This food & beverage founder is upgrading the morning coffee ritual with a line of organic syrups, and giving back to other women-owned businesses.
Turn your morning coffee ritual into something to truly savor! That's what Tara Pate is hoping to do with her startup, Daysie, not-so-simple syrups for coffee & occasions. After building a coffee bar while working from home Tara noticed that the syrups on the market were limited in flavors and style and none sourced organic ingredients... so she set out to change that.
Currently Daysie's line of Cetified Organic syrups are offered in three flavors: Madagascar Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Coconut Almond. Each comes in recyclable glass bottles with a professional style spout, offering an at home barista experience.
Tara spoke with Foodboro about what led her to CPG, the challenges (and blessings!) of starting a business post-COVID, how she finds balance while building a startup, her current faves, and what’s next for the brand.
I spent the last 5 years working for consumer packaged goods companies in San Francisco. Just shy of the start of the pandemic my husband and I moved to Charleston, SC to be closer to family (after my nephew was born). Two months into my new job I was furloughed due to the pandemic and found myself with time to think for the first time in years. Those thoughts quickly turned into action when the idea of Daysie began to form in my mind.
What led you to entrepreneurship, and why now?
We had just purchased a home and were building our at-home coffee bar when a series of hacks led me to discover a gap in the market for a high-quality and delicious tasting simple syrup for coffee.
My original order from a mainstream company left a lot to be desired as it arrived in a giant plastic bottle.
After a trip to Whole Foods to find a flavored simple syrup left me empty handed I asked my local coffee shop to sell me a few of their house made ones.
Then, I bought some cute vessels from an online retailer to put them in so I could store them on my countertop.
I worked on a business plan and sent it to a few trusted friends/previous colleagues to get a feel for its legitimacy and the rest as they say is history. Afterall, if not me, who? If not now, when?
Retail relationships: do you sell mostly DTC? What retailers do you work with?
I’m trying every day to get Daysie onto the shelves at Whole Foods – because that’s how this entire journey started. The coffee aisle is located at the very front of the store and desperately needs Daysie! For now though, I am selling DTC and through local speciality stores in the south.
Who in the industry do you turn to for inspiration?
I’m really inspired by Method soap. They recognized the need for home products within the intersection of brand/function/ingredient integrity and it’s a company I think relates really well to the at-home consumer Daysie is trying to fill a void for.
LOVE a good female cookbook author for inspiration on flavors – I recently purchased Hot Little Suppers by Carrie Morey of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits and Cook This Book by Molly Baz.
Any other brands in the industry that you admire?
Graza Olive Oil is my recent obsession. I LOVE that they made them into a squirt bottle–combining great ingredients with easy use feels like a game-changer.
I am a brand junkie– seriously, you should see my pantry. I love Fishwife tinned fish for quick additions to a weekday salad or simply on some crackers. My go-to drink recently has been Needs & Wants which is a woman-owned sparkling superfruit tea that is incredibly fresh tasting.
What have been the challenges of navigating the CPG industry? Especially post COVID.
Post COVID feels like a time of opportunity. Like everyone I had to build a business in a silo. Now, I am ready to get out, meet my customers, network with female founders and begin to build the Daysie brand outside of the screen.
As a founder, what do you do to take care of your health?
If I’m being honest it’s the one place that feels the most out of balance for me. I work a ton of nights and weekend hours right now and I’m ok with that as I LOVE what I do. Sleep is a very big priority for me to maintain my current pace but I’m really trying hard to add my Peloton time back into my calendar.
Always have a plan B and plan C as many things will happen beyond your control!
What advice do you have for early-stage entrepreneurs?
Everything will cost 10x more than you think and take 10x longer than you plan. Always have a plan B and plan C as many things will happen beyond your control!
What foods do you always have on hand?
Stumptown Coffee beans- on a subscription so they’re fresh :)
Omsom- This has been my pandemic hero product as an entrepreneur. Their sauces are incredibly delicious and save me a lot of time in the kitchen.
Brightland Vinegars- I have a ramp one and a strawberry one right now that I use several times a week for salad dressings.
What does the future of Daysie look like? What are you currently working on? Any new products or retailers?
We’re just getting started! I hope the future includes retailers like Foxtrot Market and Whole Foods. New flavors are currently in development and I look forward to seasonal limited time only drops.
The thing I look forward to the most is building a profitable business in which I’m able to donate to our 2.1% fund and help change the game for other female entrepreneurs in the food & beverage space.
Turn your morning coffee ritual into something to truly savor! That's what Tara Pate is hoping to do with her startup, Daysie, not-so-simple syrups for coffee & occasions. After building a coffee bar while working from home Tara noticed that the syrups on the market were limited in flavors and style and none sourced organic ingredients... so she set out to change that.
Currently Daysie's line of Cetified Organic syrups are offered in three flavors: Madagascar Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Coconut Almond. Each comes in recyclable glass bottles with a professional style spout, offering an at home barista experience.
Tara spoke with Foodboro about what led her to CPG, the challenges (and blessings!) of starting a business post-COVID, how she finds balance while building a startup, her current faves, and what’s next for the brand.
I spent the last 5 years working for consumer packaged goods companies in San Francisco. Just shy of the start of the pandemic my husband and I moved to Charleston, SC to be closer to family (after my nephew was born). Two months into my new job I was furloughed due to the pandemic and found myself with time to think for the first time in years. Those thoughts quickly turned into action when the idea of Daysie began to form in my mind.
What led you to entrepreneurship, and why now?
We had just purchased a home and were building our at-home coffee bar when a series of hacks led me to discover a gap in the market for a high-quality and delicious tasting simple syrup for coffee.
My original order from a mainstream company left a lot to be desired as it arrived in a giant plastic bottle.
After a trip to Whole Foods to find a flavored simple syrup left me empty handed I asked my local coffee shop to sell me a few of their house made ones.
Then, I bought some cute vessels from an online retailer to put them in so I could store them on my countertop.
I worked on a business plan and sent it to a few trusted friends/previous colleagues to get a feel for its legitimacy and the rest as they say is history. Afterall, if not me, who? If not now, when?
Retail relationships: do you sell mostly DTC? What retailers do you work with?
I’m trying every day to get Daysie onto the shelves at Whole Foods – because that’s how this entire journey started. The coffee aisle is located at the very front of the store and desperately needs Daysie! For now though, I am selling DTC and through local speciality stores in the south.
Who in the industry do you turn to for inspiration?
I’m really inspired by Method soap. They recognized the need for home products within the intersection of brand/function/ingredient integrity and it’s a company I think relates really well to the at-home consumer Daysie is trying to fill a void for.
LOVE a good female cookbook author for inspiration on flavors – I recently purchased Hot Little Suppers by Carrie Morey of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits and Cook This Book by Molly Baz.
Any other brands in the industry that you admire?
Graza Olive Oil is my recent obsession. I LOVE that they made them into a squirt bottle–combining great ingredients with easy use feels like a game-changer.
I am a brand junkie– seriously, you should see my pantry. I love Fishwife tinned fish for quick additions to a weekday salad or simply on some crackers. My go-to drink recently has been Needs & Wants which is a woman-owned sparkling superfruit tea that is incredibly fresh tasting.
What have been the challenges of navigating the CPG industry? Especially post COVID.
Post COVID feels like a time of opportunity. Like everyone I had to build a business in a silo. Now, I am ready to get out, meet my customers, network with female founders and begin to build the Daysie brand outside of the screen.
As a founder, what do you do to take care of your health?
If I’m being honest it’s the one place that feels the most out of balance for me. I work a ton of nights and weekend hours right now and I’m ok with that as I LOVE what I do. Sleep is a very big priority for me to maintain my current pace but I’m really trying hard to add my Peloton time back into my calendar.
Always have a plan B and plan C as many things will happen beyond your control!
What advice do you have for early-stage entrepreneurs?
Everything will cost 10x more than you think and take 10x longer than you plan. Always have a plan B and plan C as many things will happen beyond your control!
What foods do you always have on hand?
Stumptown Coffee beans- on a subscription so they’re fresh :)
Omsom- This has been my pandemic hero product as an entrepreneur. Their sauces are incredibly delicious and save me a lot of time in the kitchen.
Brightland Vinegars- I have a ramp one and a strawberry one right now that I use several times a week for salad dressings.
What does the future of Daysie look like? What are you currently working on? Any new products or retailers?
We’re just getting started! I hope the future includes retailers like Foxtrot Market and Whole Foods. New flavors are currently in development and I look forward to seasonal limited time only drops.
The thing I look forward to the most is building a profitable business in which I’m able to donate to our 2.1% fund and help change the game for other female entrepreneurs in the food & beverage space.
Turn your morning coffee ritual into something to truly savor! That's what Tara Pate is hoping to do with her startup, Daysie, not-so-simple syrups for coffee & occasions. After building a coffee bar while working from home Tara noticed that the syrups on the market were limited in flavors and style and none sourced organic ingredients... so she set out to change that.
Currently Daysie's line of Cetified Organic syrups are offered in three flavors: Madagascar Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Coconut Almond. Each comes in recyclable glass bottles with a professional style spout, offering an at home barista experience.
Tara spoke with Foodboro about what led her to CPG, the challenges (and blessings!) of starting a business post-COVID, how she finds balance while building a startup, her current faves, and what’s next for the brand.
I spent the last 5 years working for consumer packaged goods companies in San Francisco. Just shy of the start of the pandemic my husband and I moved to Charleston, SC to be closer to family (after my nephew was born). Two months into my new job I was furloughed due to the pandemic and found myself with time to think for the first time in years. Those thoughts quickly turned into action when the idea of Daysie began to form in my mind.
What led you to entrepreneurship, and why now?
We had just purchased a home and were building our at-home coffee bar when a series of hacks led me to discover a gap in the market for a high-quality and delicious tasting simple syrup for coffee.
My original order from a mainstream company left a lot to be desired as it arrived in a giant plastic bottle.
After a trip to Whole Foods to find a flavored simple syrup left me empty handed I asked my local coffee shop to sell me a few of their house made ones.
Then, I bought some cute vessels from an online retailer to put them in so I could store them on my countertop.
I worked on a business plan and sent it to a few trusted friends/previous colleagues to get a feel for its legitimacy and the rest as they say is history. Afterall, if not me, who? If not now, when?
Retail relationships: do you sell mostly DTC? What retailers do you work with?
I’m trying every day to get Daysie onto the shelves at Whole Foods – because that’s how this entire journey started. The coffee aisle is located at the very front of the store and desperately needs Daysie! For now though, I am selling DTC and through local speciality stores in the south.
Who in the industry do you turn to for inspiration?
I’m really inspired by Method soap. They recognized the need for home products within the intersection of brand/function/ingredient integrity and it’s a company I think relates really well to the at-home consumer Daysie is trying to fill a void for.
LOVE a good female cookbook author for inspiration on flavors – I recently purchased Hot Little Suppers by Carrie Morey of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits and Cook This Book by Molly Baz.
Any other brands in the industry that you admire?
Graza Olive Oil is my recent obsession. I LOVE that they made them into a squirt bottle–combining great ingredients with easy use feels like a game-changer.
I am a brand junkie– seriously, you should see my pantry. I love Fishwife tinned fish for quick additions to a weekday salad or simply on some crackers. My go-to drink recently has been Needs & Wants which is a woman-owned sparkling superfruit tea that is incredibly fresh tasting.
What have been the challenges of navigating the CPG industry? Especially post COVID.
Post COVID feels like a time of opportunity. Like everyone I had to build a business in a silo. Now, I am ready to get out, meet my customers, network with female founders and begin to build the Daysie brand outside of the screen.
As a founder, what do you do to take care of your health?
If I’m being honest it’s the one place that feels the most out of balance for me. I work a ton of nights and weekend hours right now and I’m ok with that as I LOVE what I do. Sleep is a very big priority for me to maintain my current pace but I’m really trying hard to add my Peloton time back into my calendar.
Always have a plan B and plan C as many things will happen beyond your control!
What advice do you have for early-stage entrepreneurs?
Everything will cost 10x more than you think and take 10x longer than you plan. Always have a plan B and plan C as many things will happen beyond your control!
What foods do you always have on hand?
Stumptown Coffee beans- on a subscription so they’re fresh :)
Omsom- This has been my pandemic hero product as an entrepreneur. Their sauces are incredibly delicious and save me a lot of time in the kitchen.
Brightland Vinegars- I have a ramp one and a strawberry one right now that I use several times a week for salad dressings.
What does the future of Daysie look like? What are you currently working on? Any new products or retailers?
We’re just getting started! I hope the future includes retailers like Foxtrot Market and Whole Foods. New flavors are currently in development and I look forward to seasonal limited time only drops.
The thing I look forward to the most is building a profitable business in which I’m able to donate to our 2.1% fund and help change the game for other female entrepreneurs in the food & beverage space.
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