If you want to go beyond opening a tea shop or a tea salon… you can think about creating your successful tea brand.
Creating a tea brand from scratch will require two main things: a passion for tea and a lot of creativity. Are you ready?
If this is your case, keep reading, because in this guide, we will detail how to transform your love for tea into a successful and resonant brand. From understanding the market to launching your product and much more!
Start by studying and understanding the market
Like any business, the first step towards creating your tea brand is to conduct a thorough market study.
In this analysis, you should research current trends, identify your target audience, and understand their preferences and buying habits.
Observe the most active brands on social media, the classics, what is seen on television and internet portals… even SEO tools! (digital platforms that show the most searched for keywords in each region); this will help you understand consumer preferences.
Define your niche
Tea gives you access to a universe of enormous possibilities to configure a unique offer. Defining your specific niche can help you stand out in a saturated market. Choose what you prefer to focus on:
- Pure teas
- Rare teas from remote regions
- Classic blends
- Innovative blends
- Or maybe… a line of gourmet iced teas?
To choose a niche, you should look for one that resonates with you and then with your ideal audience. This way, you can create a brand with a unique and clear value proposal.
Looking for your brand name and logo
Your brand name is more than just a word or phrase; it is the first impression, the essence of your identity, and what sets you apart (along with the logo) in the minds of your consumers.
To do this, you must ensure:
1. That it is in line with the personality of your brand.
2. That it resonates with your buyer persona.
Make sure it is a name that is easy to pronounce and remember. A name that is too complicated will make it difficult for your customers to remember you and find you on social media.
On the other hand, if you plan to sell in another country or expand your brand someday, make sure that your brand name sounds good in other languages.
For the logo, we recommend that you seek the help of a graphic designer. A professional will always be the person who best knows how to visually capture the essence of your brand.
Finally, make sure that the name and logo of your brand are not registered. At first, it seems obvious, but there are many brands that, after launching, discover that they cannot be used in their target markets. You can avoid all this with the help of a lawyer or by checking out the trademark and patent registry of your country.
Continuing with branding: the packaging of your product
To present your product, any packaging will not do. What sense would it make to send a message of a sustainable brand and only use plastics?
After the name and logo of your brand, the packaging is your next main target. Dedicate all the time in the world to choosing the container and its label.
First of all, we recommend that you choose how much tea you want to sell individually: 50, 100, or 250 grams. Or perhaps you prefer to sell smaller quantities of highly exclusive teas? This will be closely related to your buyer persona and the places where your product can be found.
If you want to launch a line of everyday teas such as specials for breakfast or dessert, you may be interested in large quantities. On the other hand, if you want to offer single estate teas that will be sold in gourmet stores, it is better to opt for smaller containers.
Legislation and certifications
When you create a tea brand, like any food product, you must comply with the current legislation of your country.
That is why we recommend consulting with your tea and infusion supplier, or with an expert in food regulations. They can inform you about the requirements you must meet and what information is mandatory to put on your label.
If you want to add more value and credibility to your brand, consider obtaining certifications such as organic or fair trade. The path to obtaining them is not the fastest or the easiest, but it will be worth the investment to stand out and align yourself with the expectations of today’s conscious consumers.
Supplier, production, and logistics
The logistics of how and where your tea is produced, stored, and shipped are fundamental. A manufacturer that uses top-quality raw materials and mixes daily can offer you the freshness that your brand needs to stand out.
Consider working with manufacturers and logistics specialists that can scale with your business and guarantee the quality and freshness of your products.
What is the right price for the teas of my brand
Price is not a factor that is randomly decided when you want to do branding. Determining an appropriate pricing strategy for your brand is paramount.
To do this, you must find a balance between being competitive, covering your costs, and reflecting the quality of your product.
Understand your costs
The first thing you should do is understand your total costs. This includes not only the cost of goods sold but also indirect operating costs, such as rent, utilities, marketing, and salaries.
Knowing your costs in detail will allow you, financially speaking, to have a healthy brand.
Analyze the selling prices of your competitors
As we said at the beginning of this post, analyzing the market is something you cannot avoid when creating your brand.
Identify direct and indirect competitors and observe how they position themselves through their pricing strategies. Is there a gap in the market for a premium or low-cost offer that you can exploit?
Understanding the price spectrum in the market allows you to strategically position your brand to fill gaps or compete effectively.
Consider perceived value
Perceived value is what your customers believe your product is worth to them. This does not always align with cost or price.
If your tea brand is positioned as high-end, with unique recipes or
exclusive flavors, you can set a higher price due to the perception of higher quality or exclusivity. The key is to effectively communicate that value through your brand and marketing strategies.
Marketing and sales for your tea brand
It goes without saying that without good marketing, your brand will go unnoticed, right?
Creating a “head-on” marketing and sales strategy for your brand will help you reach your target audience, build your brand identity, foster loyalty among tea lovers, and increase your sales.
An online store
No matter how many physical stores your product can be bought in. In the times we live in, your tea brand must also be marketed online. There are many reasons to launch your online tea shop, but the main one, in this case, is that it will give you more visibility.
Develop a professional online store and use social media to tell your brand’s story, share knowledge about tea, and connect with your community.
You can also create a blog with quality content to attract and educate your audience.
Brand ambassadors 2.0: tea influencers
It has never been easier to have brand ambassadors who in just a few seconds can reach millions of people.
Collaborating with influencers and tea lovers who share your values can increase your brand’s reach.
Of course, you should not choose just anyone. Focus on accounts that authentically align with your brand to promote your products credibly and attractively.
Excellence in customer service
If you have followed all the steps, right now your product will start to be marketed. Soon strangers can become customers, but only brands that have a large number of unconditional lovers of their products are the ones that have continuity over time.
And for this, in addition to everything explained so far, it is in your interest to have excellent customer service.
Make visible the different ways to contact your customer service team, making sure to be accessible for any questions or concerns. Similarly, offer clarity in your shipping and return policies. Don’t use the small print!
Measurement and adjustment
As Charles Darwin said: “The strongest species are not the ones that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones that best adapt to changes in their environment.“
The key to success, in the long run, is the ability to adapt. And that can only be achieved in one way: by constantly and consistently measuring and adjusting.
Remember that in the business game… those who do not measure,lose!
Use analysis tools to measure the performance of your brand in terms of sales, customer satisfaction, and online engagement.
Be receptive to feedback from your customers and willing to adjust your strategy as needed.
Conclusion
Launching a tea brand is the dream of many tea lovers. Dreaming is fine, but if you are going to invest time and money, everything must be planned.
To make your passion your way of life, you must start with a rigorous market research.
From here, the creation of your tea brand will begin: name, logo, packaging, certifications, niche market, and assortment… everything adds up! But above all the, product. If you decide to rely on a partner who produces the best tea for your brand… you just have to contact us.
Leave us a comment if there is any aspect you would like us to talk about in the future to help you developing your brand.
