Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David O'Connor, co-founder, and president of Genuine Tea, from Toronto, Canada.
Tell us all about your business...
Genuine Tea is an award-winning family-owned tea company based in Toronto, Canada. Genuine Tea is a proud leader in the Third Wave Tea movement and works with hundreds of independent cafes across the country. Our primary customers are cafes and folks who love premium quality hand-crafted teas, tea lattes, and sparkling iced tea =)
What's your background and motivation to grow as an entrepreneur?
My partner and I lived in Taiwan for five years. We studied Mandarin and ended up doing our MBAs in Taiwan, focusing on the tea industry. We traveled to farms across Asia to learn from growers. Our vision was to promote transparency, freshness, and fair compensation in the tea industry. After winning many awards and growing our business across Canada, we are still as motivated as ever! My favorite part of our business is the innovation - coming up with new tea concepts and recipes, and ideas for ways to grow our business...
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Probably going on Dragons' Den and getting four offers.. it was a pivotal moment in our business. We had just had a baby two weeks prior, and it was a turning point for us... kind of a make or break moment, you could say. If we didn't get a deal, we were prepared to look at other career paths because, as a startup, you live close to the poverty line.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being an entrepreneur?
Balancing work + life. My life partner and I wake up every day, and the first thing we talk about is his work; when we drive our son to daycare, we talk about work, then we get home, and we work. It's hard switching it off. Even when we're "relaxing," we talk about Genuine Tea, lol.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Do your research before starting. You might love your product, but is there a market out there? Be prepared to lose it all and live below minimum wage for the first year or two. Learn to manage your emotions - entrepreneurship is about constantly putting out fires. Most things go wrong the first time, and the stress can be overwhelming - learn to classify it and deal with problems pragmatically.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Life is about balance. Work hard, play hard. Travel, smile, and have fun. It'll be over before you know it.
Where can people find you?
Genuine Tea
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share then email community@subkit.com, we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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