Fortune Tealer: Holistic Herbal Healing
- Tess Horowitz
- Mar 11, 2021
- 4 min read
On March 16, 2018 at 10:07 pm, Tiana Karnopp saw a green shooting star in the same moment she decided on the name for her small tea business – Fortune Tealer.
She quickly bought the domain, secured the instagram username, and got to work on her website.
Karnopp, a recent marketing graduate from Texas State University, began brewing her own tea in her first college apartment four years ago. It wasn’t until working at a local CBD coffee shop where she added her own tea blends to the menu and the encouragement from her bosses that she considered starting a small business.
Helping to heal others naturally and spreading knowledge about the benefits of herbalism is her primary mission.
“I just wanted to make teas for people. I wanted to help heal,” Karnopp said. “I legitimately didn’t care about monetizing my passion.”
Karnopp offers an array of herbal tea blends, many being CBD infused. Her most recent CBD blends include Morning Zen Shine, Citrus Blossom, and Chai Wintermint.
Recently, Karnopp said many people have been going to her for sleep problems. Lemon Lullaby, a non-CBD blend she offers, utilizes ingredients like Mugwort and Valerian Root, which can aid in sleeping and dreaming.
For those with specific needs or preferences, Karnopp offers customizable blends. Unlike mass produced products, her business’ purpose is to keep the customer in mind and find the right blend for each person.
Herbal teas have many benefits that can interact with your body in ways that can relax, energize, and soothe it, Karnopp said.
Calendula, a floral herb, is used in formulas to soothe eczema and skin irritation, she said. Chamomile is another herb that can aid in relaxation and digestive upset. She often uses these ingredients in her healing teas.
For blends that aim to increase focus while reducing tension, Karnopp uses peppermint. The herb offers a fresh flavor and scent that can improve concentration. It also contains healing properties that can fight headaches, bloating, and cramps, she said.
Rose, a natural anxiety and stress reliever, is one of Karnopp’s personal favorites. In addition to its soothing benefits, rose is both flavorful and aromatic.
“Rose represents love,” Karnopp added. “I like to put a lot of love into my teas, and I hope everyone can taste that.”
In every order, she includes an informative pamphlet outlining all the herbs she offers, along with their mental, physical, and overall health benefits so customers can see what will best fit their current needs.
Karnopp strives to make Fortune Tealer as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible. To reduce waste, many of her teas come in reusable tins and most of her packaging is made from recycled materials.
“The tea bags I have are biodegradable,” she added. “You can throw that entire tea bag, maybe even with the string, just straight up into a compost bin, and it can decompose over time.”
Reusable tea steepers are also available on her website.
Seed paper is her next eco-friendly idea. Made from recycled materials and embedded with flower, herb, or vegetable seeds, her customers can then take the paper, plant it, and wait for the magic to happen.
Karnopp enjoys knowing Fortune Tealer is leaving a positive impact on both the environment and her customers.
Although maintaining motivation and remembering why she started her business in the first place can be challenging at times, hearing how her blends have helped people and made a difference in their lives continues to fuel her passion to heal others through herbalism.
“I think the best part is just helping people,” Karnopp said. “Seeing them be like, ‘I actually got a decent night's rest last night because of your tea,’ or ‘It really helps wake me up,’ or ‘It really helped my soreness,’ – that makes it all worth it.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has given her more time to work on her website and put more intention into her products. She plans to personalize her packaging to make it even more special by hand stamping each box individually.
Karnopp’s ultimate goal is to open a storefront. She said there is nothing like forming connections with her customers and seeing the impact of her blends in-person.
“I want to have giant jars filled with these herbs,” she said. “I want people to come up and be like ‘I would like a tea to help me sleep,’ and I’ll be like, ‘Alright, baby I got you.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted small businesses both negatively and positively. With many stores closing in-person attendance and record high unemployment rates, some small businesses have struggled to stay afloat.
Given that recessions are usually a bad time for small businesses, it’s surprising how many are on the rise. According to Economic Innovation Group (EIG), there has been an increase in high-propensity business applications during the summer of 2020. By the end of the year, roughly 205,000 more applications were filed than in 2019.
EIG attributes this surge to “entrepreneurs finding opportunity in the crisis.”
Many of these entrepreneurs have adapted to the times, keeping in mind that many people are at home for extended periods and in need of ways to improve themselves and their surroundings.
For Karnopp, catering to her customers’ wellness needs and creating custom healing blends has helped Fortune Tealer over the course of the pandemic. Karnopp is planning to release her new and improved blend called “Immuni-tea” to help give people an immune system boost.
Laura and Patrick Connelly launched a new illustration business which quickly rose in popularity after raising money for their local animal shelter through customized pet artwork, Fast Company reports. The Connellys said the timing couldn’t have been better since many people, now working remotely, are looking to revamp and decorate their homes.
In February 2020, Marissa and Adam Goldsteil started a company called Rafi Nova, which sold travel backpacks and purses, sustainably sourced from textiles made by Hmong women in Vietnam, according to CS Monitor. The pandemic caused them to change course and sell face masks to fit the market's demand. Sales skyrocketed, and Rafi Nova has now made 2 million masks and donated 100,000 to essential workers and others in need.
For many small business owners, the pandemic has allowed them to take on new business ventures and get creative with the products they sell. In the midst of all the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, new opportunities to grow and contribute to positive change have been the silver linings.
Comments