Today we’d like to introduce you to Su-mari Hill

Hi Su-mari, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

My journey began with a deep-rooted passion for family and a drive to create something meaningful. My husband Tim and I always knew we wanted to build something together. Our first venture was born out of necessity and inspiration from our children. We opened our first store when our second daughter was just three months old. It was a whirlwind six-week process from idea to opening, driven by the belief in seizing fleeting opportunities and that if you can, you should.

However, it was during the pandemic that the idea for iLOLA truly took shape. Our previous business lacked scalability, and we found ourselves feeling stuck and unfulfilled. The pandemic forced us to rethink our strategy. We took a step back, brought our five children home, and began brainstorming new ideas in the early hours of the morning. This was when we decided to shift our focus from being a product company to creating a brand that sells memories and moments.

The name iLOLA is deeply personal, meaning “to grow strong” in my heritage. It reflects our journey and commitment to growing stronger as a family, a business, and a community. We wanted to innovate within the tea industry and bring the convenience of tea bags to the quality of loose-leaf tea, leading to the creation of our patented Tea Disc. This product encapsulates our philosophy of blending tradition with modernity, ensuring that every cup of tea is a luxurious and memorable experience.

Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood has been my biggest challenge and my greatest motivation. My family is my driving force, and I strive to integrate my professional and personal life harmoniously. My morning routine is sacred, starting as early as 4 am to meditate, plan my day, and exercise, ensuring that I am at my best for both my family and my business.

The journey has been anything but linear, filled with challenges and learning experiences. But each step has been a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and the unwavering belief in our vision. Today, iLOLA stands as a symbol of our commitment to creating meaningful, quality products that bring people together and make every moment special.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

The journey has been far from smooth, filled with numerous challenges and learning experiences along the way. One of the earliest struggles was starting our first business with our second daughter only three months old. Balancing the demands of a newborn with the rapid development and opening of our store was incredibly taxing. Yet, it taught us the importance of seizing opportunities and taking bold steps forward without hesitation. After her we had another 3 children including twins so it definitely took a lot out of my body.

When we transitioned to creating iLOLA, we faced the daunting task of pivoting from a business that wasn’t scalable to conceptualizing a new strategy during a global pandemic. The uncertainty brought about by COVID-19 was a major obstacle. We had to pause, reflect, and realign our goals. Waking up at 2 am every morning to brainstorm and develop our brand vision was both physically and mentally exhausting, but it was necessary to ensure we laid a solid foundation for iLOLA  .

Another significant challenge was developing our innovative Tea Disc. It involved extensive research, development, and countless iterations. We faced technical hurdles in ensuring the Tea Disc maintained the quality of loose-leaf tea while offering the convenience of tea bags. This process required perseverance and a commitment to continuous improvement

Balancing entrepreneurship with raising five young children was another substantial challenge. Finding harmony between my professional aspirations and family responsibilities required exceptional time management and support from my husband Tim. There were moments of overwhelming pressure, but prioritizing my family’s wellbeing and integrating my personal and professional lives helped me navigate these difficulties.

Despite these struggles, each challenge has been a learning opportunity, strengthening our resolve and shaping iLOLA into what it is today. The road has been bumpy, but our passion, resilience, and commitment to our vision have guided us through

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about iLOLA?

At iLOLA, we are proud of the meticulous process behind our innovative Tea Discs. One of the unique aspects of our product is the special fermentation process used to bind the Tea Discs. This process takes over 30 days, ensuring that the binding is not only effective but also rich in probiotics. These probiotics are essential for promoting gut health and enhancing the overall wellness benefits of our tea.

Our fermentation process involves carefully controlled conditions that allow beneficial bacteria to flourish. These probiotics are naturally integrated into the binding, which holds the loose-leaf tea together in a compact, easy-to-use disc. This method not only preserves the high quality and flavor of the tea but also adds an extra layer of health benefits that you wouldn’t get from conventional tea bags. And Teabags have been shown to have up to 11 billion nanoplastics in a single cup!

The probiotics in our Tea Discs help improve digestion, boost the immune system, and support overall gut health. This means that every cup of iLOLA tea is not just a delightful sensory experience but also a step towards better health. By combining the best of both worlds—the luxury of loose-leaf tea and the convenience of tea bags—we provide a product that is both innovative and beneficial 

What sets us apart is our commitment to quality and wellness. Our patented Tea Disc is a result of extensive research and development, aimed at delivering a superior tea experience. We believe that tea should be more than just a beverage; it should be a moment of luxury and a means to nurture your body and mind.

Our dedication to this process reflects our broader mission to create products that help our customers grow stronger and healthier with each cup. When you choose iLOLA, you’re not just choosing tea; you’re choosing a brand that values innovation, health, and the tradition of a well-crafted tea experience  .

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?

Risk-taking has been an integral part of my entrepreneurial journey and the development of iLOLA. I firmly believe that without taking risks, innovation and growth are impossible. Every significant milestone we’ve achieved has involved some level of risk, and each has taught us valuable lessons that have shaped our business.

One of the major risks was the development of our patented Tea Disc. Innovating a new product in a traditional market like tea was challenging. We invested a considerable amount of time and resources into research and development, not knowing if the market would accept our product. The fermentation process alone, which takes over 30 days to create the probiotic-rich binding for the Tea Discs, was a gamble. We believed in the health benefits and the unique quality it would bring to our tea, but there were no guarantees that consumers would understand or appreciate this innovation.

Balancing entrepreneurship with raising a large family also involves constant risk-taking. Managing both aspects of my life means making difficult decisions daily, often with no clear right or wrong answers. This requires a willingness to embrace uncertainty and trust in our ability to adapt and overcome challenges as they arise.

Ultimately, each risk we have taken has been driven by our commitment to our vision and our belief in the value we bring to our customers. We have learned that risks are not just obstacles but opportunities to push boundaries and achieve something extraordinary. At iLOLA, we are proud of the risks we’ve taken because they have led us to create a brand that stands for quality, innovation, and meaningful moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ilolatea.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilolatea/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeabyiLOLA/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilolatea