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Sam Barrows, President
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 A message from Sam Barrows
"A Dream Come True"
A long time ago, I learned that if we know the past, then we understand the present, and we can predict the future. My tea company has my name on it, and thus I will let you know a little about me:
When I was a child, I often had the most inspiring conversations with my mom's mother, who we lovingly called, "Bubble." 'These' conversations soon made me dream of creating a successful company; so that I could help my family & people not as fortunate, and protect earth's environment.
The only things that we could not do in front of Bubble were: swear, chew gum, or have ketchup on food. Otherwise, there was real freedom. My grandmother was so happy & loving. All who knew her, knew they were graced to know her. Sadly, my grandmother died two years before I knew that I would get into the tea business.
Unlike many families, my wonderful mother & father wanted me and my four brothers (two older & two younger) to do whatever we wanted in life as long as we are happy and as long as we do the best job, while also being good to others. We were brought up in a happy, beautiful, loving, competitive environment in Connecticut, to be strong, intelligent, caring and independent. We were also inspired, as all our family members had done great jobs with their lives
When I was about six years old, I asked my mother if it would be okay with her if I became a garbage man when I grew up? She said it would be fine as long as I was happy & I did a good job. My godfather asked me when I was about eight years old, what I wanted to be when I grew up? I told him with some hesitation & surprise (even for me to hear it come out of my mouth), "a comedian." About 'that' time, mom wanted me to consider becoming a doctor because I went to five doctors for various reasons then. However, whatever parents want their kids to do is an automatic for their kids to do the opposite.
My lengthy childhood conversations with Bubble were usually in the month of August, where we summered in the most beautiful place on earth, along the Massachusetts coast. I loved asking her about what it was like when she grew up,
Every human being is a product of their environment. In my family, we were not allowed to drink coffee. We drank tea. Always afternoon teas when Bubble came to visit were a special, happy and memorable experience. Bubble had married an English immigrant; he died (as did both my grandfathers) before we (me & my brothers) were born. Yet, often our English relatives would come to visit with Bubble for afternoon teas; including, grandfather's cousin Ronald Norrish in 1967, who had just won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He was a character & so were we all.
The vividness, civility, and serenity that drinking tea brings, is beyond compare. I was working in the investment business in Philadelphia, May, 1982, when the idea to get into the tea business popped into my head, just as I was falling asleep. I knew instantly that it was a great idea. I was so excited. I wrote the idea on a piece of paper right away, for fear that I would forget it when I woke up the next morning.
My research into the tea business began that next day. We introduced our first tea product December, 1984, a single estate Darjeeling, which was long before many people knew what a single estate Darjeeling was... I decided that my company's focus would be "the upper end of the real tea market," with our Barrows brand name tea products being geared for the retail environment, appropriate upscale food stores, and appropriate restaurants, tea & coffee shops...
Barrows Tea Company has & will always only produce superior tea products that are fresh, highest quality and unique. In 1992 we began shipping our Barrows Round Unbleached Tea Bag products, which truly are the finest tea bag products in the world!!! We have a limited product line that will expand periodically. We do not want to expand our product line too quickly so that we can ensure that each & every tea product that we produce is the best.
Already, our tea products are in many of the finest food stores in America, with great product appreciation, thanks to you. Please feel free to contact me with any ideas, suggestions or comments, any time. Also, feel free to contact us to find a store in your area that carries my tea products. The Internet is a wonderful & unique forum that reaches the entire world. I am so pleased to share a little of my dream with you. I hope that we all achieve our dreams some day.
May Your World be Filled with lots of PEACE, LOVE & Barrows Tea,
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which was in the Youngstown, Ohio area, where her grandfather was a pioneer iron & steel industrialist. My conversations with Bubble were always filled with fascinating history & fun stories. She was an ardent environmentalist (including being a charter member of Organic Gardening magazine). She was a true lover of life. Her family made their money from entrepreneurship, free-enterprise. In the days before our government set up "social safety nets," it was the "have-s" that had an allegiance to help the "have-nots," which I still believe is true today.
