Steep Insights
Before you launch a tea product, write a one-page brief
Plan your first tea product with a one-page brief covering buyer, flavor, format, cost, supplier requirements, and a clear sample approval process.
Read the articleThe tea business blog
Make your next tea business decision with a clearer plan.
Practical founder guides from Steep Insights, alongside Don and Billy’s work at BDH Consultants, STiR, World Tea News and Substack.
Build your tea business
Checklists, examples and practical steps to take into your next founder conversation.
From BDH Consultants
Explore the original frameworks. New BDH blog articles also appear here as they are published.
BDH Consultants
Product Development Brief Standard
Define the concept, flavor, base, price target and requirements before a supplier starts development.
Read at BDH ConsultantsBDH Consultants
Choosing a Co-Packer: Capability and Fit
Assess production capability, specifications, minimum orders, commercial terms and supply continuity.
Read at BDH ConsultantsBDH Consultants
The Daily Operations SOP Framework
Build procedures for opening, closing, handovers, maintenance and product quality, with a practical revision process.
Read at BDH ConsultantsBDH Consultants
Know Your Numbers: A Retail KPI Framework
Review sales, margins, labor and customer behavior through a consistent operating review.
Read at BDH ConsultantsDon and Billy’s published perspectives
These articles were written by Billy Dietz and published by STiR and World Tea News. The short reading notes below link to the original publishers; the dates are the original publication dates.
STiR Coffee and Tea Magazine
Twinings Bets on the Moment Before the Moment
Billy reviews Twinings’ new brand platform and the shift toward positioning tea as an intentional choice before everyday activities.
Read at STiR Coffee and Tea MagazineSTiR Coffee and Tea Magazine
Iced Tea Finally Breaks the Sugar Spell
An analysis of ready-to-drink tea brands using lower-sugar positioning, ingredient quality, and new formats to reach customers.
Read at STiR Coffee and Tea MagazineSTiR Coffee and Tea Magazine
Gen Z: Reprogramming Tea Consumption
Billy explores how younger consumers approach tea through functional benefits, distinctive flavors, experiences, and expectations about sourcing.
Read at STiR Coffee and Tea MagazineSTiR Coffee and Tea Magazine
The Sommelier’s New Standard: Sparkling Tea in the No-Low Market
An examination of sparkling tea’s place in alcohol-free hospitality, including premium positioning, distribution, and changing customer expectations.
Read at STiR Coffee and Tea MagazineSTiR Coffee and Tea Magazine
Functional Beverages and Wellness Teas: Reshaping the US Market
Billy examines demand for functional teas and the product, sourcing, and positioning decisions facing brands in the wellness category.
Read at STiR Coffee and Tea MagazineWorld Tea News
The Anatomy of a Tea Blend
A breakdown of the jobs ingredients perform in a finished tea blend, from flavor and appearance to the brewing experience.
Read at World Tea NewsSTiR Coffee and Tea Magazine
Rediscovering Yaupon: America’s Tariff-Free Caffeine Source
A look at yaupon’s commercial prospects, domestic sourcing, emerging suppliers, and new product formats. Tariff discussion reflects the publication date.
Read at STiR Coffee and Tea MagazineWorld Tea News
Are You Taking Advantage of Tea's Unique Selling Point: Versatility?
An exploration of tea’s range of ingredients, formats, and preparation styles, and what that means for brand messaging.
Read at World Tea NewsSTiR Coffee and Tea Magazine
Navigating Growth and Innovation in the Modern Tea Market
Billy considers market crowding, differentiation, and opportunities for tea brands through product innovation, distinctive positioning, and customer experience.
Read at STiR Coffee and Tea MagazineWorld Tea News
Blending Innovation: Unveiling the Potential of Flavored Blends in the Modern Tea Industry
Billy examines how blended and flavored teas can broaden a brand’s range and challenge assumptions about the category.
Read at World Tea NewsWorld Tea News
Creating A Custom Tea Blend: A Step-by-Step Guide to Working With a Supplier
A practical guide to setting a blend brief, discussing costs and minimum orders, refining samples, and preparing for production.
Read at World Tea NewsWorld Tea News
How to Reinvent Tea
Billy explores ways tea brands can introduce unfamiliar flavors, adapt wider food trends, and create timely product launches.
Read at World Tea NewsContinue reading on Substack
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Steep Insights Substack
Starting a Tea Business in 2026: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
Consider the early decisions behind starting a tea business.
Read at Steep Insights SubstackSteep Insights Substack
The Messy Truth About Wellness and Functional Tea Claims
Explore questions behind wellness positioning and functional tea claims.
Read at Steep Insights SubstackSteep Insights Substack
The Uncomfortable Truth About Fairtrade Tea
Read a tea-industry perspective on Fairtrade and sourcing.
Read at Steep Insights SubstackTalk through the decision with other founders.
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