Recovering small business in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene: "Better every day"

Key Concepts

• Hurricane Helen: A Category 4 storm that made landfall in the southern US in September of the previous year, causing significant devastation and loss of life.
• Asheville Tea Company: A small business in Western North Carolina that was severely impacted by Hurricane Helen.
• Regional Value Chain: A business model that emphasizes supporting local farmers and suppliers.
• Co-manufacturer: A third-party company that manufactures products for another business.
• Small Business Saturday: An annual event promoting shopping at local businesses.
• Disaster Preparedness: The challenges and unforeseen circumstances faced by businesses after a natural disaster.
• Importing and Exporting: The complexities of international trade, particularly relevant for businesses pivoting to overseas manufacturing.

Impact of Hurricane Helen on Asheville Tea Company

Hurricane Helen, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in the southern US in September of the previous year. It was the deadliest US hurricane since Katrina in 2005, responsible for at least 250 deaths. The storm caused record-breaking rainfall in North Carolina, leading to widespread river overflow and significant damage to businesses. Asheville Tea Company was one of the businesses washed away by the tragedy.

Recovery and Rebuilding Efforts

Jesse Dean, founder and CEO of Asheville Tea Company, provided an update on the company's recovery. Six months after the hurricane, the company is in production for its next round of tea, with pre-orders available. They are currently utilizing a shared-use space at a small business center at AB Tech Community College. While this space is smaller than their previous facility, Dean described it as a "wonderful facility" that allows them to "land right now and regroup."

The company is actively recovering and working to move forward, a sentiment shared by many small businesses in Western North Carolina. They are still producing in a temporary space but have begun searching for new, permanent locations. The goal is to bring all manufacturing back "under our own roof really soon." Dean acknowledged that there is "still a long road to go" for the region and the business, but they are "leaning into all the support" and expressing gratitude.

Unexpected Challenges and Pivots

Dean highlighted unexpected challenges beyond the hard work of rebuilding. The company lost its physical space and its product, necessitating a rebuild from scratch. A significant challenge has been acquiring the specific types of equipment needed for tea bag and box production. This led to a major pivot: working with a co-manufacturer in Canada.

This decision represented a substantial shift for Asheville Tea Company, which is described as a "regional value chain, purpose-driven supporting local farmers company." The experience of working with a Canadian co-manufacturer has been a learning curve, with Dean joking that they are "getting an MBA" in understanding importing and exporting, as these are new areas for them.

Importance of Shopping Local

In anticipation of Small Business Saturday, Dean emphasized the critical importance of shopping local. For Western North Carolina and specifically for Asheville Tea Company, local purchases are vital. These purchases directly support businesses like Asheville Tea Company, its employees, their families, and numerous other small businesses in the region that are recovering from Hurricane Helen. Many of these businesses have "lost so much and are fighting hard for survival."

Dean stated that these purchases "mean the world" as they are what enable these companies to survive and continue providing their products, such as "a great cup of tea that's made with love and sourced from local farmers." The ability to "steep that into your cups for the holiday season" is made possible by this local support.

Conclusion

Asheville Tea Company, like many small businesses in Western North Carolina, is in a phase of active recovery and rebuilding following the devastation of Hurricane Helen. The company has faced significant challenges, including the loss of its facilities and product, and has had to adapt by utilizing temporary spaces and engaging in international co-manufacturing. The importance of community support, particularly through initiatives like Small Business Saturday, is paramount for the survival and continued operation of these businesses, enabling them to rebuild and continue serving their customers with locally sourced products.