive gifts or small gestures that came from complete strangers that didn’t know my situation at all.
That’s when I knew for certain someone was always looking out for me.
It was pretty amazing. The magic from these random acts of kindness helped me with my healing. They came from inspired family, friends and complete strangers.
People didn’t give up on us. They stayed connected and checked in on us. It helped provide feelings like, “I am not forgotten, I am seen, I am loved, and I’m not alone.”
You might be asking yourself. Why would you want to share this with anybody? Why bring this up in an interview about your business?
I have such a strong passion that people need to know they matter and that they are loved.
As time passed from losing my spouse, I pondered deeply. I had recentless impressions telling me that I needed to do something to help others. How can I give back? What can I do? How can I share light with those that might be struggling?
I didn’t like, and still don’t like, the feelings I get when I hear about another person losing the battle to depression or anxiety.
And then it hit me.
I want others to feel lifted and have a spark of joy, to feel connection, to feel loved and supported, and to have tools to help them with their self-care, and that’s when this company was born.
The company’s name is “Out of the Bleu”, or “OotBleu ” for short.
We open just this past July in 2021, and we’re learning lots, and I love it. I love the stories that come back. I love people that share their ideas, that they use our products, and that post what they’re doing with them on social media.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of our challenges with launching the store were my own thoughts of, “Would people resonate with our message?” or, “Would our products and story be something that people would be excited about?”
I just wanted to get it right. It was really important that our products and our gifts weren’t just another object or a thing to buy.
Everything we do is about creating an experience, because we want people to feel loved when a package shows up on their door step, no matter what they are facing.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We want others to feel lifted and have a spark of joy, to feel connection, to feel loved and supported, and to have tools to help them with their self-care.
We are much more than a store. Every product we have in our shop is carefully selected to spark joy, uplift, inspire, or help with self-care.
We provide products and tools to help our loved ones and ourselves to thrive.
Many people may not know this, but one of the most important tools for suicide prevention is connection, and we place a big emphasis on providing easy ways to stay connected with your loved ones and neighbors.
Ultimately, we feel this world could use a little more kindness, a little more compassion, and a whole lot of love, not only towards ourselves, but also for others. So for those looking to find more joy, more calm, and more connection in their lives, our shop is the place you can go to do that.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I live in Boise Idaho, but I have visited Kansas City. I didn’t like the airport, but I loved the diversity of the city and of course the food.
Contact Info:
- Email: aglauser@ootbleu.com
- Website: www.ootbleu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outofthebleuofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ootbleu
Image Credits
Life Style Photo – Credit to BreAna Thomas Photography
