Episode 062: From Corporate Sales Rep to Independent Grocer with Amanda Heins

Apr 26, 2020

In this episode, Sara chats with Amanda Heins about her journey from food service industry sales rep, to serial entrepreneur, to independent grocer. Amanda shares the story of her husband passing unexpectedly in 2018 and leaving her sole owner of the store; discovering detailed notes he'd made about upgrading the business; and carrying out and wrapping up his envisioned remodel the day before construction was halted due to COVID-19. Today, Amanda lives in Roslyn, Washington and owns The Roslyn Grocery, a business operating on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Want to make your own career change?

Download Sara's Seven Cs of Successful Career Change Chart.

 

Sara and Amanda Discuss:

• How they know one another
• Amanda attending Evergreen State College
• Working at a restaurant / spa
• Intending to become a doctor, but deciding against it
• Being offered a job with Food Services of America
• Moving to Roslyn, Washington
• Feeling the stress of working a commission-based job and being on the road all the time
• Having her children & her husband becoming a stay-at-home dad
• Realizing that her job wasn't working for her anymore
• Opening a gift shop
• Opening a candy store
• Selling her businesses to employees
• Opening the grocery store with the vision of Roslyn being walkable
• The long hours that they worked to get the grocery up and running
• How they made it work, financially
• Opening a restaurant across the street
• Selling the restaurant and gallery
• Her husband suddenly passing
• Helping her kids navigate grief
• Her store becoming passive income for her
• Taking on volunteer work
• Being her best self for her kids
• Doing a solstice ritual and letting go of her past
• Turning down an offer to move the store into a larger space
• Cleaning her house and stumbling upon old notes from her husband about expanding the store
• Securing the money to remodel
• Finishing up the remodel the day before the governor halted construction during coronavirus pandemic
• Ramping up security and stocking up the store for coronavirus
• Real talk on toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and gloves
• Her supportive mother-in-law
• Her longer term plan
• Her pleas for people who live in Western Washington to stay home
• Her many leaps of faith and refusal to live in fear of the "what-ifs"
• What this pandemic is teaching us
• Why she believes everything happens for a reason
• ...and more!

Amanda's Full Bio:

Widow and single mother, Amanda Meck Heins, is owner and operator of The Roslyn Grocery in Roslyn, Washington.

 

Amanda graduated with a bachelor's of science degree from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington with the intention of going on to become a doctor. Having worked her way through school in multiple restaurant capacities, she was recruited by restaurant distributor, Food Services of America, and she took a sales position in beautiful Kittitas County, Washington.

 

When Amanda's children were born, her husband Matt stayed home, and she continued working. But sitting at home, caring for two babies every day became too much. So, the couple decided to open a little gift shop in Roslyn, which was just the beginning. Not long after, Amanda decided that her family and marriage were far more important to her than her sales position with FSA, which had proven to be time-consuming and high-pressure. So, she quit her position there, and the couple went on to open a candy store called Roslyn Sweets & Treats, then The Roslyn Grocery, and then The Red Bird Cafe. While she has since sold the gift shop, candy store, and cafe, Amanda still owns the grocery store.

 

Just two years ago, on her 40th birthday, Amanda's husband Matt died suddenly and left her a solo parent, and sole owner of The Roslyn Grocery. Early on, Amanda struggled with the grief of carrying on the business without him. But, with the love and support of her staff and community, she has continued to bring their shared dream to fruition. In fact, she finished a upgrade and remodel just in time to even better serve her tight-nit little community during the coronvavirus pandemic.

 

Connect with Amanda Heins and The Roslyn Grocery:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheRoslynGrocery

 

Connect with Sara McArdle and Women Who Went for It:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/womenwhowentforit 

Website: www.womenwhowentforit.com 

Nominate a Podcast Guest (we do not take nominations over email): www.saramcardle.com/podcast-guest 

Email (see link above to nominate a podcast guest): [e-mail] 

Phone: [phone]

 

Want to make your own career change?

Download Sara's Seven Cs of Successful Career Change Chart.