Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabreen Akram.
Hi Sabreen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
S & K Tea & Coffee was launched on September 2nd, 2020. The leadership and management skills I developed from my military career propelled me into a desire to become a business owner. I had the desire but no real plan on how it would happen. The pandemic caused me to be forced to work from home. This gave me the time I needed to gain more knowledge and come up with a plan on how to execute my business.
I did a lot of research and also had mentors to assist. During these stressful times, I knew how important it was to be a blessing to others and provide a product that brings joy, relaxation, and other health benefits. Whole leaf tea is organic, has more nutritional benefits than commercial bag tea, is rarely sold, and is hard to find in local grocery stores. Fresh, locally roasted coffee is also hard to find in local grocery stores.
I have always loved authentic Tea and Coffee that I can make from home, so I turned my love for this into something I can share with the world. It is a wonderful experience making gourmet tea and coffee from home. It is a time when you can slow down and enjoy each sip or drink on the go. My daughter was right alongside me throughout the business planning process. Her motivation and curiosity propelled her to be a pivotal part of the business.
As a result, S & K was born to represent my name Sabreen and my daughter Kamirah. During our time in business, we have accomplished several milestones and continue to expand. I and my daughter started out creating all the labeling and completed all the packaging. This became very time-consuming so I now have employers to assist with labeling and packaging to meet the higher demand for our products.
Currently we have been consisted with showing our journey on social media and going to local farmers markets to display our products. Our customers are very pleased with the products we offer. They are our biggest motivators and the reason we continue to thrive.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the most part it has been smooth, but we have had some struggles along the way. We source from different tea farms and coffee suppliers all over and getting quality organic tea and coffee is not always easy. I’ve had to build good relationships with farmers to ensure the quality and timeliness of my products, but sometimes there are issues with the product or the shipping.
Another ongoing struggle is leveraging social media to market and advertise products. Learning how to create content that resonates with our target customers can be a hit or miss. Content creation can be enjoyable but it is hard work and we are still learning the best way to navigate Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok. We are constantly working to improve our social media platforms. Another obstacle is hiring help and ensuring the work is done efficiently. We have fell victim to scams in order to try to improve the business. We have also had difficulty hiring people that are as passionate as we are.
Lastly, owning a business is continuous and sometimes hard to maintain alone. You are continuously serving others and providing good customer service. Being an entreprenuer comes with learning how to always be ok with serving constantly, even when you have personal obstacles. We have to practice time management and self-care routines to keep our energy up so we can provide great care and service.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about S & K Tea & Coffee?
S & K Tea & Coffee offers a variety of whole-leaf tea and locally roasted coffee. We offer green teas, black teas, white tea, oolong, chai, and herbal teas. Each of our Tea offers health and wellness benefits. These organic teas are rarely found locally and we are the only Business that sells a large variety of Whole leaf Tea at Soda City Farmers Market and other local markets.
We offer whole bean and ground coffee that includes a variety of flavors ranging from light to dark roast. The coffee beans are locally roasted in Blythewood SC. Buying locally roasted coffee not only guarantees freshness, flavor, and aroma but you’re also supporting the local community and farmers who produce the coffee.
We are known for being a black, female owned Tea & Coffee brand who provides high quality products. Our reusable packaging also is loved by our community. Our tea is packaged in glass containers that can be repurposed or brought back to us for a discount towards your next purchase.
I am most proud of the excellent feedback we receive and the continued customers that we have. We are constantly getting good in-person feedback and good reviews on our online platforms. We have built an amazing community of supporters that tell others how much joy our products bring them. It is so fulfilling to know that we are contributing to others’ health and well-being. Spreading peace, relaxation, and a healthy lifestyle is our main goal.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be Authentic! Starting a business can cause you to lose your true essence because it is so easy to get caught up in what others are doing and other peoples perceptions. It is important to have a true vision for yourself and the people you are serving and stick with that. Avoid overcomplicating things and just have fun and create joy. You will continue to have pivotal moments that will show you what direction to move toward. Always be respectful and graceful but avoid trying to please everyone. Focus on building a brand that resonates with you and the specific group you would like to serve. Network and collaborate with local business groups, attend events and support others who inspire you! Once you have tried it on your own and had success, start looking into expanding and asking for help. Continue to educate yourself and apply the knowledge!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sandkteaandcoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.k.tea.coffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandkteaandcoffee/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@s.k.tea.coffee
