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| Gord Waldner, CanWest News Service |
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Suruchi and Sanjay Gupta operate Tea Connexions, based in Saskatoon. |
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Import-export business is entrepreneur's cup of tea: U.S. now main market
National Post
Monday, October 18, 2004
Page: FE5
Section: Financial Post: FP Edge
Byline: Shannon Boklaschuk
Dateline: SASKATOON
Source: CanWest News Service
SASKATOON - Sanjay Gupta's Saskatoon-based
import-export business, Tea Connexions, operated out of a 200-square-foot
office when it was launched in 1998. He imported loose-leaf tea products from
India by air, and warehoused it in a small 100-sq.-ft. space.
In June, 2003, the company moved to 3,000 sq. ft. warehouse. Revenue has
grown from 2001 levels by about 1,000%, and there are five permanent staff
members.
The company sounds like it was grown by design but, in fact, "It was all
done on a wing and prayer. I really did not know if it was going to work,''
says Mr. Gupta, who is 35. "Our story is one where it's all self-made.''
The firm really took off after Mr. Gupta began setting up distributors for
his tea products in 2001. Today, more than 200 people distribute his company's
products throughout North America, and a Tea Connexions office will be opened
in Australia in the near future, Mr. Gupta says.
The firm has two master distributors, one in Florida and one in California.
All its U.S. orders are shipped within the United States now.
The company is expansion-minded. "We're in discussions right now to set up
Tea Connexions Mexico.'' There is also a strategic business alliance with a
company called Shangers. Last December, the two started a joint company called
Shangers Teaopolis Ltd. whose mandate is to bring together "tea and
entertainment.''
Shangers Teaopolis Ltd. produces tea "accessories,'' such as cookies,
scones and jams, as well as entertainment products. Currently, there are two
videos in production that have storylines focusing on the heroine, Princess
Teana, as well as a Princess Teana book about tea parties for young children.
Mr. Gupta's business is not a solo effort. In 1998, the Saskatoon native
travelled to India to do business research and met his future wife Suruchi.
They were married in 1999. "She actually picked out the first 15 products that
we started importing.''
Today, the husband-and-wife team shares Tea Connexions duties, with
26-year-old Suruchi working as the company's creative director. She is in
charge of Web and graphic design. There is another full-time designer on
staff.
Mr. Gupta says Tea Connexions is more than just tea. "We actually produce
Web sites for our distributors. We host their Web sites for them. We produce
marketing tools that help our distributors sell more tea.''
Tea Connexions specializes in high-end teas. Its main product is
darjeeling, known as the Champagne of teas. It has a product line of 209
items, including USDA-certified organic teas from China. The primary market is
the United States.
"Now we're setting up Tea Connexions Australia through a strategic alliance
there, so the same model we've developed for the U.S. and Canada is going to
be started in Australia. These products will get exported into Australia as
well.
"We're a value-added supplier of gourmet teas, beautifully packaged, that
markets our products exclusively through a membership-based buying group who
are able to purchase their product at below wholesale prices.''
(Saskatoon StarPhoenix)
Illustration:
• Color Photo: Gord Waldner,
CanWest News Service / Suruchi and Sanjay Gupta operate Tea Connexions, based
in Saskatoon.
Idnumber: 200410180087
Edition: National
Story Type: Business
Length: 497 words
Keywords: BEVERAGES
Illustration Type: CP
