In this interview, Sharon Colona shares how she unintentionally started her own tea company after retiring to her new home in California. The property came with 550 avocado trees, which led Sharon to research the health benefits of avocado leaf tea after drinking it herself. Impressed by the results, she was inspired to share this superfood with others through starting Avocado Tea Company. However, as the U.S. has no tea industry, Sharon faced challenges in developing processes for sourcing, production, and marketing her unique product. Over three years she has worked hard, found help from others, and seen steady growth through overcoming obstacles. The interview offers business lessons and insight into developing an innovative concept from scratch.
Key Takeaways and Lessons from the Interview:
- Develop new production processes from scratch when your industry doesn't exist locally by learning skills, finding partners, and creating your own systems.
- Use creative marketing strategies to educate customers about a unique product they've never heard of through various approaches like social media, events, and testimonials.
- Effective communication and organization is critical when your business relies on multiple partners across different steps of the process.
- Overcome challenges through determination, outsourcing selectively, focusing on steady growth, and not getting overwhelmed by obstacles.
- Turn unexpected opportunities into thriving businesses by pursuing your passion, conducting market research, and solving real consumer needs.
- Learn from mistakes, know your limitations, and rely on referrals rather than hiring without vetting when growing your team.
Learn more about Sharon and Avacado Tea Co.
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Matthew Shipp
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