Welcome to the Venture Asheville Founder Series where we profile local founders and their venture’s. In this post, we meet Ashley Haywood of Embrew Tea.
What is your name?
Ashley Haywood
What’s your value proposition?
I created the first lightly sweetened artisan tea bags to take the hassle out of brewing an amazing cup of tea in record time.
When did you start this company?
2/21/2017
Do you have any cofounders?
No
Who are your customers?
Tea enthusiasts, health-conscious people who want more me-time
Why did you start this business?
I needed to get my identity back after having two kids under two years old and the idea of a sweetened tea bag was pulling me to bring it into the world
What’s the next big thing for your business?
Raising a little seed money and going to buyer’s shows to grow more into grocery and boutique retail
What’s your favorite thing to do in Asheville?
Finding waterfall hikes and swimming holes with my husband and kids
What’s the best thing about building a business in Asheville?
The general happiness of the people living here and the entrepreneurial support system.
How has Venture Asheville helped you?
I’ve connected with more small business owners than ever before, giving me new inspiration in my business. I have an incredible mentor team of experts who have been in my shoes on the entrepreneurial journey to help me course-correct, optimize how I spend my time, and guide me through this phase of growth.
Share one fun fact about yourself
I used my addiction to snacking to learn how to play ukulele
How many ventures did you start before this one?
One non-profit that never came to fruition after reaching a substantial roadblock
What’s your favorite thing a customer has said about you or your company?
That my teas were “orgasmic”
What’s your favorite local-to-Asheville product or business?
Mother Earth Food – produce and artisan food delivery service
