Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Phan.
Hi Kristina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, I first started creating Boba House as it was a comfort drink I enjoyed to get when I’m either with friends or family. The idea of a sweet to creamy tea-based drinks always seemed to intrigue me, but I never thought I would actually pursue this business today. To be perfectly honest, I came into opening a tea shop with not a single ounce of knowledge, and I must admit it’s very different from being a management consultant. I’ve came from a background of businesses that had a system in place already, so this challenge before me had many hurdles to overcome. Learning how to create contacts with wholesalers, creating a format to keep track of expenses, and ensuring the business was up to code was a whirlwind. It was very difficult as during the process of building out my shop; I was in the middle of planning my wedding and working full-time at my previous job. Many people still wonder how we managed to get sleep and still have the store ready for opening within 5 months with little professional assistance, and I can never honestly figure out myself how both my husband and I pulled through. Though looking at the current status of our shop, I’m just excited to improve it more to the guests’ liking and keeping the warm atmosphere intended for when they come in.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This road had so many bumps and turns on the road like you would think you would have a few weeks of smooth driving for the business, and then, “BAAM,” you’re hit with unexpected issues. For one, when we originally bought the location, it was a Subway, so we were lucky to have a walk-in fridge and freezer. But our A/C timer was broken for the freezer, so it was hot in there, meaning we had to hire an expert to come out and check both of them, which cost a lot in repairs. Just having to make sure all your appliances are upkept and working can cost a lot, but we can’t complain as it’s needed for our products. Oh, if there was one thing, I despised the most during the build-out, it would be painting the walls. Just thinking back on how tedious and messy it was, I can understand why other owners hired professionals and why the painters charged such a hefty price. If you ever wondered the number times both my husband and I nearly fell off the ladder, it is one too many.
The last thing, which personally I’m still trying to solve as it is a constant struggle, is getting our business name out to the public. My husband has taught me the terms in networking, and I must say I’ve improved exponentially compared to the past year. We’ve been going out to festival, events, and schools in attempts to reach out to a larger crowd. Compared to other Boba shops, we decided to take a route in reaching out the nightlife of Houston. Many were excited to see us near bars and partnered with clubs as it gave us exposure and provided people some enjoyable drinks. It’s amazing whenever, during these outdoor events, we introduce new people to bubble tea drinks for the first time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Boba House is the first pet-friendly Boba shop in Houston, Texas. We accept guests and their pets to come in and enjoy the drinks and atmosphere provided within the store. Whenever guests bring in their adorable pets, we provide the furry ones either treats, toys, and our puppicinno that they can enjoy alongside with the owner as they enjoy their own drink. As for Boba House products, we specialize in the Taiwanese bubble tea drink that has become much more popularized in the United States for the past decade. We create specialty drinks that guests can enjoy ranging from creamy milk teas to fruity smoothies. We’re known by many for us being pet-friendly, but also for the aesthetic that we provide within the shop, as it’s not your normal minimalistic aesthetic in other franchises. I actually love the fact that many people remember us for loving the animal community and providing them a place for their pets to enjoy, but in the future, I’m hoping to provide reusable and adorable boba cups for guests as we expand to be more cautious to the environment.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My most visual memory I can think of would actually be when my family and I would go out of town to the beach. My cousins would rent out a huge beach house, and we would spend the weekend there just swimming, biking, or playing volleyball. As we know, when you’re going to the beach it’s an all-day event, so when you back during the evening time, my mom would be the one cooking for the whole family. I must admit, most of my good memories consist of the smells and tastes of food, but during that time, my aunts and mom have cut up different types of fruit to create a dessert known as Che’. Now these weren’t typical fruits like strawberries, banana, or mango. We would have many tropical fruits such as lychee, jackfruit, avocados, and grass jelly soaked in coconut milk. Now having this dessert with the cool coconut milk introduced me to a whole new perspective to what could be created with fruits, and it was refreshing to have during the hot weather. Back then, though, it was hard to find where I was from as I lived in a small town in Louisiana, so this was a one-in-a-blue-moon treat for me and my siblings when we came down to Texas to visit family.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bobahouse.us
- Facebook: bobahouse.us
