FIRST BUD: PROMOTING AN ENHANCED, ORGANIC LIFESTYLE
Company Overview
First Bud Organics sells packaged, 100% pure organic and ayurvedic produce, and delivers them to the customer’s doorstep. They offer a wide range of ayurvedic immunity boosters and other high-quality products. Their extensive collection of products includes herbal loose leaf teas, chai masala, organic homemade pickle, lakadong turmeric, organic honey, tulsi drops, apple cider vinegar and a variety of seeds. Their green teas are the right blend of traditional Indian Ayurveda benefits and aroma. Their chai masala adds an awesome flavor to the tea, at the same time helping to boost the immune system. All of the products in one way or the other enhance the body’s immunity and well-being, without compromising with the taste. The company’s complete procurement chain from farm procurement to production, packaging and delivery, means that their patrons get farm-fresh and best quality products at reasonable prices. For instance:
- Organic teas from reputed tea estates of Darjeeling and Assam region, Organic Tulsi from Garhwal Region
- Tea is best brewed in loose form. Whole leaf teas have the best aroma and taste and release their extracts slowly. Himbud’s Teas are Whole leaf teas as against broken leaf, Fanning and Dust.
- The Herbal Green teas, where they blend herbs with Green teas so that it is healthy and Bitter taste of Green teas is suppressed by Herbal taste
- Packaged in the pristine Himalayan region in the state of Uttarakhand rich in minerals and free from chemicals, pesticide, pollution, and dusty environment.
- They use only the top ‘Bud and two Leaves’ considered as ‘premium pluck’.
First Bud Organics was launched by Mitresh Sharma, in October 2017, headquartered in Dehradun. Mitresh is a first-generation entrepreneur with over five years of experience in Digital Marketing. Mitresh has graduated in Biotech and has a Postgraduate in Entrepreneurship Management from XLRI, Jamshedpur. His disappointment at the market being filled up with unhealthy and adulterated products led to the inception of First Bud Organics. “Our Indian food heritage is rich and I wanted the newer generation to try these old remedies and be healthy. We started with herbal teas and kept on adding newer products that help foster the body’s immunity. Few of the recipes are from my mother’s kitchen that we’ve been consuming as children for greater health,” he says. First Bud operates business online and delivers products all across India.
First Bud focuses mainly on the quality and taste of the products. Nowadays the demand of homemade products is rising, and they have incorporated this in their products like pickle, jam and chai masala. These lines of products are completely homemade.
All of First Bud’s homemade products strictly follow the same recipe and ingredients, which ensures the same taste and quality. Additionally, all of the products go through regular extensive lab tests to ensure quality. They strive to provide the best quality products for their customers. They also make sure that the moisture is not absorbed and conditions are hygienic.
Working Style And Work Culture
Increasing use of pesticides in the food products leads to various health issues, and therefore First Bud Organics is trying to make an impact on the health of the customers through its unadulterated products. Their aim is to make quality products affordable to the consumer and create new opportunities for farmers. The steps are taken to ensure irreproachable production, manufacture, and sale of food products are categorized below:
Research and Development (R&D): Research and analysis were undertaken for the finished product to meet the customer’s expectations.
Quality: Ensuring that the programs and practices will result in a finished product that is safe, is legal and meets the company standards.
Production (from receiving to shipping): Handling the raw materials, in-process and finished product in an appropriate manner (including equipment capability) to ensure the finished product is safe and legal.
Sales: Determining different sales strategies both through online/offline presence.
The work culture at First Bud Organics is more of an “intrapreneurship” type: small team size with no straight hierarchy followed. It is very exciting at times. Mitresh states, “I think the employees’ contentment is the most important thing of an organization. First, bud organics always thrive to maintain an employee’s physical and mental well being.“
Discipline and continuous improvement is what the Director personally believes in, and incorporates the same in the organization’s day-to-day processes. Each and every individual at First Bud is dedicated to providing the highest quality product to the customers
The company has been recognized for its impeccable services and products, and has won a number of awards along the way:
- Silicon India 10 most promising Tea & Coffee Brands 2018.
- Selected for Amazon Launchpad for startups
- The 10 Most Innovative Food & Beverage Solution providers in 2020
- Recognized By Start-Up India and Start-Up Uttarakhand
As part of their corporate social responsibility, First Bud works hand in hand with NGOs who are working towards the development of women in the Garhwal region.
“Being able to deliver something back to the community has been the best part of my experience. We provide the common platform to the women working in the remote Himalayan regions.”
Future Prospects
First Bud Organics has an online presence as of now on major retailer sites and their own e-commerce store. The digital marketing strategies of the company include social media marketing, influencer marketing, blogs, video tutorials, email and SMS campaigns, event tie-ups, corporate tie-ups, etc. Offline marketing includes tie-ups with major supermarts. They plan to build an intense distribution channel in the next six months that includes wholesalers as well as retailers so that the product is easily available in major retail outlets.
Parting words from Mr. Mitresh Sharma:
“I feel that most of us have certain goals and aims in life, but very few of us are confident enough to pursue them. Our aims can range from learning a musical instrument to building a big organization. However big or small, each goal in our life needs a first step, and a continuous push. So, be consistent, believe in yourself and work towards your goals.”
