Inspiring Conversations with Nothin But A Tea Thang
Today we’d like to introduce you to Randon & Krandon Knighten.
Randon & Krandon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2017, I came to visit my brother Krandon, who had moved to the city that never sleeps. I was just expecting to go see Times Square and eat some good pizza, but Krandon had something else in store. He and his wife suggested enjoying a high tea experience. “TEA!?” I was outdone. I came all the way to NYC for some tea? Before I could even say, “Bro, this better be some good tea”, we entered one of the most lavish tea rooms I’d ever seen. We had a most memorable teatime, and high tea became a family favorite. Two years later, Krandon moved back to Dallas, and we began having conversations about starting a family business. By then, we’d enjoyed afternoon tea in various places; both locally and internationally. Our talks would always lead us back to our time together in NYC. We decided to establish our own tea brand. Nothin But A Tea Thang has just completed two years of business. Each day we learn so much about the industry, entrepreneurship, and each other. We are still, if not more, as excited today as we were when we started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A bit of both. The smooth part was engaging in the creative process with my brother. We hit the ground running! We researched, thought about what we wanted to contribute to the culture, and received consultations from industry professionals. Their advice helped us discover who we wanted to be as tea proprietors. Even with this bright start, there was a challenge, or as we like to say, “lesson” around the corner. Our tea company launched just under a month before widespread closures of non-essential businesses. It became impossible to carry out our previous plans. In spite of this, we were able to cultivate a solid digital business and a positive social media space that truly represents who we are.
We’ve been impressed with Nothin But A Tea Thang LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We always say that Nothin But A Tea Thang is the “tea company the culture didn’t know that it needed”. We are focused on shaping a new interpretation of what it looks and feels like to enjoy tea. Our greatest inspiration is our heritage. After serving his country in World War II, our grandfather Louis C. Knighten ran a successful cattle operation. Our dad, Randolph Sr., earned his business degree in the seventies and opened his own convenience store in our hometown. We have the same flair for business as the men who came before us, and we couldn’t be happier to have acquired that gene. Urban sophistication in a cup is our slogan. Our goal is to merge our appreciation for tea with the energy of urban culture. With our clever tea brewing tool and our delightful tea selection we are sure to have you sippin’.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Having a family owned and operated company makes us happy. We enjoy the interaction of each sale and the joy of having people come back for more of our tea. Running a business together is a dream come true for us. Family is at the center of our business. It’s a delight that our parents sometimes help with the packaging orders. When she’s not busy watching TikToks, Randon’s teenage daughter gives us a hand with labels and inventory. Our office space is always filled with energetic tunes and good vibes.
Outside of the family participation and engagement, another thing that makes us happy is when people recognize us. It’s not unusual for us to pop up at parties, community events, or social gatherings. Since we post lots of reels and images of local spots in Dallas, a “Randon & Krandon sighting” is a cool way for us to engage with current and potential tea consumers.
Contact Info:
Email: randon@nothinbutateathang.com
Website: www.nothinbutateathang.com
Instagram: @nothinbutateathang
Facebook: @nothinbutateathang
*Published by VoyageDallas Local Stories 2022