Meet Christa Franks | Business Owner, Clinical Herbalist, Plant nerd, Tea Lover

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christa Franks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting a small business is always a risk. When I moved to Trinidad, I was still working remotely from COVID-19 and was desperately looking for a community and a home. I attended the local Farmers Market in the summer of 2021 in search of that community. There was the need for cold drinks and local options. We were a booth at said Farmers Market a few weeks later with locally grown teas, cold brew coffee, and freshly made lemonade. Those early Saturday mornings taught me a lot about Trinidad, its residents, some of the needs for fresh food and beverage options, and the connection to providing a service. The thought process of starting Trinidad Tea Co. was always rooted in the community. Growing from a seasonal market booth to a full-time retail location was to continue to conversation of how to bring the freshest tea experience to Trinidad. We always offered our organic, loose-leaf teas and organic hand-blended spices as an option to buy, but the practical application was lost when I only saw customers 1 morning a week.

Our entire model has been built from a thought process and standpoint that we could offer an exceptional product, an exceptional experience, and an exceptional location while still meeting our customers where they were.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Trinidad Tea Co is a tea, spice, and herbal oddity shop located in the quaint, adorable downtown of Trinidad, Colorado. We are working to create a great experience for every customer, whether that is in-store, or even our Tea of the Month Club.  As a clinical herbalist, I am proud to offer herbal products that do not contain dyes or fragrances, herbal hydrosols, and skin-loving salves and bath products.

What sets us apart is that all of our products are proprietary blends, organic and made in-house, and even some of the herbs are grown locally. All of the packaging is compostable or recyclable. We offer afternoon tea events, herbal classes, fresh baked goods, catering, and the loveliest setting for a cup of tea and scone. We are located in the historic Fox West Theatre, which is under renovation currently.  We share cups of tea with old friends, new friends, visitors, and regulars alike while telling good stories, sharing good memories, and building a community. The vision of who we want to be has been easy, but finding the common ground where tea meets people and how that works in a small town that is economically challenged means we have learned to approach business from a community standpoint and not always a money standpoint. Understanding why our products matter to people, and why those products deserve a space in the overwhelming busyness of life makes our focus always one of consideration.

Our brand and our story have a common vein: something as simple as a cup of tea can make a huge impact. Sharing a cup and sharing a moment, is the simple yet important step in being of service.

We have learned to be flexible when downtown commerce can be inconsistent. We’ve learned to listen to not only what customers say, but sometimes what they don’t. We strive to be accessible and approachable while creating something truly unique to Trinidad.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If anyone comes to visit, I would proudly show off Trinidad! From our historic downtown with its incredible architecture, our outdoor recreation and our 2 state parks, to some delicious food options, there is no shortage of gems to experience. It could be our mild summers that call you to wade in the cool river, fish, or picnic or it’s winter and the fluffy snow facilitates fuzzy sweaters and yummy hot drinks.  Above all these, I would undoubtedly make sure anyone who came to town had time to visit with Trinidadians. Our community and our connection are the essence of why a lot of folks choose Trinidad or choose to stay in Trinidad. A walk by the lake, a laugh with new friends over an exceptional meal or cocktail, and a great band that stopped through at a local bar is sometimes just the thing to refresh a best friend or a visitor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

The list of people who encourage me in this endeavor is long. The books I read, the conferences I attend, the mentor groups, and the conversations with other small business owners are all resources I lean on to remind myself I’m not alone when doubt creeps in. It is, however, 1 person’s voice that comes to mind when I think about why we are here and doing what we do.
That voice is my sweet grandmother who taught me to serve people is to love people.

She was an entrepreneur most of her life. She owned a dress shop in a tiny Texas town, downtown like I am now, and I can remember racks of sparkly clothes (this is Texas in the 80s, so it makes sense). She had prom dresses and women’s business suits and big jewelry in glass cases. I remember that she would close her shop to the public and open up a few nights a month to allow private time for local drag performers to come and shop in the everyday personas. I remember these large, loud men shopping for women’s clothes and not realizing until later how important that moment was. My grandmother went on to own a restaurant and those same patrons would come and eat years later, remembering how she accepted them just as they were.
She taught me about beautiful tables and the simple act of making a difference in 1 person’s life. She is gone now, but I see her in so many details that mean so much to me.

Website: trinidadteaco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trinidadteaco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trinidadteaco