Gamila Announces The Teastick
The Teastick, the debut product of Gamila, brings sleek design to fine teas.

Raleigh, NC July 14, 2005 — Gamila is the sister company of Gamil Design, a product and graphic design firm. Gamil Design decided it was time to create a line of their own products, and thus, the brand Gamila was born. The Gamila mantra is “designs that make you smile,” and the goal of each new product is to create something of beauty, simplicity and inventiveness.

Gamila’s new product, The Teastick, comes from the unique combination of perspectives of product and graphic designers and coffee/tea house owners. Ty Beddingfield and Rich Futrell founded The Third Place Coffeehouse in Raleigh in 1994. As their highly successful coffee business grew so did their sales of fine loose teas and they saw a need for a new tea infuser. After contacting Aly Khalifa, owner of Gamil Design, they collaborated to create The Teastick.

The Teastick accentuates the ritual aesthetic of traditional tea service while keeping in mind the way most Americans serve tea — in a single cup. Most existing loose tea infusers are built for large tea pots or are time-consuming and clumsy to use. Tea lovers know that bagged tea is inferior in taste and quality to loose tea, but the convenience of tea bags has been hard to beat. Until now. With The Teastick, the modern tea connoisseur has a way to brew a single cup with convenience and style.

Realizing the need for a quick and easy way to serve fine teas in his coffeehouse, Beddingfield discussed the challenge with Khalifa. Together, they created a solution and a pilot product. “The Teastick opens the door to fine selection and beauty and supports the modern demands of individual service in a coffeehouse,” says Beddingfield.

“We were so successful in our sales and enthusiasm in the first run, we knew we were onto something,” says Khalifa. After refining the product and upgrading their manufacturing base for larger runs, Khalifa and Beddingfield have now taken their product to a national-scale launch.

The Teastick offers the design-hungry market a completely unique look and function. Sleek and intriguing, the Teastick is fabricated from high-grade stainless steel, and is able to stand years of service. And best of all, it’s easy to use. “It acts as a measure, container, and infuser— everything needed for tea but the cup of hot water,” says Ty. Just slide back the perforated cylinder, scoop from the tin of your favorite tea, slide it closed and immerse in water.

Gamila’s new Teastick is available directly as of July 2005. Visit the website or look for it in a distinguished retailer near you...see: www.gamilacompany.com or call and speak to one of her creators.