Before launching mash of brands®, I spent twenty five years as a marketer, publicist, and entrepreneur. While at university in Edinburgh, I launched my first successful business, supplying bands to venues*. After receiving a degree in marketing, I studied at Le Cordon Bleu. My first job upon leaving Le Cordon Bleu was as the personal chef to the Dutch Ambassador. Later, I became a publicist, working at the Brunswick Group in London and the Portsmouth Group in Dubai before becoming Head of Media and Communications in an in-house role.

Despite early success, by my late 20s, I felt lost and lacking purpose. What I did know was that I no longer wanted to sell out or spend my life climbing the corporate ladder. So, one day I said ‘fuck it,’ walked out of my safe job, and began chasing the dumb idea of importing the world’s finest teas.

After sourcing thirteen loose-leaf teas from small farms in China and Taiwan I launched my first brand. Despite critical acclaim, sales were slow. Limited funds pushed me to rapidly test and validate various other concept brands. When I brought my second concept to market, it was an 'overnight success,' inspiring a global product category and hundreds of copycat brands.

Within a few years, I had grown a small tea business on eBay into multiple globally successful brands, which I eventually sold to a private equity firm.

After selling my company, I took some time off. Eventually, bored and once again lacking purpose, I returned to what I know best: being dumb.

Jamie Ewan Henderson
Founder of mash of brands® | Purposefully Dumb Ideas™

*Run from a £20 a month mailbox, this remains one of my best dumb ideas ever.