World Tea on the Road (#WTOTR) – an immersive experience taught by tea’s foremost experts – is offering in-depth education for entrepreneurs who are launching or thinking about building a tea retail business, and professionals who want to enhance their understanding of tea and the business of tea. These events are also open to anyone who wants to grow their tea know-how. Attendees can select Boston, Oct. 10 – 11, or Chicago, Nov. 7 – 8.
The “Tea Business Boot Camp” track at World Tea on the Road – from the organizers of World Tea Expo – includes sessions on tea knowledge, marketing, sourcing and selecting teas, and business considerations, among other topics.
“Specialty tea in North America has never looked so promising,” notes World Tea on the Road educator Kevin Gascoyne, a British tea taster and one of the owners of the Camellia Sinensis Tea Houses and Tea Schools.
Gascoyne, who will present “Tea 101,” explains, “Tea is not arriving on the American market as a grocery store commodity as it did in the ‘Old World.’ Instead, it’s arriving as a healthy tonic with all the foodie allures of an exotic product from a distant terroir. I know of no other product that has the democratic affordability to reach such a wide demographic with the novelty, diversity and integrity of tea.”
Beth Johnston, owner of Teas Etc and a conference educator, says, “Not to be cliche but tea is hot! And the ‘Tea Business Boot Camp’ at World Tea on the Road offers attendees the experience of many seasoned tea professionals and the opportunity to learn about the ‘business’ of tea.”
Johnston’s session is an interactive class on how to market to and capture customers, drawing on her years of experience and success in the industry.
Bruce Richardson, owner of Elmwood Inn Fine Teas/Benjamin Press, will offer lessons and insights in his session – called “Start a Business in the Tea Industry” – at the Boston conference. “As tea master for the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, it will be my great honor to welcome these new students of tea to the city that is synonymous with one of the most memorable tea events the world has ever witnessed,” he says. “I’m happy to pass on my passion for tea to a new generation of ‘teaists’ through World Tea on the Road.”
In addition to the “Tea Business Boot Camp,” World Tea on the Road offers the “World Tea Academy Live!” track, a first step toward industry certification.
Participation in the “World Tea Academy Live!” and “Tea Business Boot Camp” tracks includes participation in the World Origin Tasting Tour, a virtual tea tour with “stops” at six major countries/regions of origin.
Visit WorldTeaontheRoad.com to register.
