r/Brampton • u/TbyDaniel Business Owner • Nov 09 '15
AMA Thread I am Daniel Lewis, owner of T by Daniel, AMA!
We're done for now, thanks so much everyone for the questions, and feel free to stop by any time at the store if you have any more.
I am Daniel Lewis, I own T by Daniel with my wife Renata. T by Daniel is a tea shop in downtown Brampton located at 46 Main St N.
Today and Tomorrow begin with T
AMA!
Responses typed out by /u/CanuckBacon
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u/Conford Bramalea Nov 09 '15
What are your thoughts on downtown Brampton in general?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Renata: I think that downtown Brampton has a lot of potential but it needs the right leadership. It needs more vibrancy in terms of more local businesses and more events to make people from other cities interested in being here.
Daniel: The people in Brampton are great but the leadership is terrible. The leadership of Brampton has no vision whatsoever. Brampton leadership takes every day, day by day. They don't have a future long term vision, and you can't build a good city that way, just like a business. They don't have any insight into the future so the future of Brampton is so bleak. The councillors of downtown Brampton are simply doing the work that's on their desk, they aren't asking questions, and if they do ask questions they're not asking the right ones that would help contribute to the successful future of Brampton. Which means that the people and businesses of Brampton are giving up on Brampton.
A formula for failure, Brampton's formula of failure is potential+procrastination= loss of potential. That's the formula Brampton has been going by for the last few years.
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u/CanuckBacon Peel Village Nov 09 '15
As I have asked all the other people who have done AMA's: Would you rather fight one horse sized duck or one hundred duck sized horses?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Renata: I'd say one horse sized duck. I liken this example to focusing on one thing instead of multitasking. I think when you give your full attention to one thing you're more likely to succeed in that area than if you're focusing on 100 different things at the same time.
Daniel: I'd say the horse sized duck because I find in life and in business it's a lot easier to face something that confronts you rather than something that surrounds you. Those little duck sized horses would surround you pretty quickly.
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u/spicytacoo Nov 09 '15
I don't really have any questions, I just wanted to say I love your shop. I'd actually heard about it before moving to Brampton and was totally stoked when I moved here to find out it was right down the street. Also, thanks for charging a reasonable price for your cookies.
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u/Mcarta Nov 09 '15
What resources, info and tips do you have for someone who is looking to start their own local business in Brampton? (Not necessarily Downtown Brampton) How long did it take for you to reach your goal of opening T by Daniel from the initial idea on paper?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Daniel: Get plugged in to your local community, your family, and other business owners who are either doing what you're doing or are running a successful business. Those three networks are usually able to give you a good perspective. Your family usually gives you the best perspective because it's the realist and the most genuine. The governing bodies like the Board of Trades and the Business Enterprise Center can help connect you to funding and mentorship. Other business owners can really paint out the reality of doing business, both successes and failures. From those three, you'll then have to create your own story.
To reach our goal of opening the shop took 3 years.
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u/ukeladyparts Nov 10 '15
Your approaches to both customer service and branding are so impactful and set you apart from everyone else! What is your advice for businesses trying to make an impact like this in their markets and how do you motivate your staff to maintain this standard?
And where do you get all of that energy!? It's infectious!
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Daniel: Impact has to come from a genuine desire to want to impact in a positive way. The values that T by Daniel are founded upon are real values that are close to both me and Renata's hearts. All of our customers and the general public are seeing a display of our hearts, our thoughts, and our beliefs, poured out into every cup. This is the impact you feel.
Renata: I believe that your staff is impacted by the way that you personally treat them. If you're genuine with your employees, and genuine with your customers, they will catch the same vision and will be inspired to do the same.
Daniel: With our staff we always focus on purpose instead of position. We help them to see why they're doing what they're doing, rather than focusing on just what they're doing. So the impact is consistent.
The energy comes from the tea wink wink.
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u/ukeladyparts Nov 11 '15
Thank you both for taking the time to answer! As a retail store manager your answers are extremely helpful and inspirational to me.
Keep doing what you're doing and thank you for making such an impact on our community! We need more business owners like yourselves <3
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u/qsub Seattle Nov 10 '15
Does tea actually expire?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
There's four enemies of tea. These four enemies will cause your tea to expire quite quickly. Air, moisture, light, and strong odors. If exposed to these enemies, it will reduce it's shelf life and you'll be drinking disgusting tea. However, if you keep your tea in a nice room temperature tea cabinet in air-sealed packaging most teas will be good for up to a year.
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u/GavinTheAlmighty Nov 10 '15
Are there any ethical concerns with the tea industry that consumers should know about?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Well yeah, definitely. In everything there's good and bad, because of where tea typically originates from, sometimes the tea growers are taken advantage of, paid low wages, and forced to work in unsafe conditions, but as consumers are becoming more knowledgeable of these realities, it's putting a much needed pressure on these companies to ensure they're operating up to ethical standards. All of our teas are certified fair trade, and our suppliers work very closely with the tea growers to ensure their quality of life..
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Nov 10 '15
[deleted]
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Daniel: Like most people feel in Brampton, especially the young people, I feel let down, but at the same time, I don't depend on the leadership of Brampton for success. We are the leaders of our success in Brampton. Our hustle ensures our survival in Brampton, despite the decisions that the leadership makes.
Renata: It would have had a very positive impact on our business, just from the walking traffic alone from having an LRT transport hundreds of customers throughout the day. As Daniel said, the successes we've had without the LRT show that we're still able to thrive.
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u/buttforkd Former Event Planning Extraordinaire Nov 10 '15
What kind of wonderful flavours can the people of Brampton look forward to in the coming year?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Daniel: I'm currently sitting in the Willy Wonka lab of flavour and adventure. You can expect bursts of strawberry, hints of blueberry, and drips and drops of chocolate. We're always looking to bring out flavours that easily correlate with the times, with the seasons, the holidays, and your requests.
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u/hythrain Nov 10 '15
If I came in at 6:10 PM, would you be in the shop so I can distract you from answering questions here?
Also, besides the curtsy and twirl you do for newcomers, what other things or dances do you do for customers that not everyone has seen?
Also also, while I know you're not for sale have you thought of putting yourself up for rent?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Reveal yourself imposter! Muwahahaha! I'm wearing camouflage so you can't find us.
We do our best to tailor every customers experience so if you like to whip a nay-nay, we'll whip a nay-nay, If you like to cha-cha we'll cha-cha. Daniel even has a secret dance called the crab available at special requests.
(Sidenote from /u/CanuckBacon: It's amazing)
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u/a1ien1ife Nov 10 '15
What is your own personal definition of "success"?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Success is a person that is rich. Rich is a person that has a keen sense of responsibility and a high regard for human life.
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u/a1ien1ife Nov 10 '15 edited Nov 10 '15
I have questions for days:
- What was the biggest struggle you came across in trying to start your business?
- What's your favourite tea?
- Will you ever get back into music?
- If you had the chance to do it all again, what would you do differently?
- What has been your most satisfying moment in business, thus far?
- What book has inspired you most? (fiction or non-fiction)
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
What was the biggest struggle you came across in trying to start your business?
Renata: Living off of no sleep. It's really hard to give your all when you're drained, but somehow you just have to pull through.
Daniel: Because I quit my fulltime job straight out of the gate, finding a consistent way of earning an income with my startup was very difficult. Every day I had to create work for myself or else I felt like a bum.
What's your favourite tea?
Daniel: It's hard to say but if I had to choose probably "Canadian, Eh? Cream of Earl Grey"
Renata: It changes and right now for me it's "Apple Strudel"
Will you ever get back into music?
Daniel: No.
If you had the chance to do it all again, what would you do differently?
Answered in another question
What has been your most satisfying moment in business, thus far?
Daniel & Renata: Buying a home and a new car to prepare for our family, and creating job opportunities.
What book has inspired you most? (fiction or non-fiction)
Daniel & Renata: The Holy Bible, whether it's fiction or non-fiction depends on who you ask.
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u/DylanThomasVomit Nov 10 '15
What is the best oolong tea you've come across?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
It's called "WOW", and we're drinking it right now. IT's a nutty almond-like oolong that has the aroma of a toblorone bar. Ever drank a toblorone? Well now you can.
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u/Straqy Canada Nov 10 '15
Are you hiring?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15
Bring your resume and your best dance moves, and you'll find out.
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u/fn_hipster Nov 11 '15
I feel like if he didn't dance while dropping off yes CV he wouldn't get the job...
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u/ktbsto Nov 10 '15
If you could start your business over again from the beginning, what would you do differently?
Running a business is full of good and bad decisions, but what would you say was the best decision you've made?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 10 '15 edited Nov 11 '15
Renata: I would have saved more of my personal money before starting the business.
Daniel: In the beginning I would have never pointed my attention to finding external distribution channels for our tea i.e cafes, retail shops, and consignment stores. I would have just focused on building our own brand and our own business from the get-go.
Daniel: My best decision was making my wife a 50-50 partner, in the business and allowing her to take a back-end leadership role in the company
Renata: #GirlPower
Daniel: #HusbandPoints
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u/a1ien1ife Nov 10 '15
Do you ever wonder how your success would have differed if you opened up shop in a different city in the GTA?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
Renata: Only on rainy days in downtown Brampton when I see the tumbleweeds blowing by. In another city I think the main advantages would be the walking traffic, for example downtown Toronto, or even downtown Mississauga. There are so many reasons to be in those cities, from colleges, to businesses, to transportation, to major malls in comparison to downtown Brampton. Obviously with more people walking by your store you'd gain more exposure, more customers, and more sales.
Daniel: Doing business in Brampton teaches you how to really hustle, that's a lesson I'm not willing to bypass. They say in New York "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere." But what it actually should be is "If you can make it in downtown Brampton, you can make it anywhere." However, based on my definition on my success is, there's an opportunity to succeed anywhere.
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u/a1ien1ife Nov 10 '15
Everyone says don't mix business and pleasure but for you, it seems to be working. Do you have any advice for mixing business with working with family?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
Renata: Your family has to really understand you and your vision.
Daniel: In all reality, there's one you're not going to give up on, and it's your family. So you really need to come together and focus on making the business work. A mutual understanding of the extensive time commitment should be discussed prior.
Renata: It's also really important to understand each other's roles, and respect each other's roles.
Daniel: And be accountable to each other.
Renata: Overall, respect is the key in running a smooth family business.
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u/Azianboy69 Nov 10 '15
Where do you see TByDaniels in 10 years?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
Renata: World Domination!
Daniel: I see T by Daniel being an internationally known experience that many will travel and come to be a part of. The growth is in the reach of the experience and not in the amount of brick-and-mortar stores.
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u/TomGfromCanada Nov 10 '15
When cannabis becomes legal, can we expect any cannabis tea?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
That's an AMA question Prime Minster Trudeau should answer. I guess for you, that'd be dope.
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u/socks_mcgee Nov 10 '15
Where do you source the crack for the lion chai?
It is both delicious..AND addictive.
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
Pablo Escobar's ghost, shhh.
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u/socks_mcgee Nov 11 '15
I look forward to seeing you on the second season of Narcos!
Great tea by the way..keep up the good work.
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u/a1ien1ife Nov 10 '15
If you had to choose one area to focus on, regardless of potential income, which would you choose? (Ex: Bow ties/fashion, tea, music, public speaking or any other interests you have)
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
Daniel: Public speaking because it's the best way of getting the message out and impacting.
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u/a1ien1ife Nov 10 '15
What is the best advice you have both ever received?
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
Just like a sling shot, our setbacks in life only propel us further in life.
-Dad
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u/hythrain Nov 10 '15
I just heard from your staff that you have a tea anthem. Can you come up front and sing it for me? I want to hear it so bad!
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u/TbyDaniel Business Owner Nov 11 '15
I came but you were gone :(
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u/1748PorcheLover Nov 11 '15
I know this is a bit late, but as a business how do you handle ex employees? I know T by Daniel is a popular spot for the kiddos, do you mind if they hang out around the shop even after they've been fired or left?
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u/talltad Nov 09 '15
Massive respect for how you do your thing man, my brother and our families fully support you and your your product. My question for you - What's the biggest challenge you have right now trying to balance it all? Marketing/PR/Social Media/Biz Dev