Sell a variety of traditional and specialty teas at a tea shop.
Many people enjoy drinking tea as an alternative to coffee, whether for health reasons or to get a quick caffeine fix. Derived from the camellia sinensis plant, tea leaves grow in gardens and plantations all over the world, with each location having its own individual flavor nuances. The resulting variety in tea leaves and taste characteristics allows for a lot of creativity for a tea business. If you are familiar with tea and want to run your own business, consider opening a tea shop.
Instructions
1. Determine what types of tea and tea blends you want to sell at your tea shop, such as green tea, herbal tea, chai tea, white tea, oolong tea and black tea. Consider blending spices and dried fruits with tea leaves, like cinnamon, mint, dried apples, dried oranges, clove and ginger, to create your own specialty tea blends and set your product apart from other tea businesses.
2. Write a business plan for your tea business that describes your tea product line, estimated expenses for tea leaves and supplies, a market analysis of competitors, projected income and an explanation of how you will manage your tea shop. Present the business plan to potential investors and banks to get loans or financial backing to open the tea shop.
3. Hire a commercial real estate agent to help you find a retail space to purchase or lease for your tea shop. Look for a retail shop located on a busy street or downtown area to attract more customers and trigger impulse buying -- unplanned and spontaneous consumer purchases -- as customers drive or walk by.
4. Find a tea leaf distributor or wholesale tea retailer to order various types of leaves for your teas. Purchase the necessary shop equipment and tea brewing supplies, such as scales, display cases for tea leaves and blends, chairs and tables for customer seating, a cash register and containers/satchels for tea packaging.
5. Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the IRS to register your tea business, create company bank accounts and file taxes. Attain the necessary license or certification required by your state or town's specific regulations to open a small business.
6. Create fliers that provide the name, location and store hours of your tea shop and advertise your company's types of teas and blends. Write facts about the health benefits of drinking tea, such as the amount of antioxidant properties found in tea. Post fliers at local coffee shops, college campuses, community centers, restaurants, grocery stores and libraries to introduce your tea shop to the community.
7. Hold a grand opening weekend for your tea shop. Offer special discount coupons, free tea samples and raffle ticket prizes to attract customers to the grand opening. Give every customer a business card with your store's name, location and phone number to help spread the word about your tea business.
Tags: your shop, your business, business plan, grand opening, name location, your product