Community Highlights: Meet Heide Rembold of Conscious Columbus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heide Rembold. 

Hi Heide, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Conscious Columbus started in 2018 with a mission to do more good in central Ohio and find others with a similar passion. I quickly realized that there were small businesses doing good all over town, but that they weren’t getting as much attention and business as they should, so I began to connect with and highlight them on Conscious Columbus’s social media accounts. This has grown year over year into a thriving community with an annual publication called The Conscious Compass, where we feature these small businesses doing good for everyone to support! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We started out on social media (and that’s still where a heavy amount of our interaction is), so the algorithms that Instagram likes to play with (and ultimately hurt small businesses) have definitely been a bit of a struggle. However, it’s also encouraged us outside of the social media realm and we’ve been able to make more connections through different avenues, such as events, networking opportunities, and the like. 

Another struggle we occasionally face is that so many business owners are already over capacity, and it can be a challenge to collaborate with them in a way that helps them without overwhelming them. We’re learning every day what these social entrepreneurs need to thrive! 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Conscious Columbus?
Conscious Columbus is a collaborative space with the mission of connecting consumers with conscious businesses and opportunities in Central Ohio, empowering them to bring positive social change to the community with their everyday purchases. 

We strive to provide the resources necessary to transition smoothly to a more conscious lifestyle. This includes highlighting local conscious businesses, providing information conveniently, sharing our own journey, and connecting with like-minded humans. 

Our most recent project is creating The Conscious Compass, a digital and in-print guide to showcase all conscious businesses and opportunities in central Ohio! Additional projects and offerings we’ve launched include blog collaborations, environmentally-friendly stickers (that give back!), and a nonprofit of the month, where we highlight a local nonprofit doing good. 

We hope to create a realistic avenue and thrive in the community that we’re building around us. 

The pride in our brand comes from the growth of starting as a small side project and booming into a thriving business. We have collaborated and connected with so many that have made this possible and are excited to continue to work in a community effort to grow even more in the future, all with the mission of making the world a better place! 

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is individuals realizing the impact that they can have simply with their daily habits and purchasing mindsets. It may seem like a small effort to ditch the plastic straws and grocery bags, buy your holiday gifts locally, or donate monthly to a nonprofit organization, but by doing so consistently and in a way that can influence others to do the same, we can begin making a positive difference, starting right here in our own community. 

This matters to me because it doesn’t make any sense to not live this way. I can’t understand the businesses that don’t act as a force for good or the individuals that avoid thrift shopping because it’s not always up-to-date with the latest fashion trends. I think lack of education is where a lot of it stems from, and that’s another reason that I love leading Conscious Columbus – to help open the eyes of individuals and get them to understand that they can make such a big difference starting small. 

Contact Info:

• Email: consciouscolumbusohio@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.consciouscolumbus.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consciouscbus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consciouscbus/
• Other: https://conscious-columbus.square.site/

Image Credits
Heide Rembold