Candice Mason is the founder of Mother Cuppa, here she shares her entrepreneurial journey with us, and some helpful tips and insights.
Can you tell us a little about your background and the company?
I am Candice, founder of Mother Cuppa – and yes, it’s an intentional play on words! I’m a trained tea sommelier blending herbal teas to support women with hormones, health and wellbeing.
How did the idea come to you for the company?
20+ years ago I was diagnosed with endometriosis, I underwent a medically induced and reversed menopause. At this time, I had been on a lot of medication and when my treatment finished, I wanted to try and heal my body in a more natural way. I got introduced to medicinal plants which was fascinating to me and have been blending teas to help my body for all this time.
A few years ago, I was really struggling with my sleep. It was lockdown, everything in life was weird. My husband and I run a bus & coach company and it was really impacted by the pandemic. I’d been thinking I wanted to change my life after the lockdowns and do something different, I’d only supposed to join the coaches for a year and that was 10 years ago!
I was advised that I was in early menopause as a result of my earlier treatments and this was why my sleep was so bad. Honestly, I felt old before my time and thought if I don’t launch a business now, I may never do it! I was blending one of my tea’s one morning at 3am when I realised that this might just been the thing I could do! To share my tea with other ladies just like me.
How did you achieve awareness?
Its probably worth mentioning here that I didn’t even know what a reel was when I launched my business!
I launched my business on Tiktok, it was a huge success. I have grown my Instagram and other social platforms and a LOT of my day to day business comes from organic social media and email marketing.
I also attended some face to face events where I thought I might find likeminded ladies. When I attended Fearne Cotto’s Happy Place Festival this sky rocketed my business. I sold out on the first day!
How have you been able to gain funding and grow?
I took out a UK start up loan to begin with and get me launched. I have not tried for further funding as yet as it’s not been needed, the business is pretty self-sustaining.
What are the key successes?
I launched in Oct 2022. Launching and taking consistent sales that have grown every month has been a huge success for the business.
I have embraced social media and AI technology to grow the business.
Honestly though, my biggest personal success was kicking imposter syndrome to the curb! It’s take a lot of work but it’s been the reason my business has grown, I’ve stopped holding myself back.
Maybe it’s worth mentioning here that I also managed to keep the family bus and coach company thriving and became a spokes woman for the industry. I now advise the government on the industry and I’m a director for women in bus & coach.
What were/are the challenges and how have you overcome these?
As discussed above, it took me a while to work out that actually I was holding myself back from growing the business, I needed to stop feeling scared of everything.
Stock control has taken a bit of getting my head around. I wasn’t expecting to sell out at events and then nearly run out of stock. Forward planning is so key here. My financial spreadsheet has every possibility going so I can focus on the future.
What are your plans now/for the future?
Mother Cuppa has had a good first full year and I have learnt a lot, but now the plan is to scale this. I’m in discussions with retailers and aim to double the turn over this year to be able to add to the range. I have so many other blends I want to launch. In 2025 I’d like t take a full time salary from Mother Cuppa.
What would you like to share with others to encourage them to start their own entrepreneurship journey?
Push through the fear! I am so happy I launched Mother Cuppa and would love to inspire another lady to think they could do the same and launch the business they’ve been dreaming of.
Can you share your top tips for entrepreneurial success?
Plan, plan, plan. Business plan, financial plans. Do this every day of the week. Keep focused on those targets and really push for them. If your too busy doing the job your not growing and moving forward.
In action is action………
Who are the 5 people who inspire you the most and why?
- My Mum – she went back to work when I was 6 weeks old in a time when this was not the done thing. She taught me you can do and be anything you want.
- Simon Ellson – he’s a business coach that helped my family bus & coach company during the pandemic. He just knew how to bring out the best in me and to make me stand up to the things that were holding me back.
- Collete McBeth – I’ve never met this lady, I follow her on social media and she makes me thing I can do the whole social medic thing, she makes it feel that it’s achievable.
- Maureen Daly – Shes an old manager of mine. She taught me so so much about working with people, about being a good person and about self worth.
- Karen Brady – I LOVE that she has forged her way in an all-male world. This has been a real inspiration to me.
What are your favourite inspirational /motivational quotes?
If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got.
Weather you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.
What are your Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn social handles and also website links so our readers can connect with you?
Link to website: https://mothercuppatea.com/
Link to IG: www.instagram.com/mother_cuppatea
Link to Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@mother_cuppa
Link to FB: www.facebook.com/MotherCuppa
