The Start of my Blendsmiths Journey

Starting a new role always comes with a mix of excitement and a lot to learn. That’s pretty much how my first few months at Blendsmiths have felt, except now I also have strong opinions on matcha, chai and chocolate (which I did not see coming). 

It’s been a really positive start. Busy, fast, slightly chaotic at times, but in the best way. 

It’s one of those places where you’re trusted to just get stuck in, which I love. There are loads of momentum, lots of ideas flying around, and people actually want to improve things, which makes a huge difference. 

Best way to describe my day? Varied. No two days are the same, and my to-do list definitely likes to keep me on my toes. Most days involve getting stuck into sales data, looking at customer behaviour, not to mention invoicing plus credit control, keeping everything ticking over. A big part of my role is taking numbers and turning them into something useful, not just what’s happening, but what we should do about it. 

Things I didn’t expect? There is a lot more going on behind these drinks than I realised. Whether it’s matcha, chai or chocolate, each has its own quirks from sourcing and pricing to how customers buy and use them. 

Costing has also been really interesting. Understanding how everything from ingredients to sourcing and scale impacts margins has given me a completely different perspective on the products. I’ve also learnt that creating a recipe isn’t just about adding everything you like into a cup and hoping for the best. The team here has an amazing level of skill and can put together drinks I wouldn’t even think of, let alone execute. 

Also, everything is connected. Stock decisions, lead times, and sales trends all feed into the numbers. You know it in theory, but seeing it play out in real time is something else. And yes, I now spot all three on menus everywhere. There’s no going back. 

Work highlights so far? One of the most interesting pieces I’ve worked on has been analysing customer behaviour, particularly customers who’ve quietly stopped ordering certain products, gaps where customers could be buying more but aren’t yet and opportunities to re-engage and grow accounts across the range. It’s the kind of work that actually drives decisions, not just reports them, which makes it really rewarding. 

Also, slightly unexpectedly, I’ve really enjoyed cleaning up data. There’s something very satisfying about turning chaos into clarity. I definitely didn’t expect to say part of my job now involves sampling hot chocolate. Not complaining. 

I recently attended Lunch! North, which was honestly brilliant, really insightful, loads of energy, and a great way to see the brand out in the real world. Even more terrifying but fun, I was let loose to actually make drinks. Safe to say this is not my usual comfort zone, but it was a great experience and gave me a whole new appreciation for what goes into every cup. 

It’s been a really strong start with A LOT of learning. There are loads of opportunities to add value, improve things, and genuinely make an impact, which makes the role both exciting and meaningful. Now that I feel I have my head around what is going on, I am looking forward to getting even more stuck in and adding value where I can. Also, I can now confidently talk about matcha, chai and chocolate, and just about make them, which feels like solid progress. 

Looking forward to what’s next!