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7 January 2025

Katherine Swift

OMG it’s matcha tea with Katherine Swift

Katherine SwiftFounder at OMGTea
00:00 / 01:04
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Overview:

In our conversation, Katherine:

  • Explains what matcha is all about; its history, its health benefits and the production process.

  • Talks through her brand name and the Japanese origin of the word ‘matcha’.

  • Details OMGTea’s business to business and business to consumer routes to market.

  • Elaborates on the product range of teas and accessories.

  • Discusses the personnel involved in running the business, and resources they outsource.

  • Focuses on the impact of exchange rates between the Yen and the Pound, import duties and Brexit.

  • Expands on OMGTea’s origin story.

  • Stresses that doing something she believes in means more than financial gain.

  • Explores the process of acquiring funds in the early days, and how she handled one product’s failure.

  • Outlines her goals for OMGTea over the next three to five years.

  • Compares her brand to key competitors, and her experience on Dragon’s Den.

  • Shares key learnings from her time in business.

Katherine Swift

Founder at OMGTea

Highlights:

1:18 – Our show’s sponsor, Magus Wealth

2:05 – OMGTea’s speciality, matcha green tea

5:20 – The story behind the name

6:50 – Supply chain details

9:10 – Range of teas and accessories available

10:40 – Internal team members and outsourced resources

12:38 – Impact of exchange rates and import duty on the business

15:06 – The effects of Brexit upon the business

16:20 – How OMGTea came to be

21:15 – Health benefits of matcha

23:35 – What success means to Katherine

25:45 – Funding the start up

30:40 – The ready-to-drink market and other opportunities in this sector

33:33 – Goals for the next three to five years

35:00 – Appearing on Dragon’s Den

38:42 – Competitor comparison

41:18 – Supplier/investor relationship

48:28 – In harmony with Japanese business practices

50:53 – Sharing learnings

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