We recently connected with Megan Miller and have shared our conversation below.
Megan , appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
When my first son was 2 months old, I was presented with a risk or should I now say opportunity. The purchase of Hale Tea Company was a serious risk – I had steady employment, an infant and a lot on my plate. BUT I decided to take the leap and move forward in the entrepreneurship world and it was the best decision I have ever made! I have always wanted to own my own company and what better way than with a deep passion of mine – tea! Although it was a pre-existing business the beginning was such a challenge. I had to jump right in and figure out how to balance juggling the many hats of a business owner all while doing a complete re-brand of the company and working to obtain new customers to bring in revenue to justify leaving a steady job (I also had a baby to think about)!
On top of that, 5 months into taking ownership of the business Covid19 hit affecting pretty much everything. Lead times on materials and ingredients to name one thing to the increased shipping costs were tough to face especially with being so new to the business. There were many times I wanted to give up on my dream and go back to my corporate life – but deep down I knew I couldn’t do that and I had to change with the change.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I realized I had to pivot and adjust if the company was going to survive during the pandemic. I had to think about what made this tea company unique and how could it help current issues people were facing. This is when the focus on localized service and communicating the health benefits of our teas became our why. Tea is good for the body, soul and mind.
With roots tracing back to a humble tea shop in London, England, in 1872, Hale Tea Co. was brought to Savannah, Georgia in 1989 by the Hale family. I took ownership in 2019 and have made many changes to the company but have kept the overall integrity that the Hale family founded so long ago. We strive to bring tea and design together by working with local artists and purveying the highest quality ingredients. We are steadfast in our belief that tea makes a positive contribution to the body and soul from the hands of the tea farmers to the cup that you sip.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Building and fostering relationships with clients is in my opinion one of the most important aspects of running a successful business. It is also one of the hardest, especially with growth. I always remind myself that a customer/client is helping you reach your goals no matter the size of the sale. As a small business in a field with a lot of competitors custom service and fostering client relations is what can make your business stand out. As hard as it is, I attempt to make everyone feel important and give individual attention to my clients as much as I can. From these relationships I have actually gained great friendships. It is one of my absolute favorite parts of owning the company.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I love to give back to the community that has allowed my business to grow! I believe this is what has helped build the reputation of Hale Tea Company. From working with local artists to giving back to local organizations through monetary and product donations – I want to see my community thrive! When we all support each other great things can happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: haletea.com
- Instagram: @haleteaco
Image Credits
Natt + Matt Co