What does it take to launch a female-founded brand in 700 Target stores—with no prior CPG experience? In this raw and real conversation, Susan Sly sits down with Amiee LeMaire, founder of ZEYA, the first true innovation in home fragrance since Febreze. Discover how this former Hollywood producer transformed a deeply personal passion for non-toxic, functional fragrance into a fast-growing brand selling out online and thriving in mass retail.
From bootstrapping prototypes and pitching with just a deck, to overcoming investor rejection and navigating supply chain shocks, Amiee breaks down the real story behind ZEYA’s rise. Learn her strategies for pricing a brand-new product category, raising $2M in seed funding, landing a national retail partnership before launch—and how she balances it all while parenting two young kids.
Whether you’re scaling a product, raising capital, or defining your own entrepreneurial journey, this episode delivers tactical insight, unapologetic truth, and a deep reminder: you can build something that changes how people live—and breathe.
Aimee LeMaire is the founder of ZEYA, a clean home fragrance brand now in 700+ Target stores. After a decade in entertainment, she launched ZEYA to offer luxurious, baby-and pet-safe scents that elevate everyday spaces and promote well-being.
Connect with Aimee:
- Website: https://zeyashop.com/
- LinkedIn: @aimee-blank
- LinkedIn: @zeyafragrance
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeyafragrance/
Susan Sly is the maven behind Raw and Real Entrepreneurship®. An award-winning AI entrepreneur and MIT Sloan alumna, Susan has carved out a niche at the forefront of the AI revolution, earning accolades as a top AI innovator in 2023 and a key figure in real-time AI advancements for 2024. With a storied career that blends rigorous academic insight with astute market strategies, Susan has emerged as a formidable founder, a discerning angel investor, a sought-after speaker, and a venerated voice in the business world. Her insights have graced platforms from CNN to CNBC and been quoted in leading publications like Forbes and MarketWatch. At the helm of the Raw and Real Entrepreneurship podcast, Susan delivers unvarnished wisdom and strategies, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans alike to navigate the challenges of the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence.
Connect With Susan:
- Website: https://thepause.ai/
- Website: https://susansly.com
- Trusted Partners: https://www.susansly.com/trustedpartners
- LinkedIn:@susansly
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