PHILADELPHIA, Penn.
Overall, the launch of World Tea East was a success for a smaller regional conference, according to organizers.
The conference gathered more than 50 leading-edge tea manufacturers and suppliers and more than 800 highly-qualified tea buyers and decision makers, says George Jage, president of show organizers World Tea Media.
The event, which premiered in Philly, provided professionals with the opportunity to discover new products, optimize merchandise, gain product knowledge and hear insights on emerging trends, and network with peers in an intimate setting.
The event gathered tea professionals, food and beverage manufacturers and decision makers in related industries, including hoteliers, spa owners and restaurateurs, says Jage, founder of the Las Vegas-based company.
The objective of World Tea East was to support and fuel the expanding demand for specialty tea and related products in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeast United States. The event also provided solid tea education, and was designed to facilitate immediate or near-term business for the holiday season and first-quarter business, says Jage.
Verna L. Hamilton, president of Tea Philosophy LLC, says, "World Tea East combined two of my great loves: I'm a native Philadelphian and tea is my passion. For me, the show's size was ideal for having meaningful conversations, spotting industry trends and drinking all the tea one's cup can hold."
Tea author and expert Jane Pettigrew says, "World Tea East - as well as the annual World Tea Expo in Las Vegas - gives us tea people a very special platform, and it's all done with such charm, warmth and thoughtfulness. I am so honored to be a part of these leading industry events."
World Tea East featured numerous sessions, seminars, focused tea tastings and hands-on skill building workshops. Seminar topics covered the latest trends in the industry, answered current business challenges, provided real take-away solutions and debunked both tea and business myths.
Organizers marketed World Tea East primarily to states east of the Mississippi, since it was a dedicated regional show. However, five percent of the total expo attendance included international registrants from Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Israel, Jamaica, Romania, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. And based on a World Tea Media survey: 84 percent of attendees had buying authority; 78 percent came to find new products; 45 percent attended to place purchase orders; 23 percent had been in business three to five years; 18 percent had been in business six to 10 years; and 22 percent had been in business more than 10 years.