Curate & Co is a PR & with a focus on food and drink brands. We designed a Custom website for the brand that captures their elegant, modern aesthetic and at the same time incorporates their fun and sincere style.

This was a great design challenge that explored different design directions. We played with lines, colour blocks and mixed typefaces to create this modern yet classic look!

“Owning my own business gave me the freedom to explore my creativity and work with the clients and people that I want to work with.”

GO LIVE: WHERE DID YOUR PASSION FOR THE INDUSTRY OR CRAFT START?

Amanda: I fell in love with the food and drink industry while working at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. While there, I worked on over 10 different wine and spirit brands so I was quickly immersed in the industry.

GO LIVE: DID YOUR EDUCATION HELP PREPARE YOU FOR THE INDUSTRY OR FOR STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? OR ARE YOU SELF-TAUGHT?

Amanda: Most of what I do on a day-to-day business was learned. I went to business school, which helped me navigate the entrepreneurial side of the business (accounting, contracts, etc). Media relations, content creation, and producing event experiences are all things that a college classroom can’t “teach” – I think you have to experience it first hand to understand how to make it successful.

GO LIVE: WHAT’S THE HARDEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED IN YOUR BUSINESS?

Amanda: To trust my gut! The mistakes that I have made as a CEO have always been when I convinced myself that my gut was wrong.

GO LIVE: WHAT DO YOU WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU WHEN YOU STARTED OUT?

Amanda: This isn’t glamorous! My advice is to invest in an accountant, consult a lawyer, and make sure you have a really good support system. Owning your own business can give you the biggest highs and the lowest lows-sometimes in the same hour.

GO LIVE: WHAT WAS THE MOMENT YOU HAD WHEN YOU SAID, “I SHOULD DO THIS” OR WHAT MADE YOU TAKE THE JUMP INTO WORKING FOR YOURSELF?

Amanda: I’ve always had a desire to start my own agency, but for years I thought that I needed to wait until the timing was “perfect.” A couple months before I started Curate & Co., a mentor told me to take the leap! It turned out, that was the final push I needed.

After working in the food and drink industry, I also had a desire to create programs that would appeal to a younger demographic. It’s not news that the wine industry can tend to market to an older demographic, but millennials have huge purchasing power and storytelling + experiences are the best way to create brand advocates.

GO LIVE: WHAT THINGS HAVE YOU GAINED / DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM FOLLOWING THIS DREAM?

Amanda: Owning my own business gave me the freedom to explore my creativity and work with the clients and people that I want to work with. We love our clients - that’s why on our website we chose the phrase, “Meet the Fam” to showcase our clients. We care about the people we work with and the products they make!

GO LIVE: WHY DID YOU ULTIMATELY DECIDE TO WORK WITH US FOR YOUR RESTYLE OR CUSTOM DESIGN?

Amanda: Go Live HQ’s creativity and quick “go live” process were the top two factors that convinced us.