for a good cause: need help marketing organic tea from srilanka

[Guest guest]

Hi everybody,

 

I got in touch with somebody in Srilanka. They are making organic tea

and want to market it in US. Since they are doing this for a very good

cause (explained further down), I want to help them out. I am not sure

how to go about marketing it. Let me start by introducing them in their

own words:

 

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My husband and I live in a small town in the mountains of Sri Lanka,

running a free school for young adults. We've been here for 4 years

now. We're originally from Canada. We train the local youth in the

technical skills needed to get a good job, but also give them critical

thinking skills and train them in interpersonal relationships and

personal development, trying to instill in them a desire to serve their

local communities and make a difference. Learning to live together and

solve problems in a peaceful manner are also major goals for us - a

needed thing in this war-torn country!

 

We have been working on getting the permits needed to start an export

business here in Sri Lanka called Beacon Hill Ventures

(www.beaconhillventures.org - nothing there yet, but there will be

soon). This business is run by the staff of the school. Its goal is to

sell tea, spices, and local handicrafts, and all the proceeds will go

back to help support the school. We hope to be able to gain a measure

of self-sufficiency for the school through this. We are just getting

ready to manufacture fairtrade organic tea (in teabags) for export. We

have also produced a Sri Lankan cookbook, (with the spices to go along

with it) and have made several tea-related items (such as tea cozies

made out of sari material and tea scoops made out of coconut shell).

**********************************************************************

 

I do believe there is good demand for organic products in California. I

did see organic tea in Trader Joe's as well. Do you know how to approach

them about this product? Since this is for a good cause, I am sure it

will prompt many people to easily switch over to this brand (provided

comparable prices and quality). Are there other stores that also keep

organic tea? How about Starbucks? I do not have the pricing yet so we

cannot start the marketing just yet but I want to do the groundwork.

 

Thanks for your ideas and help

Vinay