The Hurdle Episode 4 | Brewing Success

<1 min. read

Updated January 14, 2025

In this episode of The Hurdle, Jade and Max talk with Angela McDonald about her inspiring journey as the owner of Oregon Tea Traders.

In honor of National Women’s Small Business Month, we’re highlighting Angela’s story of resilience and determination. With no prior business experience, Angela purchased the small tea company to maintain her connection to India and Tibet.

In 2015, she made the leap to run the business full-time, overcoming fears and challenges while balancing life as a mom. Angela shares how she pivoted during the pandemic from wholesale to online sales and navigated hurdles in opening her first retail store in 2023. From construction delays to managing expectations, she turned the space into a flexible storefront and warehouse. Looking ahead, she plans to expand into bagged teas, grow online, and teach tea classes.

Tune in for Angela’s honest advice on slow growth, minimizing risk, and building a business that aligns with your values. Her story is a powerful testament to perseverance and passion!

Watch the episode

LivePlan Team

Here at Palo Alto Software, our goal is to help small businesses succeed. We believe that small businesses are the engine of our economy and that if we can help more companies survive and thrive, we will all be better off. After all, we're a small business ourselves and we understand what it takes to start from zero, with no outside investment, and build a company from 1 to 70 employees. We understand that challenge, and we also know what it takes to be successful. Through our flagship product, LivePlan, we are committed to providing that knowledge, experience, and expertise to as many other small businesses as possible.