Céline Forbes' Portfolio

Adonia is a tearoom located in Kerrisdale, Vancouver. Open since 2003, they never advertised until the pandemic. Consecutive lockdowns, rising commercial rents have shaken small businesses’ financial viability. The purpose of this rebrand is to unify branding, create brand recognition and generate additional revenue streams.

Adonia relies on ESP to attract and retain clientele. The concept for the rebrand revolved around the idea of “tea in the garden”. The colour palette is floral and delicate. A hand-lettered logo added an additional layer of personality and refinement. The swooshes have an organic quality, reinforcing the botanical theme behind tea in the garden. The goal was to creatively showcase the Adonia experience through art direction, photography and bespoke packaging.

Consumers in Vancouver are spoilt with choices and educated about food but there was a gap between traditional cafes and the luxury market, and that’s where Adonia was positioned. While Adonia is primarily a tearoom, the strategy was to develop a lifestyle brand, designed to inspire tea enthusiasts and people in search of comforting experiences.

The tea range and book are part of a product development strategy to create additional revenue streams for Adonia. The newly created tea packaging makes the most of the existing tea range, ensuring maximum return on investment. Packaging in bespoke containers elevates the product and experience. It also commands a higher price point than bulk tea sold in non branded foil bags These metal tea caddies are plastic free and refillable.

A book was also created as part of the “Adonia at home” campaign. Lockdowns have created a new market for at home experiences, a phenomenon referred to as hometertainment. 53.4% of Canadians declare (2020 figures) that they would rather entertain at home than go out—a sharp rise from 37.7% in 2011. Releasing this book will tap into that market trend. The book is hardcover, with debossed typography for a textural experience.

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