Choose the Best Tea for Your Health

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kiyomi Koike, Founder of SEI MEE TEA, located in Enterprise, OR, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is to empower my customers' quality of life with pure, soothing, and powerful green tea products. I focus on the products and services that other businesses are not fulfilling. There are a lot of green tea products out there; however, unfortunately, few tea businesses provide accurate information and products that are beneficial for customers who would like to get the health benefits but not caffeine. We educate our precious customers to clarify the myths and confusion. And we fulfill their needs by providing green tea products that are organic, potent, and low in caffeine. We also offer caffeine-free, gluten-free teas and coffee alternative products made from roasted brown rice.

Tell us about yourself

The root of SEI MEE TEA was when my husband was diagnosed with third-stage colon cancer in 2001. It was just a few months after I gave birth to my daughter, our second child, and also I was told my father was critically ill in Japan—it was a rough time for me. I researched what makes green tea potent and tasty, and I found such tea, and my husband drank this tea as part of his treatment routine. As I saw tea was gaining popularity, and often products had misleading or wrong information on the packaging, I felt an urge to "correct" these wrongs. In the spring of 2004, my husband's oncologist congratulated us, saying, "You beat the odds and don't have to come back and see me anymore. But don't stop drinking your green tea." And he admitted our green tea must have had something to do with beating the odds.

We thought it was our moral duty, to tell the truth about green tea. I conducted some market research locally, started to make a business plan, and visited the tea company that makes the powdered sencha that became "Edible Green" tea in Japan in the summer of 2004. SEI MEE TEA was launched in November 2004. I believe green tea is the simplest and healthiest food you can add to your everyday diet to improve your health. When I started SEI MEE TEA, my mission was "to see green tea powder in every household in the U.S." Back then, not very many people knew about Matcha or Sencha powder.

Matcha has been very popular in the past 10 years, and it seems Matcha has become a "staple" for some people. But still, many people are missing out on the wonderful green tea benefits because they don't know there are better options. When customers learn there are low caffeine options, they are excited because they can now consume the potent green tea and get the health benefits. So, I'm always thinking about how to reach those people and keep improving their well-being. When customers are excited and happy, that's my best reward and motivation.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I was able to support my family with this business while I'm "disabled" because my native language is not English, and I'm located in a remote area with few resources. Despite these adversities, my business not only stayed alive for 18 years but has supported my family and keeps growing each year. Along the way, I've met wonderful people and learned a lot--it's been an exciting journey, and I'm appreciative of it.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Time management & delegation, because so many ideas that excite me come into my mind each day.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Focus on customers--it sounds obvious, but when you are struggling with sales, it's easy to blame the products or the venue. It is possible to increase sales with the existing products as long as the quality is good. Observe your customers' behaviors to find solutions.
Communicate the values of your products or services--your job is to educate your customers. Be kind and proactive for them and let them know how they can improve their lives by using your products or services.
Remember, only actions create outcomes and bring solutions. Do not wait until it becomes "perfect." Make decisions, act upon them, and keep moving forward. And you need to be patient--trust the process.

I had zero experience with business and marketing before. I started this business with as few as 210 pouches of "Edible Green" tea in the rural countryside of Oregon in 2004. I spent no money on overhead or a huge inventory. I designed almost all the labels and marketing materials, including brochures and flyers, studied HTML code, and customized the website while raising a family.

I believe anyone can succeed in this industry even without prior knowledge or experience. I'll be happy to talk with you about the struggles your business is facing if you contact me.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://groundgreentea.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seimeetea/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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