Plum Deluxe Origin
How did Plum Deluxe, a tea maker company, get its start and its first sale?
It all started when I lived overseas in Europe. There is a certain tea culture there that I hadn’t known about or experienced in the states. I didn’t find tea, tea found me. Tea has so many different flavors, combinations and styles depending on the culture and traditions. There is a different tea for each mood—one that pairs perfectly with reading a book, another for lively conversation with friends, a blend that will help you to relax or focus to get a bunch of work done.
While living in Europe I also noticed how much people appreciated the little things, like sitting on a terrace with a drink, or going to a bar and ordering a “small beer”. I thought it was fascinating so I started writing about those observations. I eventually quit a job I didn’t like, moved back to the states, didn’t have any big commitments, and was wondering what to do next. I had this blog with followers and a good readership—I thought maybe I could do something with it. I explored affiliate marketing and selling different products, but it never really clicked. After some feedback from my readers I realized that I needed to be selling a product that fit my writing—something to do with these small moments, the cozy time and slowing down. Inspired by care packages that a friend was sending me of tea combinations that I couldn’t get here, I finally realized that tea would pair perfectly with these moments and the stories I was writing. Now I had to figure out how to do make it happen.
Not really knowing where to start, I asked a friend of a friend who worked at a tea cart on the weekends hoping to get some help from her boss. As a test, I was asked to come up with four tea concepts. If the boss liked them, she would help me make it happen. One of the original concepts was Reading Nook, which we still sell. It’s a black, caffeinated tea with calming flowers—something new to her. I think my unique approach is what convinced her to help me.
She made my tea blends, I put them on my website and with one email announcing the new products, I sold out almost instantly. “The Boss” eventually had to kindly push me into sourcing and setting up my own operation.
Biggest risk taken?
Probably when I had to start hiring employees. It’s a bigger commitment when you have other people working with you and relying on you.
Inspirations for business or product
We really rely on our customers and listen to what they want. We only carry things that fit into our ethos…no sugar, quality product, and quality sourcing.
