Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Hartford
Darren, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a small town in Maine and went to the Air Force Academy for college. I had the opportuntity to become a pilot and I served in the Air Force for 28 years, getting to fly around the world and lead some incredible organizations and serve with America’s finest. It was a dream job. I used to joke that I never worked a day in my life while I was in the Air Force. Along the way I met my beautiful bride and we raised 2 wonderful kids. In 2017, we decided it was time to retire from the Air Force and I asked my wife–who had endured 18 different moves — where she wanted to live. Without a moment’s hesitation she let me know we would be moving to Charleston. We had been stationed there as one of my last duty stations so it was almost like coming home when we moved back.
I took a couple of months to try and figure out what I wanted to do and decided I wanted to own a small business. A friend introduced me to a business broker and he was representing Oliver Pluff & Company, which was for sale. I was an avide coffee drinker and had consumed a lot of good and some not so good coffee around the world, I new very little about tea. But, I liked the quality and story of the products, the packaging and the potential of the company.
I have spent the last seven years helping to tell the story of early American Beverages. The Teas, Toddies and Coffee that the founders of this country enjoyed. I say the company answers these questions; what tea was thrown in the harbor during the Boston Tea Party and what did they drink after? We package our products in artisan style tins that tell the story of the product. We sell it direct to the consumer via our online store (www.oliverpluff.com), as well as to fine gourmet retailers and to national parks and historic sites around the country.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In small business, there is the opportunity to learn or re-learn lessons every day. There are days where things just come together and things click. There are also days where toilets don’t work, we discover a supplier no longer carries a main product, people call out sick or machines don’t work as well as they did the day before. You have to be willing to adapt and always find a way. If you keep your eyes on where you want to go, it becomes easier to adapt to small bumps and still improve. During Covid most national parks and historic sites were closed for extended periods of time. We had to find new opportunities as well as invest in our Direct to Consumer business. We ended up having a banner year that year because the team was able to adapt to the bumps in the road.
We’ve been impressed with Oliver Pluff & Company, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I truly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with various state and national parks, historic places, and registered landmarks across the country. It’s remarkable that there are more registered landmarks in the country than McDonald’s and Starbucks locations combined!
For those sites that have gift shops, Oliver Pluff helps them connect with visitors and share their stories through our custom labels. Our custom label option has a relatively low opening order. Using images that are important to the site and incorporating the story they want to tell, we provide a unique gift item: a custom-labeled tin of coffee or tea. This creates a memorable experience for their customers. The package serves as a reminder of their visit to the site and the story associated with it. Through the sale of gift shop items, including Oliver Pluff Teas and Coffees, we help raise awareness and funds for their important missions.
Some of the sites we partner with include The Biltmore, Mount Vernon, Monticello, Yosemite National Park, The Grand Canyon North Rim, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museums. Closer to home, our partners include Fort Sumter, Historic Brattonsville, Drayton Hall, Middleton Place, Magnolia Gardens, Boone Hall Plantation and Brook Green Gardens.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Running a business can be isolating, despite being surrounded by team members, the business owner ultimately bears the responsibility for final decisions. You do need to find people to connect, commiserate and share counsel with.
I highly recommend connecting with SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors. SCORE mentors provide free, area-specific advice and can help with planning, launching, managing, and growing a small business. They also offer classes on various aspects of business ownership.
Other organizations that offer mentorship and advice include Low Country Local First, SC Specialty Food Association, Rotary Club, and One Million Cups. Business owners often connect within these groups to share experiences and knowledge.
Pricing:
- Most of our products cost between $15 and $20. Larger quantities of tea can cost more
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oliverpluff.com
- Instagram: @oliverpluff https://www.instagram.com/oliverpluff/
- Facebook: oliver pluff https://www.facebook.com/oliverpluff/
