Do you ever crave that relieving cup of tea one quiet evening?
Wait, are you a tea or a coffee person?
My answer is tea, tea, and more tea.
But today, sorry to disappoint, there is no tea to be spilled. This is even better, I am simply introducing you with a brand called, Kindred Teas.
Believing that tea can foster relationships and bringing people closer together, I’m bringing you to meet the founder of Kindred Teas herself, Madelene Poon.
Here at Sterrific, we had a chance to interview this amazing founder and her unique brand to know more about this specially crafted tea business.
And, how a cup of tea can bring a whole brand new experience to the person savouring it.
We asked her a bunch of questions that we are keen to know and here is what she has in store for us!
#1. The idea behind Kindred Teas?
We asked her what sparked the idea of Kindred Teas?
Back in 2015, I stumbled upon a video on Youtube about tea.
I’d always been a tea drinker, but never knew much about how they were made.
In that video, they explained how the single tea plant (Camellia Sinensis) is processed to get the 6 types of tea and my mind was blown! I had always assumed that the different tea types came from different tea plants.
I started researching more about tea and realised how amazing and versatile this plant was.
I then decided to start work on Kindred Teas.
#2. The Name, Kindred Teas.
Is there any story behind the name, Kindred Teas?
Personally, tea has always brought back wonderful memories of times spent with family and friends.
Whenever I think of tea, I think of these memories and they always involved loved ones, hence the name Kindred Teas.
Tea is as social a drink as coffee. I wanted people to start saying “let’s grab tea” instead of “let’s grab coffee”.
To me, tea is about slowing down and appreciating the moment, unlike coffee, where it feels more on the go. It’s the perfect drink to roster relationships over.
I also wanted to create a brand that was suitable for gifting.
#3. Define Kindred Teas.
Also, if people were to ask you what is Kindred Teas, how would you define it in your own words?
Kindred Teas is an artisanal tea brand that is inspired by precious moments.
Our teas are inspired by spaces and faces and each has a back story to them.
#4. Target market?
Do you have any specific target market?
Our main target market is between 25-39 years old and mostly female.
We also target corporate customers as our teas have proven to be very popular as corporate gifts.
#5. What’s your way of marketing?
How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
We market our brand mostly through social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, as well as Google ads.
We have also done events such as pop up markets to meet our customers.
The most successful form of marketing has been social media marketing.
We’ve also gotten a lot of business through word of mouth.
#6. What about the funds?
How did you raise funding for your venture?
I took a loan from my mother to start Kindred Teas.
#7. Being an entrepreneur, what is it like?
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Being an entrepreneur has given me the opportunity to meet many inspiring business owners, and hearing their stories first hand.
I enjoy meeting likeminded individuals who are so encouraging!
I also enjoy being my own boss, of course!
#8. Your satisfying moment?
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
There’s no single moment, but every time I receive a message or a review from our customers telling us how much they love our tea, or the service that we have provided, it makes all the hard work worth it.
#9. Any future goals?
What are the future goals for Kindred Teas?
We plan to open a tea salon serving our teas and baked goods, and also expand our business to the States.
#10. What are the challenges faced?
Are there any challenges faced by Kindred Teas since it was first established?
Our journey has been faced with so many challenges.
Our first shipment of tin packaging arrived with over 40% damaged, and we failed to negotiate a fair settlement for that.
Other than that, the main challenge we’ve faced was one that is faced by most new businesses – how to differentiate ourselves from our competitors in this very small local market.
#11. Would you do your career differently?
Last but not least, if you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help.
It’s in my character to not want to burden others with work, and so I tend to take it upon myself to do everything, including the mundane stuff.
That took a toll on my health and caused a lot of stress.
If you love something, then just go for it!
And that’s the take on Kindred Teas, telling us more about how her wonderful business with specially crafted teas!
To be frank, Madelene Poon, the Kindred’s founder inspired me to be curious about things we do on a daily basis like drinking tea, and perhaps eating sandwiches.
So that, maybe I can be as successful as her and this brand, then starts my own business selling sandwiches.
I love how she believes that a cup of tea can recollect a thousand memories back and it reminds her of the loved ones. Now, make sure you spend some time to sit down and have some Kindred Teas on your own.
In case if you are interested to see how unique her specially crafted teas are, for your own sweet evening treat or as gifting, head over to their website: https://kindredteas.com/
Also, don’t forget to check out their Facebook and Instagram right here! I guarantee you won’t miss anything that’s hot and steaming, just like a cup of tea on a Sunday evening again.
Want more exclusive interviews? Then check out our blog!
Sterrific Agency is a creative digital agency with a range of services we provide that are web design, branding, SEO, copywriting and more!
