Meet Trista Sanford | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Trista Sanford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trista, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Ora is actually a rebrand of a previous business, Bespoke Bakery & Dessert Bar. After welcoming my daughter in 2018, I knew that tea would be an eventual progression from baking that would allow me to spend more time with family. I have been an avid tea drinker for most of my life and found such solace in the act of tea time, that I wanted to share it with others. What I didn’t know is that we’d be faced with more time at home than ever before due to the pandemic in 2020. I used this time to study tea beyond what I had done as an enthusiast and create blends using my background in flavor building that I’d gained from over a decade in baking.

After several blends that proved to be delicious and unique alongside the heath benefits, I knew that I didn’t want to wait and rebranded and relaunched as Ora Teahouse + Bakery in 2021. My hope in starting the business was that people would take time to care for themselves…to retreat or return back to themselves through the act of tea time.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ora Teahouse + Bakery is a premium source for hand-blended loose leaf tea and desserts. Ora is a love letter. It is a business that is cultivated from trust and honesty while resting upon the pillars of Inspiration, Intention and Love. I wanted my products to act as catalysts for the love and care people give to themselves, first and foremost, as well as to others. The fact that this is exactly what is happening is what I’m most proud of.

My journey in business has been interesting. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been somewhat effortless if that makes sense. I knew from an early age that I was interested in business and leadership. It showed up in smaller ways and continued to grow. I have started and grown multiple businesses, with each one navigating me along a path that has lead me to Ora. Again, it hasn’t been easy. There have been many times that I’ve wanted to walk away but each time, something or someone arrived to give me the push I needed. It has been divine really. There’s also been a lot of self-growth and development that helped me overcome challenges. As a solopreneur, finding balance is so important to longevity in business. Redefining what balance and success means and looks like for me, has been invaluable.

As I mentioned before, Ora is a rebrand and – technically – it is a rebrand of a rebrand. At each stage of my life over the past 12 years, my business has naturally changed and shifted alongside me. As I have reached milestones like marriage, moving and motherhood, it has been important for me to have that reflected in the business. This not only keeps my business authentic, it affords me the opportunity to show up in every aspect of my life as my most authentic self.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of the things that I have fallen in love with most about North Carolina since moving here from Nashville, TN, is that it has it all. There are mountains, metropolitan cities, cute little towns and beaches. With an entire week, I’d love to hit them all but since we’re talking about the area specifically, these are some of my favorite spots:

Food: Rosewater Kitchen & Bar, Glasshouse Kitchen, Monuts, Dashi, Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets, Boricua Soul, Press, Goorsha, Dame’s Chicken and Waffles and Seraphine.

Drink: The Durham Hotel, Dram & Draught, Omie’s Coffee, Cocoa Cinnamon, Blend of Soul juices, The Daily Grind in Burlington, The Fearrington for tea

Visit/Shop: American Tobacco Campus, Boxyard RTP, Liberation Station Bookstore, The Magick Makers, Bright Black Candles, Fillaree, Gather Goods Co, Nasher Museum of Art

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people that I can give credit to! My mom started my journey in tea. She would make tea when we were sick so I have always viewed it as a way to nurture others. My dad has provided so many gems over the years. I often find myself quoting him or utilizing something he has taught me in my entrepreneurship journey. My husband has been one of my biggest cheerleaders from the time we met. In large part, his belief in me and support are why I can work to realize my dreams. My daughter has been such a source of inspiration and is, honestly, quality control. She tastes most of the teas before they are ever available to the public. I’ve had people serve as my sounding boards and keep me grounded including my sister and two friends I’ve had for decades, Aaron and Nicole.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t shoutout the amazing communities that I am grateful to be a part of. The business communities in the Triangle and Triad are truly unmatched. Matt of Dickie-Do’s BBQ/Rambling River Mercantile has served as a mentor to me since shortly after I moved to NC. Victoria of Liberation Station Bookstore, Tiffany of Bright Black Candle and Megan of Hosea House Collective are trusted advisors, business besties and people that will rally around me in my time of need be it a vent session, emergency or a much needed break for coffee, laughs, hugs or a cocktail. My amazing partners that trust me to provide products for their customers are each a blessing and genius at what they do. So much love to Addie at Omie’s Coffee in Durham for being the first coffee shop to give me/the teas a shot. Shoutout to everyone that I’m able to call a customer be it baking or tea.

I’m truly so grateful for every opportunity, every order, every time I have been recognized…God is the greatest.

Website: www.orateahouse.com

Instagram: @orateahouseandbakery

Facebook: @orateahouseandbakery

Other: Threads: www.threads.net/@orateahouseandbakery

Image Credits
Brett Seay Mick Shulte Jenn Eddine