A travelling tea room business where global culture meets afternoon tea

A start-up success story: Tea & Grazing Ltd.

At the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Sussex, we meet start-ups on a daily basis with their unique ideas and stories and we are excited to support them on their business journeys.

One of these start-ups was Kim Jack-Riley with her business Tea & Grazing Ltd. We caught up with Kim and asked her to share her business story.

Can you introduce yourself?

I’m Kim Jack-Riley, a certified tea Sommelier and owner of Tea & Grazing, a Travelling Tea Room providing an eclectic experience to enjoying Tea.

Tell us a bit about your background?

I was born and raised in North London but began travelling abroad at an early age for family trips to the Caribbean. My Dad was from Trinidad & Tobago, where I quickly learned that to refuse refreshments from your host was an insult, so food and drinks were a big part of the visits. At home in London, we lived across the street from a Tea Shop and I used to help out after school in the café.

My interest in tea was diverted when I moved with my parents to New York and the coffee culture ruled. But travelling and that old London Tea Shop were already ingrained in my subconscious, and I established a career in the Travel & Hospitality industry with a master mission.

What gave you the idea to start this business?

While living in America, I always yearned to return to the UK and open a tea shop. My experience in hospitality and my knowledge as a tea sommelier provided a solid base, and although I didn’t want to leave the tourism industry, I knew that I wanted a change and more freedom to my workstyle. I wanted to be an entrepreneur and create a family business. 

I relocated my family to Brighton from the US in 2019 with the intention of opening a bricks and mortar tea shop. COVID struck and I was fortunate to get superior business advice from the GOV.UK, Business Hothouse and the EU Regional Development Fund. They helped me restructure my business plan to transform it into a mobile unit aligning with the outdoor dining mandates brought on by the lockdown. Hence Tea & Grazing was born.

The current business model focuses on Tea Tastings which are a unique experience using exotic loose-leaf teas, mini meditation, and bespoke curated music. In the warmer months we pop up at fairs and markets.

How and where did you learn so much about tea?

While living in the US, everyone used to assume I knew everything about tea because I am British. It was such an annoyance and I’m a solutions person, so eventually I researched how to become a tea sommelier and set forth on the coursework with the International Tea Master’s Association. Learning about tea can be a lifelong study, there are many levels and components but once I became certified, I gained a new confidence.

Why is it important for you to offer such unique tea experience to others?

My studies have shown me the importance of tea in health and wellbeing. Tea originates in most cultures as a medicine with a different tea for every ailment. Tea is a natural healer, and it is also an enjoyable social experience.

What is the best part about running Tea & Grazing and what have you most enjoyed?

I am a people person and there is no greater pleasure for me than to pour a lovely cup of tea in exquisite china and watch as the person enjoys the effects. When we are out at Markets it is so enjoyable to have the buzz of people and human interaction. For me, hospitality and serving people is the best part. I also enjoy working alongside my partner as we have been married for 30 years it’s nice to have a business where we can work together.

How did BIPC Sussex help you on your business journey?

I discovered the BIPC because our area wi-fi was going to be down for a full week, so I went to the library. It was like finding an oasis. I was amazed at the business resources available to me and I set out to participate in as much as I possibly could. There are so many aspects of being an entrepreneur that can be overwhelming and the BIPC became my ‘team’ supporting so many of the critical components that either I did not have full knowledge or simply didn’t have bandwidth to do myself. In addition to the staff, the experts and the workshops, the databases are priceless.

What does a typical day look like for you, running your business?

Our diary is centred around actual client bookings for which there are a lot of logistics such as product procurement. The other days are spent marketing, planning and posting social media, and mining for sales leads. There is also the future planning of bookings for tastings which involves interaction with a lot of different third parties. 

The last but not least component is research of tea because we curate the teas bespoke for each tasting. One integral aspect of our business is the music. My partner, Mark Riley, has a long career in the music and media industries and he curates a bespoke playlist for each tasting and even the Fairs. He spends a lot of time curating the music.

What advice would you give someone starting a new business, especially a female entrepreneur?

I believe that starting a business requires a lot of courage and regardless of what the nature of the business is, I would encourage taking the leap, believing in oneself and identifying a passion that can be turned into a business.

I would advise working with a resource centre like the BIPC where you can access expert guidance because it cannot be done alone. Trademarking and protection of your name and product is crucial. Someone I thought was a friend basically tried to replicate my entire idea, so especially for women, I would say don’t share too much information about your business until you are ready yourself to launch otherwise someone else could just steal your idea.

What is your proudest moment and biggest achievement in business so far?

I have two. My proudest moment was our first day with a gazebo branded ‘Tea & Grazing’ at a Fair at the Brighthelm Centre in Brighton. With my daughter, Viveca, her partner, Sam, and my partner, Mark we together launched our debut stall of Iced Teas and Sandwich boxes, and it fulfilled my dream of having a family business. My biggest achieving moment is that we recently partnered with Virgin Experience Days and bookings are coming via their portal. 

Where are you most likely to be found in Brighton in your free time?

I am a vintage addict – usually looking for teacups – so I walk Brighton’s North Laine where I live and never tire of browsing the vintage shops and stalls. After that, I try to take a daily walk to the Seafront where again, I can never tire of simply watching the waves and taking in seaside life.

What books have impacted you?

Because I’ve worked in tourism, I tend to be drawn to travel books, cookery books or other ‘how to’ guides. Infused by Henrietta Lovell is a wonderful journey in tea and for novels I’m a big fan of Brighton resident Dorothy Koomson. 

In life, The Red Tent Anita Diamant impacted me greatly because it is largely the tale of women banished to a tent during their monthly cycle where the men think they are twiddling their thumbs and meanwhile the women in the tent are actually overcoming all sorts of world issues and problems. I love the fact that what the men see as the women’s weakest time is actually their most empowered.

What are your future plans for the business?

I would like to create my own brand line of teas and I would also like to travel to more of the beautiful tea fields of the world for research and inspiration. 

www.teaandgrazing.co.uk

Would you like to be our next success story?

Get in touch with BIPC Sussex to book a free one-to-one session with one of our Information Specialist so we can help you develop your business idea or grow your existing small business.

Visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/bipc or email bipc@brighton-hove.gov.uk