This brand change wasn’t part of the plan 😬


Hey YOU!

Tired of business advice that doesn't feel like...YOU? This newsletter is your permission slip to build your business on your own terms...let's dive in!

Not every pivot in your business starts with a big plan.

Sometimes it starts with a gut feeling or a quiet voice that says, “This doesn’t feel like me anymore.”

Back in April, I felt that exact twinge after reading a post about how sharing how phrases like “getting money into women’s hands” can unintentionally exclude non-binary and gender-expansive people.

And honestly? I was triggered. 🤪

Not because I disagreed—but because deep down, I knew they were right. And that meant I had to do something about it...

At first, that “something” was small. I added a note to my website footer:

“While we focus on women entrepreneurs, everyone is welcome here. We’re committed to a safe space that celebrates diversity, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.”

I shared about it in this email → When Your Brand Gets Called Out.

It didn’t require a full rebrand and it didn’t undo the work I had already done. But it was a step toward realignment.

And I couldn’t unsee what it brought up.

The truth is, I wasn’t ready to make a big change then.
I didn’t want to start fresh.
I didn’t want to be “wrong.”

And I certainly didn’t love the idea of walking away from all the energy I’d poured into Bootstrapped Woman (my old business name) and all of the time spent on doing the "right" things to build my brand's visibility. 🫠

But doing things like writing technical blog posts for SEO instead of writing about what fires me up, wasn't feeling right either.

The longer I sat with it, the more I realized: My brand values and my brand messaging were no longer saying the same thing. And that misalignment needed to be fixed.

So here I am.

A new name, a clearer mission and a business that feels a lot more like ME.

Even though it felt scary to “start fresh,” the truth is—my strategy, offers, and identity didn’t need to be scrapped entirely. They just needed to be unbuttoned.

Because what’s underneath it all? That’s what matters most. 💕

The values.
The fire.
The YOU behind the business.

Getting honest about what I care about, what I actually want, and how I want to show up was the shift I needed. It’s what allowed me to reimagine my business into something that feels like I'm back on the right path, AND heading in the right direction.

Unbuttoned Brands isn’t just a rebrand for me. It’s permission.

To stop performing.
To stop people-pleasing.
To stop writing boring blog posts for the algorithm when the soul is screaming to say something real.

It's about doing business your own way.

Doing it in a way that honours your growth, your values, your energy.

And the truth is, I wouldn’t have landed here if I hadn’t listened to the small signs along the way. The twinges. The triggers. The quiet whispers.

That’s the power of intuition. ⚡️

It’s not always loud or flashy. But it will point you in the right direction if you let it.

Remember, your next move doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else. It just has to feel right to you!

Thank you so much for giving me space in your inbox!

Missed a previous email? Catch up here!

xo Emily Lauren

Whenever you're ready, here are some ways we can work together:

✍️ Branding – Anything but vanilla branding so you can stand out and call in dream clients!

🤖 Brand Recipe Maker Bot – Trained by me to turn your business brain "scramblies" into a clear brand guide—so every post, page, and pitch feels confident, consistent, and totally aligned. Intro price: $199 CAD!

💋 Website Templates – Websites that help you stand out without burning out (coming soon!).

*COMING SOON* More tools, templates and support for values-led entrepreneurs who want to show up online like themselves.

Hey, I'm Emily, and I don't just create stand out brands - I create change.

I am a multi-passionate, feminist creative marketer who helps values driven businesses make money while making the world a better place. As an accomplished brand strategist, web designer and published author, I know a thing or twenty about helping businesses grow their online presence, wealth and impact in the world AND confidently take up space online.

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