Market Hive

“Every empire begins with a single bold decision.”

That’s exactly what happened in 2017 when two lifelong friends, Leah Tran and Maya Bellamy, turned their weekend passion for handcrafting teas into what would become a multi-million-dollar global brand: Bloom & Blend.

This is more than a business story. It’s a journey of grit, reinvention, branding brilliance, and the kind of underdog triumph that inspires entrepreneurs around the world.

In a world overflowing with mass-produced wellness products, Bloom & Blend stood out—not just for their quality, but for their mission-driven branding and unstoppable hustle.

Ready to dive into a real story that could change your perspective on what’s possible? Let’s explore how two women went from selling mason jars of loose-leaf tea at a local market to shipping premium blends to over 60 countries.

Brewing the First Idea

Leah, a certified herbalist, and Maya, a digital marketer, were both frustrated by the artificial additives and synthetic flavors dominating the tea market. On weekends, they’d experiment with organic herbs in Leah’s kitchen—blending chamomile with rose petals, mint with ginger root—creating flavorful teas that prioritized health and transparency.

“We never thought about building a company. We just wanted to fix a problem we both had—finding clean, honest, energizing teas.”

After gifting blends to friends and getting overwhelmingly positive feedback, they decided to test the idea at a local artisan market in Boulder, Colorado.

They called themselves Bloom & Blend—a name that reflected both natural growth and the blending of flavor and friendship.

That first Saturday, they sold out by 2 PM.

The MVP That Sparked a Movement

Encouraged by their market success, Leah and Maya launched a basic Shopify store, invested $500 in packaging materials, and hand-labeled each pouch from Leah’s garage.

They weren’t marketers, but Maya understood the power of community and story. She started an Instagram account, not to sell, but to educate. Posts included:

• “Benefits of Ashwagandha in Tea”
• “Why We Don’t Use Natural Flavors (Hint: They’re Not Natural)”
• “A Peek Into Our Morning Brewing Ritual”

Followers grew from 100 to 10,000 in three months.

Meanwhile, orders started pouring in—not just from Boulder, but from Los Angeles, New York, and London.

Branding That Resonated

Bloom & Blend wasn’t just a product—it was a vibe. Earthy tones, minimalist packaging, and heartfelt messaging about self-care, sustainability, and intentional living struck a chord with millennials and Gen Z consumers.

Each tea had a name and story, like:

• “Moon Milk” – a calming bedtime blend of lavender and chamomile.
• “Focus Fuel” – a morning energizer with yerba mate and ginseng.
• “Hormoni” – a hormone-balancing herbal infusion for women.

Customers weren’t just buying tea—they were buying into a ritual, a feeling, a lifestyle.

Scaling with Purpose

By the end of Year 1, Bloom & Blend had:

• Hit $180,000 in revenue
• Grown to 30,000 Instagram followers
• Received press in Well+Good, Goop, and MindBodyGreen

But scaling was tricky. Every order was still packed by hand, and they struggled to keep up with demand.

Their breakthrough came when they partnered with a local co-packer who shared their commitment to organic sourcing. This allowed them to:

• Increase production capacity tenfold
• Focus on brand-building and marketing
• Launch new SKUs monthly without overwhelming their internal team

They also introduced subscriptions, making 30% of their monthly revenue predictable and recurring.

The Smart Moves That Supercharged Growth

Let’s pause here and look at what they did right, because these strategies can apply to almost any entrepreneur:

1. Education as Marketing

They didn’t pitch. They taught. By explaining why adaptogens mattered or how teas affected cortisol levels, they positioned themselves as trusted experts, not sellers.

2. Community Over Conversion

They encouraged user-generated content. Customers would post their morning tea routines with hashtags like #MyBloomMoment. These became organic testimonials, creating a ripple effect of brand exposure.

3. Micro-Influencer Collaborations

Instead of spending big on celebrity endorsements, they collaborated with wellness influencers with 5k–50k followers. Their engagement was higher, and their followers were niche-specific.

4. Email Flows That Felt Human

From welcome series to abandoned cart emails, their copy felt like it came from a friend, not a robot.

One example:

“Hey tea-lover 🍵,
We noticed you left some calm in your cart. Life gets busy—we get it. Here’s a little nudge to bring your brew home.”

It converted at 15%, double the industry average.

Going Global—One Cup at a Time

In 2020, the pandemic struck. For many brands, this was a death knell. But for Bloom & Blend, it was a moment of massive growth.

People stuck at home sought comfort, calm, and health—and herbal tea fit the bill perfectly.

They doubled down on content:

• Hosted free Zoom tea ceremonies.
• Created downloadable tea recipe guides.
• Interviewed wellness coaches on IG Live.

Orders tripled.

By mid-2021, they expanded their shipping to over 60 countries and opened a small office in the UK to serve the growing European demand.

The Numbers Behind the Success

Here’s what Bloom & Blend looked like by the end of 2022:

Metric	2018	2022
Revenue	$180K	$7.5M
Products	8	32
Instagram followers	10K	290K
Email list	1,000	200,000+
Team size	2	18
Repeat purchase rate	20%	56%
Wholesale partners	0	400+ (including Whole Foods & Erewhon)

Their tea wasn’t just in kitchens—it was on the shelves of wellness boutiques and high-end grocery chains nationwide.

What the Founders Say Now

In a recent interview, Leah shared:

“We never set out to build a brand empire. We just wanted to make tea people could trust. I think that sincerity came through—and that’s what people connected with.”

Maya added:

“The moment we stopped trying to sell and started trying to serve, everything changed.”

Key Lessons from Bloom & Blend’s Journey

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, here are the golden takeaways:

1. Start Small, But Start Now

Perfection kills progress. Leah and Maya started with mason jars and handwritten labels. The key was momentum.

2. Brand With Heart

People don’t fall in love with products. They fall in love with stories, missions, and feelings. Give them something to believe in.

3. Build an Audience Before You Need It

Instagram and email were their lifelines. Start nurturing an audience even if you haven’t launched yet.

4. Customer Experience = Marketing

Fast shipping, delightful packaging, and thoughtful follow-ups turned one-time buyers into loyal fans and promoters.

5. Stay Nimble

Whether it was switching manufacturers or pivoting during the pandemic, they stayed agile and responsive.

You Could Be Next

Bloom & Blend’s story isn’t just one of success—it’s one of accessibility.

They didn’t have VC funding. They didn’t hire a PR firm. They didn’t have a celebrity founder.

What they did have was:

• A clear mission
• A deep understanding of their audience
• A commitment to authenticity and value

You might not sell tea. Maybe it’s soap, software, ceramics, or coaching. But the principles remain the same:

Solve a real problem. Serve a real community. And build with real love.

Because your garage today? It might just be your global HQ tomorrow.

Ready to Build Your Own Success Story?

If Bloom & Blend’s journey sparked something inside you, don’t let it fizzle.

Here’s a quick-start guide to writing your own chapter:

Step 1: Define Your Why

What problem do you solve? Why does it matter? Why you?

Step 2: Talk to Your People

Your first 100 fans are the foundation. Engage, ask, learn.

Step 3: Build in Public

Document your process. Share wins, losses, and lessons. It builds trust and anticipation.

Step 4: Don’t Quit Early

Most great businesses look like failures in their first 6 months. Keep going. Improve. Adjust. Persist.