Tea Boxes Curated for Curious People - Tea By C
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Claire Forgan, Founder of Tea By C, located in San Rafael, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Tea By C curates educational tea experiences primarily through a discover tea membership and custom gift boxes. We source teas that you can't find in grocery stores for people who are curious.
Tell us about yourself
I first got into tea in college when I volunteered to work in a biology lab that focused on tea research. The research was interesting but what I enjoyed most was the community of researchers and "tea people" I met along the way. Tea By C is the product of everything I loved about that experience - learning about tea and creating community by exchanging ideas with others just as curious as I am.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is getting new folks interested in tea. Did you know all tea comes from the same plant and that the difference between green and black tea is just the way that leaf is processed? Facts like that grip people's attention and make them curious to know more! I'm proud to be a part of that.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part for me is running the day-to-day operations while growing the business. I love creating new ideas, trying new teas, and talking to customers. For example, although it's necessary, it can be tough spending time packing tea when I'd rather use that time working on improving my product or creating tea-related content.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't get bogged down in the operational details early on. In the beginning, establish your MVP and gauge interest. Worry about the details and execution later.
- Leverage your network. Don't be afraid to talk about your ideas with the folks around you, get their feedback, and find out how they can help you (and also how you can help them).
- Continue to sell, even when you have already sold. It can be tough to continue to market and sell your product when you are also juggling delivering a product to customers you have already acquired. Make sure to always put time and resources into acquiring new clients because it's natural to have some churn, and you want to work towards a continuous stream of business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.teabyclaire.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teabyclaire
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teabyclaire/
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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