After years spent marketing other brands’ products, local Charleston resident Tara Pate recently launched Daysie, a line of simple syrups for coffee and more.
Pate, a consumer packaged industry veteran, spent the last five years working for big brands like NatureBox and DripDrop Hydration out of San Francisco, but moved back to Charleston to be closer to family at the beginning of the pandemic. After she was furloughed from her full time job, Pate found herself browsing the aisles of Whole Foods and online retailers to source a simple syrup she could add to her morning ritual cup of coffee.
“The pandemic had just started and I was building my at-home coffee bar,” Pate said. “I was ordering Oatly milk and Stumptown beans but I came up empty handed when it came to my flavored sweetener. I did find a large name brand that makes simple syrups but the ingredient label wasn’t one that I felt comfortable with. I actually ended up asking my local coffee shop to sell me some of their house made syrups, and that's when it all sort of clicked for me. I saw the gap in the market.”
It took Pate just over a year and a half to launch her e-commerce business, Daysie.
“Google became my best friend,” said. “I was listening to hundreds of podcasts and trying to find out how and where things were manufactured. As it turns out there were several local brands with founders here in Charleston who were willing to share some of their contacts and advice.”
Pate launched Daysie with three signature flavors to start: Madagascar Vanilla, Coconut Almond, and Salted Caramel. Each flavor is certified organic, contains natural ingredients, is made with zero preservatives, and comes in a recyclable glass container.
“Whether it's your first mug in the morning or the glass you sip when the sun sinks low, I created Daysie not-so-simple syrups to help revive my morning ritual, but there are so many other uses for it from cocktails, to mocktails, baking and more,” Pate said. “I can't wait to see how our customers incorporate Daysie into their lives.”
For now, Daysie is an e-commerce company, but is quickly looking into wholesale opportunities at local establishments like The Daily.
Pate is also proud of how many women she’s hired to help with her company.
“One of the things I'm most proud of (besides how great it tastes and how clean the ingredients are) is how many women contractors I hired along the way,” she said. “Additionally I knew I wanted to be able to pay it forward in the future, so Daysie has a 2.1% fund which is our call to action in which 2.1% of our post tax profits will be donated to organizations who provide funding and resources to female entrepreneurs.”
You can shop Daysie online: www.enjoydaysie.com.
Photo credits: Andrew Cebulka
