When 29-year-old Brisbane tech entrepreneur Alexa Stathakis launched her new healthy drinks business, she had an important decision to make. Employ an expensive sales, marketing and admin team, or use AI and social media influencers to scale operations fast. She chose the latter, and the results have been staggering.
Within one week, Alexa’s virtual AI sales representative, nicknamed Sarah, called eight thousand schools across Australia, offering free sample packs of the company’s products. By the end of the week, more than one thousand schools had placed orders across metropolitan, regional and rural parts of Australia.
Alexa hacked her way to sales growth by creating a virtual assistant to handle all inbound and outbound calls. After training the AI to converse with canteen staff, answer questions, and send follow up emails, the orders started to pile in. Taking that a step further, Alexa turned Sarah’s attention to the supermarkets and petrol stations of Australia. Within three days, the product was on its way to IGA shelves nationwide.
Driven by a surge in demand, Tea Industries is actively seeking investors to fuel its expansion. With eyes set on international markets, Alexa has hinted at a future collaboration with multiple high profile influencers and has had preliminary discussions with multi-national retailers in the US.
Created in Queensland, Tea Industries’ journey started with a quest for a delicious and nutritious beverage compatible with a healthy diet. The lineup of flavoured tea drinks offers a healthy alternative to conventional hydration choices, featuring flavours like coconut and aloe vera. Each bottle sells for $4.
Founder and CEO Alexa Stathakis said the response to her new take on startup strategy has been overwhelming.
“When I launched the business, I had a difficult decision. Hire a sales force or use technology. I turned to AI, and the results have been beyond belief,” she said.
“36% of Queensland schools who received a sample went on to place an order, and we are now fulfilling orders from schools across the country,” Ms Stathakis said.
“Sarah is a massive reason the business is as far advanced as it is. I’m pretty much a one-person outfit, so there was no way I could have called all those schools and run the business.
“Sarah now manages even more aspects of the business beyond sales; she processes wholesale orders, automates logistics, and provides customer support. Essentially, she functions as the very backbone of the company, streamlining our entire process.
“When you’re in start-up mode, you always look for ways to work lean and preserve cash. You need to prioritise spendingon product development and branding, so Sarah has been and continues to be a great help.”
Annie Marie Andrew, Canteen Manager at Westfield Sports High in Sydney, was among the unsuspecting customers.
“I didn’t realise Sarah was an AI until Alexa called me to put the order through and told me about it,” Annie shared.
Alexa Stathakis said the Tea Industries range was born from personal experience.
“Disappointed by the absence of sugar-free and artificial sweetener-free options in mainstream stores, and driven by a belief that hydration should enhance health, not hinder it, Tea Industries emerged,” Ms Stathakis said.
“Our lineup of healthy drinks, from fresh raspberry to calming aloe vera, offers a refreshing alternative to conventional hydration choices, catering to both personal wellness and the collective health of humanity.
“After just a few months on the market, our drinks are available nationwide in convenience stores, supermarkets and schools.”
Seeking to finance faster growth and scale, Ms Stathakis has begun the capital raising process and is actively seeking an investment partner to help the brand meet the overwhelming demand.
Tea Industries products are available in select IGAs, BP, Ampol, Shell service stations, and schools across Australia.