We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Valentina DiMarco a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Valentina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
In selecting the name “Mémoire” for my business, I aimed to encapsulate the core of my message. “Mémoire,” meaning “memory” in French, perfectly embodies the inspiration behind the blends I create—drawn from timeless memories and places. Each blend holds its unique moment and setting. Throughout the naming process, I prioritized accessibility, avoiding complexities that might pose pronunciation challenges, particularly for clients not fluent in French. The choice proved ideal, as “memoir” in English conveys the notion of an account centered around personal experiences.
Valentina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
From a young age, I have been passionate about the culinary arts. The desire to find a place within that world has fueled my motivation to be a force within it. Amid the chaos brought on by the onset of Covid, my daily tea ritual emerged as a sanctuary—a respite from the turmoil. However, I faced a challenge in finding a tea blend that met my standards for both quality and flavor. This void led to the creation of Mémoire. Our blends stand out for their uniqueness, crafted from the finest tea leaves available. Through this journey, I’ve cultivated meaningful relationships with our trusted vendor partners.
What I find most gratifying about building this brand is the realization of my own vision and staying authentic to my instincts. A source of immense pride for me is our “Wedding Collection.” It brings me joy to offer blends inspired by the essence of love, and I envision it as a seamless transition into the enchanting world of weddings. The ability to infuse passion into each blend and share it with others has been a rewarding experience, and I look forward to continuing this culinary journey with Mémoire.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
I’ve chosen to showcase and sell my creations through my own website, and Squarespace has proven to be an invaluable platform in this endeavor. The advantages are undeniable – Squarespace offers ready-made templates that streamline the website creation process. The convenience of having everything laid out for you eliminates the need for extensive deliberation. With Squarespace, I’ve found a user-friendly platform that not only simplifies the setup but also ensures a visually appealing and professional presentation of my brand. The ease of navigation and the aesthetic appeal of the templates contribute to a seamless online shopping experience for my customers. This, coupled with the platform’s comprehensive features, allows me to focus more on crafting exquisite tea blends and less on the complexities of website management. One notable drawback is the absence of certain features, particularly the lack of a built-in subscription service. This means that the platform doesn’t currently support the convenience of monthly automatic repurchasing for customers who wish to receive their favorite blends without the need to manually visit the website each time.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
For the past three years, Mémoire has been my part-time endeavor alongside my full-time job. Utilizing a portion of my savings, I embarked on this venture and am fortunate to maintain a stable income that sustains me. Having saved over the course of a couple of years, I used a small portion of my savings to assist with the initial costs of launching Mémoire.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thememoire.com
- Instagram: @memoiretea
Image Credits
Photographer Leonora Demirovic Model in wedding dress Emily Avery