How Vahdam Teas Scaled D2C Revenue with Shopify Plus

From Local Teas to Global Wellness Brand

Founder Bala Sarda launched VAHDAM Teas in 2015 after noticing most Indian teas were exported, repackaged, and sold by overseas companies. He decided to source directly from tea gardens and ship fresh products from farm to cup. Early on, the team used a basic Shopify store but quickly outgrew its capabilities as orders poured in from around the world.

Challenges

Operating in 130 countries introduces layers of complexity. Each market demands different language, packaging regulations, and payment methods. With standard Shopify plans, VAHDAM faced delays in launching localized pages. Conversion rates fluctuated wildly by region, and checkout experiences felt generic. Without a centralized way to adjust content, promotions, and scripts per market, the growth trajectory stalled.

Solution: Shopify Plus & Integrations

Migrating to Shopify Plus unlocked advanced theme API access, enabling modular page components that could be toggled per market. Developers built custom checkout scripts in Ruby to introduce countdown timers, upsell prompts, testimonial carousels, and gift options. AVAHDAM also integrated Klaviyo for email segmentation and Attentive for SMS campaigns, creating a unified marketing engine that spoke directly to each audience.

Implementation Process

The team prioritized four core regions—US, UK, Canada, and Germany. In a staged rollout, they cloned the main theme and added region-specific sections for hero banners and feature modules. Checkout scripts were carefully versioned in Git, allowing for rollback if needed. Marketing flows in Klaviyo targeted new subscribers with welcome series, cart-abandonment reminders, and cross-sell emails. Attentive messages were timed around product drops, driving early traction.

Results

Within seven years, VAHDAM tripled its direct-to-consumer revenue. Annual growth hit 100% CAGR, with 40% of orders coming from repeat customers. Checkout conversion climbed by 25% thanks to localized upsells and social proof. Celebrity mentions from Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, and Chris Pratt sent waves of organic traffic. Today, VAHDAM ships to over 130 countries and maintains strong engagement in its core markets.

Tech Stack & Future Outlook

Beyond Shopify Plus, VAHDAM uses a headless CMS for content updates, Zapier for cross-app automations, and a BI tool for custom reporting. The team plans to roll out AI-driven recommendations next, tying inventory signals to personalized offers. Logistics run on Shopify Shipping and a global warehouse network for faster delivery.

Sourcing & Social Impact

VAHDAM works directly with smallholder farmers in India, removing middlemen and ensuring fair wages. For every purchase, the brand donates meals to underprivileged children. This mission-driven narrative is woven into product pages, checkout, and post-purchase emails, reinforcing trust and driving up repeat purchase rates.

Key Learnings

Global D2C growth demands a flexible, programmable platform. Automating personalized checkout experiences moves the needle on conversion and average order value. It’s critical to go beyond translation—use data to guide which offers and messages resonate in each region. Finally, weaving your social mission into every touchpoint builds loyalty and fuels long-term growth.