greenteaHAWAII, headquartered in Oahu, Hawaii, began in 2010 as a single functional green tea beverage company. Chris Boling, the current owner and President, bought the business in July 2013, transitioning from being a distributor to leading the company. With a background in the medical field, starting as an Air Evacuation Medic in the U.S. Air Force and later as an Occupational Therapist, Boling’s career shift to entrepreneurship was both accidental and transformative.
The Accidental Beginning
Boling’s journey with greenteaHAWAII began unintentionally. He was an Occupational Therapist when he tried a friend’s green tea product. Within two months, he lost 18 pounds, lowered his cholesterol by 25 points, and reduced his blood pressure by 15 points. Impressed by the results, he started distributing the tea to friends. When his friend offered him the chance to buy the brand, he seized the opportunity. By January 2011, Boling left his Occupational Therapy career to focus entirely on the business.
What Makes greenteaHAWAII Unique
greenteaHAWAII’s products are a testament to quality and innovation. The single-serve packets make it easy to pour the tea into water, fostering healthy habits effortlessly. Each packet is rich in antioxidants (EGCG), L-Theanine, and noni fruit, offering numerous health benefits. The tea contains non-GMO plant based ingredients only, no artificial additives, only ten calories, and less than two net carbs. Customers enjoy it as an alternative to coffee, sodas and energy drinks
Overcoming Challenges and Strategies for Success
When Boling took over the company, he faced several challenges, such as managing inventory costs, marketing funds, and ensuring operational efficiency. To overcome these issues, he borrowed short-term funds from friends and maintained meticulous financial oversight. Boling emphasizes treating the business like a baby—monitoring all aspects carefully. He keeps a close eye on the profit and loss statements monthly and ensures funds are allocated for inventory, ads, and other expenses.
Advice for Aspiring E-Commerce Entrepreneurs
Boling emphasizes validating your product before investing in ads. “Test your product with friends, local markets, and events like Food and New Product shows to build buzz and collect customer feedback,” he advises. These events provide opportunities to demo your product, make sales, and gather customer data for effective remarketing. “Never run ads without testing your product offline and building a community first,” Boling concludes, underscoring the importance of groundwork before scaling online.
Start with a small ad budget to test the market and refine campaigns. “Even the best ads won’t work without an optimized, user-friendly website,” he cautions, highlighting the importance of seamless navigation and mobile compatibility. Tools like Triple Whale can provide real-time insights to enhance performance and decision-making.
Boling stresses the value of the right team to manage ads, analyze data, and improve strategies. Collaborating with platforms like Facebook can help create targeted campaigns and maximize ROI.
For new entrepreneurs, he advises reinvesting profits, keeping overheads low, and operating lean. “Building online instead of traditional retail minimizes expenses and staffing needs,” he explains, sharing his approach of working with subcontractors aligned with his vision to scale globally.
Vision for the Future
In the next five years, Boling envisions greenteaHAWAII as an international brand. He aims to grow the website’s monthly revenue to $100,000 and build a robust customer database. His goal is to make greenteaHAWAII a global health staple by expanding reach and fostering deeper connections with customers.
Closing Note
Chris Boling’s journey from Occupational Therapy to leading a thriving health beverage company exemplifies the power of passion, persistence, and strategic planning. greenteaHAWAII is also looking to expand its reach by partnering with distributors worldwide. Distributors can start with an upfront cost of $15,000, which includes marketing materials, a website, and $20,000 worth of retail tea products.
Interested distributors can also benefit from Boling’s hands-on approach, including his willingness to attend events in person to ensure a successful launch. To learn more about becoming a distributor or exploring greenteaHAWAII’s products, visit their website at greenteaHAWAII.com