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What It's About
Customized tea blends brew steamy profits!
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
We talk often on the show about the importance of getting started and not overthinking things, and Jamah is a perfect example of this. Here's what she has to say about getting started:
"Don't hesitate to launch, just do it! As soon as you have your idea, get it going. Don't wait until everything is perfect, you will figure out the kinks on the way."
Fun Fact
Tea has a long and storied history! One of the earliest accounts dates back to China in 2737 BCE when Emperor Shen Nong accidentally discovered tea when a few leaves from an overhanging tree fell into his pot of boiled water (apparently a decree was in effect that all subjects must boil water before drinking it). Upon sipping his newly infused brew, the emperor did further research and discovered that tea not only tastes good but has medicinal properties too.
Notes from Chris
Episode 823
Meet Jamah Dacus. She’s the owner and proprietor of BlendBee.com, a site that’s dedicated to helping customers create custom tea blends from scratch. Tea has played an influential role in her life as long as she can remember. As Jamah puts it, “Tea can be a healer, a comforter, a fat burner, a detoxer, a lover and a fighter. It can keep us awake and put us to sleep. There are so many uses, tea is simply amazing.” It’s fair to say she’s steeped in an encyclopedic knowledge of all things tea. At BlendBee, customers can join her monthly tea club, shop for the perfect blend, or create their own. Jamah also designs special blends for companies, spas, and restaurants through her wholesale program. She started BlendBee as a need to fill a gap in the market—her need, to be exact. She’d been designing her own tea blends for years and wished there was a way she could choose ingredients she wanted and have it mixed for her. Jamah was struck with a novel idea. So, she decided to chai something. What if she could design a site that let you create your own tea blends—a made-to-order business? So, that’s what she did. She started BlendBee in 2014 and hasn’t looked back! She handcrafts every blend to order, using the highest quality ingredients sourced from around the globe. Her customers love creating their own unique blends, and she receives rave reviews from them. BlendBee is now earning between $10k—$20k a month, and Jamah works on it full-time. How did she do it? Before growing BlendBee into a bustling Bee Team, it started as most side hustles do: a solo operation, just Jamah. She did everything herself from building the website to making the tea blends. Her startup costs were just under $2,000, which covered the ingredients, packaging, and her website. She sourced her teas from small, organic or wild-crafted fair-trade farms from around the world. She now works directly with several suppliers who she’s built relationships with over the years. Her green tea comes from China and Japan. Her black teas come from India. Red teas are sourced from South Africa while her yerba mate comes straight from the source in Argentina. BlendBee currently averages around $35 an order, and sells between 300-700 orders per month. Her most popular product is the 1/4 lb custom tea blend. Her customers love being able to create their own teas and this has been a key factor in setting her brand apart. So, what’s next for BlendBee? Jamah wants to continue growing it and its sister company, ModestMix.com. She’d love to land more local and wholesale accounts too. Either way, it sounds like her blends have become quite the hot commodi-tea.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- BlendBee: Create your own special tea blend over on Jamah's website!
- Springbot: The eCommerce marketing automation platform that Jamah used
- Entrepreneur Reads Tea Leaves to Launch Subscription Hustle: A New York-based consultant brews his need for energy into a tea delivery service that offers customers a chance to discover new tea varieties each month
- Tea Sommelier Turns Leaves Into Million-Dollar Business: A Canadian hospitality employee creates a line of tempting teas that grow to sell $30,000+ a month on Amazon.com
