Customer Reviews

The Republic of Tea: The Story of the Creation of a Business, as Told Through the Personal Letters of Its Founders

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mel & Patricia Zeigler are geniuses at creating raving fan businesses. They were the originators of the greatest store I've ever been in, Banana Republic. They sold it to the Gap and it is NOTHING like it's former self, which was reminescent of an Indiana Jones adventure complete with jungle headquarters and a jeep.

This book documents their next venture and details how they developed the business. It is like an adventure as you follow the letters to each other with new ideas.

If anything, I use this as a model for writing business plans. That's the biggest compliment I can give.

If you're in a partnership, starting a business, or just looking for some inspiration to keep you focused on the direction you're going, then buy this book.

The illustrations and the background "thinking" that are added to the conversation truly give the reader a sense of understanding.

What I found to be the most interesting is how quickly the entire idea of TROT came together. Within a month of meeting, Mel and Bill had the ideas and the philosophy of TROT down. When it comes down to it, there was very little change from those initial conversations until the final product launched.

This book was an "accidental" purchase (if you believe such things are accidents). I am in the process of starting up my own business & had had my belly full of the "Make a Gazillion Dollars in Your Sleep!" genre, as well as the "Fourteen [rational, linear] Steps to Guaranteed Business Success" types. Then this book shows up and my thinking about my own business startup changes -- the business re-invents itself as we begin to work together. This book is the perfect antidote to the 80s/90s hype-style-M&A-IPO feeding frenzy. This book has encouraged me to slow down, go for commitment and integrity, and truly succeed.

My thanks to the authors for sharing- honestly, openly and truthfully- what it really takes in business to maximize objectives that include but go beyond the simple pursuit of profit. This is a must read for anyone who wants to launch or scale a socially responsible business venture.

This book is an interesting collection of personal and business faxes, that were involved in the creation of "The Republic of Tea" Although the book can be somewhat slow overall it offers an interesting inside looks at what goes on the human-side during the startup of a company, the personal emotions and conflicts. There are times where the book reads like a conversation between two hippies watching flowers grow exciting for the people involved but not much action for others. Its a fun book to read although not an essential must read bussiness book.If you are interested in starting up your own company you should read it as a mind relaxer in between those "How-to Make it Big in a week" books.

One confession, I did go to my local health food store and bought a can of Tea after reading this book.

I concur with everything the reader below me has mentioned. But what makes this book worth the price was the appendix containing the Republic of Tea business plan. This is the only biz book I have read that contained the actual plan that was used to start a business.

This book has been an extremely usful resource to my company. Although my company also started small, Team 5 Technologies, it is now a large corperation. This book helped me understand more about giving the customer what they want, and putting myself in the customers shoes. After all, a company is only worth the value of it's products. With this is mind my good friends, read the book, Nick J. Frost - T5T

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is unique in that it was written at the time ideas and creative juices were flowing (through a series of faxes)...not in retrospect as most books are. It is an inspiration to create in life that which is in harmony with who you are.

The book reveals the thoughts and processes the entrepreneur went through to put up a new business. One can see the hopes, excitement and anxiety as the entrepreneur prepares for the business. It's a good read for people who have a lot of questions about what it's like to create a business.

I have discovered Tea Mind! The tea is mine. It is now. It is hot. Oh evenness. Oh flow. Oh swallow of presence. I am a zentrepreneur!

I found a new appreciation for tea in fact before reading this book but now that I've read it I have further confirmed the splendor of this drink and I love coffee too! You have to read this book if you are curious about Tea Mind but you also have to read this book if you are passionate about ideas and need to bring these ideas into the execution stage. Also includes a real business plan - the one used to form 'The Republic;' a living example!

So much beyond the tea but the tea is enough! Check out their Web site and order their catalog then maybe order some tea and taste it to complete the tangibility of this company's birth.