Today we’d like to introduce you to Katy Kopstad.
Hi Katy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story started forty years ago when my parents started a coffee and tea distribution company in Chicago. Twenty years later, I was born, and growing up in their business I say, was destined to live life as the ultimate caffeine queen! I graduated from University of South Florida with a degree in Business Management and Accounting. After college, I successfully took over my parents’ distribution company and found my true passion was in making products of my own. One day while walking a grocery store asked myself, “Where are all the coffee and tea companies for women?!” I wanted to create a brand and company for fun, bright women just like me on a mission to build community and spread love in the world together. That’s when DRINK KATY’S® was born. One year in business in my city of TAMPA! I have established my products on Amazon nationwide, acquired over 200 wholesale accounts, and am about to launch my own website and e-commerce platforms. Every day has been more fun than the last and I have loved getting to see my vision come to life!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Maybe it’s because I am FOREVER an optimist! But cannot think of a single struggle along the way that made me want to quit. Of course, there have been bad days but having the support system of entrepreneurial parents and friends who believe in me has helped immensely. The biggest struggle I currently have, as any small business owner, is the feeling of having to do it all. Sales, marketing, inventory, accounting, customer service, creative, social media, cash flow management, etc. (all while) figuring out how to continually scale! Slowly but surely, I have been hiring the most amazing team (The Brew Crew!) to take some of these burdens off me and it’s been amazing seeing the business grow more every time I am able to focus my energies towards the future.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
DRINK KATY’S® is a love-spread coffee + tea company based in Tampa Bay, Florida. Founded by Katy Kopstad, on a mission to inspire daily positivity and make our drinkers their brightest! Unlike grocery store coffee and tea brands, all our products are handcrafted, small-batch with the finest ingredients from all over the world. 0 Calories, 0 Carbs, 0 Sugar. We want to make the ‘daily grind’ a little more fun and position ourselves as the first coffee and tea business for bright, fun women everywhere! Our products are available on Amazon.com, found at your favorite restaurants, boutiques, and cafes all around town, and soon wholesale nationwide. July 2021 is the official launch of our Shopify Store (www.drinkkatys.com) where you will be able to see where you can find KATY’S, as well as offers adorable merch, brew equipment, and additional products. As a brand, we are most proud of our company motto LOVE IS BREWING® which encapsulates free 14k gold dipped love bracelets with purchase, giving back to charities, and inspiring a social community to love a little more every day with us!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
There will always be the convenience of the Starbucks and Dunkin Donut coffees and teas of the world but I truly believe people want to feel connected with the products they buy and after COVID-19 have loved shopping small. It’s my goal to build a community of coffee and tea lovers from all over doing good in the world together! It’s my hope that this, together with being handcrafted, quality, healthy products will draw consumers more to brands like my own more than corporate companies when making purchasing decisions.
Pricing:
- Loose Leaf Tea $12
- Tea Tumbler $24
- Coffees $14
- Love Bracelet $7
- Tea Infusers $5
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@drinkkatys.com
- Website: drinkkatys.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinkkatys/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkkatys
- Other: (Pinterest) https://www.pinterest.com/drinkkatys/ (TikTok) https://www.tiktok.com/@drinkkatys
