IF VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE, THE SPICE & TEA EXCHANGE IS YOUR PLACE

There are more than 3,000 varieties of tea. They include full-bodied teas, light teas, and of course, in-between teas. Are you looking for a straight tea or a flavored tea? The choices are overwhelming.

The Spice & Tea Exchange® of Red Bank has been serving customers at 12 Monmouth St., since December 2013. Owned and operated by Howard Bernstein and Lisa Prepon, visitors to their store will discover a purveyor of more than 30 exotic teas; 140 spices and 75 exclusive hand-mixed blends; salts from around the world and naturally flavored sugars.

Not surprisingly, next to water, tea is the second most popular beverage in the world. And although the US can’t match the tea consumption of countries such as the UK and China, tea consumption in the US is growing at a steady rate.

According to the Tea Association of the US, the total wholesale value of tea sold in the US grew from less than $2 billion in 1990 to more than $10 billion in 2014. According to findings by Market Realist, a provider of investment research, “the preference for healthier beverages is driving consumers away from soda and boosting the demand for tea and other categories…”

“Tea is definitely becoming more and more popular,” Prepon said. “And we are seeing that popularity grow across all age groups.”

Bernstein was formerly the controller for Midway Aircraft Instrument Corporation, a subsidiary of Dassault Falcon Jet, which repairs and overhauls aircraft instruments and accessories for a variety of commercial aircraft.

When the company relocated from Little Ferry, N.J. to Monroe, N.C., Bernstein and Prepon decided to not make the move. However, the couple wasn’t quite ready to retire yet, either.

The duo visited a franchise expo at the Javits Center in New York City where The Spice & Tea Exchange® was one of three franchise concepts that caught their interest. “It was then that we decided to jump off our own ‘fiscal cliff’ and become entrepreneurs at a relatively older age than is typical,” Prepon said.

Today, the couple’s days are filled tending to the everyday duties of the store. In addition, Prepon spends time attending fundraisers, charity events, making presentations to various community groups and taking TSTE® “on the road” to special events.

“Come In and Smell the Spices!®” isn’t just the company tag line; it embodies the desire of The Spice & Tea Exchange® to welcome customers to the unique concept.

“Customer service definitely comes first for both Howard and I,” Prepon said. “When a customer enters the store, we greet them and try to ascertain exactly what they are shopping for so we can help them make the best decision.”

About The Spice & Tea Exchange:

Founded in 2008 by Clay Freeman, The Spice & Tea Exchange® was formed by a group of talented individuals with a passion for life and a passion for food. Their vision, to create a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, brought the 18th Century Trading Post concept to life, providing guests with more than 140 spices and 75 exclusive hand-mixed blends, naturally-flavored sugars, salts from around the world and more than 30 exotic teas. The Spice & Tea Exchange® currently has 40 locations across 24 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit https://www.spiceandtea.com/. For franchising information, visit http://franchise.spiceandtea.com/.