Tea anyone??
Just over a year ago, CoachLines interviewed champion rally driver, journalist and TV presenter Penny Mallory about how coaching had helped her to achieve two important goals – running the London Marathon and hosting a live TV chat show.
As part of our series of retrospectives, we thought we'd see what Penny has been up to since then and how the benefits of coaching are still playing a part in her life. One of the things Penny said in her last interview for us was that she "wanted to prove that I could do anything at all that I put my mind to". Well, she seems to be doing it again, in rather unexpected ways ...
"Actually it was my husband's idea," explains Penny. "After a particularly depressing experience at a well-known high street coffee bar, he thought – we're British, we drink tea, there must be a market for a national chain of quality tea shops ... and that's how ttotal was conceived. We'd been looking for a new business opportunity anyway and spent the next year researching, planning and raising money."
ttotal's first shop opened at Waterstones in Swansea in April this year. On offer is a selection of the finest black, green and herbal teas and fruit infusions from around the world – some have won GOLD Great Taste Awards. These are served in specially designed teapots that have an integral filter, enabling the leaves to be removed from the brew after the appropriate infus ion time (you even get your own timer). Comfortable surroundings and a range of delicious cakes complete the ttotal experience – the chocolate brownie also won a GOLD Great Taste Award in 2005.
The response so far has been extremely positive and ttotal is now planning to open a flagship store in a major town in Spring 2006.
And as if this wasn't enough of a challenge, Penny and her business partners have set up an e-commerce site – ttotal.co.uk – to sell their selection of teas plus a range of tea pots and other accessories on-line. The site also provides a wealth of fascinating information about tea – its history, medicinal qualities, recipes, famous and not-so-famous quotes – and of course, how to make the perfect cuppa.
"I'm afraid I get bored very easily," admits Penny. "Even though I was running a B&B business, presenting TV shows and being a mother of two young children, that wasn't enough. I don't really understand the concept of work/life balance – my work defines me. Getting ttotal up and running has been really exciting."
And has the work you did with your coach helped you in this latest challenge?
"Definitely," says Penny. "Quite frankly I knew nothing about the retail business, shop design or tea, but coaching instilled in me an absolute conviction that I can do whatever I put my mind to. So I've never doubted what we're striving for, even though what that means is growing a generic brand to rival Starbucks, with over 200 stores on the high street, in airports and hotels in five years time!"
... well, watch this space!