Woodley businesswoman, Amie Bear, has been nominated for a global Creative Business Award.

The owner of Canvas & Bear, a company producing personalised gifts, wedding stationery and particularly popular pet memorial tea holders, is to be recognised at the annual Women’s Business Awards.

This event gathers businesswomen from around the world to celebrate achievement in over 20 categories, along with a Man of the Year tribute to men who support women in business.

Amie opened her company in December 2020 amidst the global pandemic.

Moving from hobby to business venture, she initially marketed her products through Facebook.

"I wasn’t working because of Covid so I took my hobby and expanded that," she imparted.

Despite the commercialisation of her pastime, it was clear her passion for creating heartfelt mementos remained, with pet memorial items being a bestseller.

The entrepreneur's growth has been meteoric, with the business earning awards only a year after its launch.

Amie revealed, "Last year, we won the perfect gift award, which is a global awards ceremony.

"In that awards ceremony, we won the 'Most Unique Gifting Business and the Emerging entrepreneur 2023 award."

The local woman has not been without her struggles though, discussing the impact of rising living costs on running a business.

Financial challenges have not dampened her spirit though, as she continues to strive for affordability for her clientele without compromising the sustainability of her operations.

The Women’s Business Awards are hosted by Women’s Business Club, a global network set up by Angela De Souza.

This organisation aims to empower women to succeed in business, encouraging feminine leadership and providing a comfortable network for women to truly express themselves.

Angela De Souza reflected on the nominees for this year, stating "There is nothing quite like celebrating the accomplishments of our businesswomen.

"This year we saw some incredible entries which made the judge's decision really tough."

Amie's products currently cater to the UK market only due to shipping constraints, but her ambitions expand beyond the confines of e-commerce.

She expressed her dream to further develop her business model, expressing, "I’d love to open a café with a side shop to sell my stuff 100 per cent."

The former Windsor resident, currently situated in Reading, encourages the support of home-grown businesses by urging locals to cast their votes at the Women's Business Awards website.

Amie’s nomination for a global award is testament to the power of dreams, determination and creativity, even in the face of adversity.

These qualities were eloquently summarized by her: "Owning a small business is really complicated and no one really knows how much goes into it, so it just shows that it’s all been worth it and it’s all paid off."