What is Cha Cha Matcha?

Cha Cha Matcha is an American company that specialises in ceremonial-grade matcha, a finely ground powder made from shade-grown green tea leaves. The company was founded in 2016 by two entrepreneurs, Jayme Woo and Spencer Kronenberg, who were inspired by their love of matcha and their desire to share it with others.

Cha Cha Matcha is a small but rapidly growing company. In 2023, the company had revenue of $5 million and is on track to double that figure in 2024. The company has a team of 15 employees and is headquartered in New York City.

Cha Cha Matcha is known for its high-quality matcha, which is sourced from Uji, Japan, a region known for its premium matcha production. The company's matcha is also unique in that it is stone-ground, a traditional Japanese method that produces a finer powder with a smoother flavour.

Cha Cha Matcha offers a variety of matcha products, including loose leaf matcha, matcha lattes, and matcha-infused snacks. The company also offers a matcha subscription service, which allows customers to receive regular shipments of their favourite matcha products.

Cha Cha Matcha is a popular brand among health-conscious consumers (including celebrities), who are attracted to the matcha's many health benefits. Matcha is a rich source of antioxidants, which can help protect cells from damage. Matcha is also a good source of L-theanine, an amino acid that can promote relaxation and focus.

Cha Cha Matcha is committed to sustainability and uses eco-friendly packaging for its products. The company also supports sustainable farming practices in Uji, Japan.

Web3:

Cha Cha Matcha has done the following:

• Launching a web3-powered Loyalty Program: In early 2023, Cha Cha Matcha partnered with Hang, a web3 platform for loyalty programs, to launch their innovative loyalty program. This program allows customers to earn points and rewards both in-store and online. The program also offers unique benefits to paid members, such as an additional 15% discount on all purchases

• Issuing Limited-Edition NFTs: Cha Cha Matcha has issued a collection of limited-edition NFTs that provide holders with exclusive perks. These NFTs grant access to early product releases, discounts, invitations to special events, and even the opportunity to collaborate with the brand on future projects

• Accepting Cryptocurrency Payments: Cha Cha Matcha has expanded their payment options to include cryptocurrency, allowing customers to pay for their matcha drinks and merchandise using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular cryptocurrencies. This move demonstrates their commitment to embracing new technologies and catering to a tech-savvy customer base

• Engaging with the web3 Community: Cha Cha Matcha is actively participating in the web3 community, attending events, interacting with enthusiasts on social media platforms, and exploring potential collaborations with other web3 brands. This engagement helps them stay at the forefront of web3 trends and build relationships with key players in the space

Looking at the Loyalty Programme in More Detail:

The programme will have both a free and paid subscription membership option, with paid members receiving an additional 15% discount on all purchases.

Members of both programmes can earn rewards such as free menu items, exclusive access to partner brand collabs, surprise benefits, tickets to raffles, early access to new products and merchandise, and more.

The more customers visit Cha Cha to buy their ritual matcha, the more points they will earn, allowing the ability to level up to a higher reward tier, which will unlock higher point earning multipliers and better benefits. The top-visiting customer will win a grand prize of an all expenses paid trip to Japan to tour the matcha farms in Uji that supply Cha Cha Matcha.

This is all pretty standard. What makes Cha Cha Matcha’s scheme different is the collaborations with other brands.

Unlike traditional loyalty programs, customers will not only be able to use their membership at Cha Cha Matcha, but also with participating partners. With Hang's interoperable technology, brands like Cha Cha Matcha can take what was once a one-sided, one-brand relationship with its customers, and turn it into a multiplayer, multi-brand experience.

Hang's CEO, Matt Smolin, said "The loyalty programs of the past were boring, transactional, and built on closed systems, whereas the loyalty programs of tomorrow will be exciting, community-driven and built on open systems. Cha Cha Matcha is the first brand to officially launch a successful web3-powered loyalty program, showcasing unique capabilities like seamless brand partnerships and customer ownership that Hang's technology can power."

The Cha Cha Matcha approach will be web2.5. Hang's platform helps Cha Cha Matcha create a seamless experience for customers, without any confusing steps associated with other web3 experiences. For ease of use, customers will be able to add their loyalty pass into their Apple Wallet so that they can easily use it to earn points and redeem their rewards no matter where they are.

About Hang- https://www.hang.xyz/

Hang is a Web3 platform that empowers brands to create and manage innovative customer loyalty programs. By leveraging blockchain technology and NFTs, Hang enables brands to establish more personalised, engaging, and rewarding loyalty experiences for their customers.

Key Features of Hang's web3 Loyalty Platform:

• NFT-Powered Loyalty: Hang utilises NFTs to represent loyalty rewards, transforming static points or rewards into tradable assets that hold value. This incentivizes customer engagement and fosters a sense of community among loyal patrons
• Gamified Loyalty Programs: Hang integrates gamification elements into loyalty programs, making them more engaging and interactive. Customers can earn rewards through various activities, such as making purchases, referring friends, or participating in challenges
• Personalised Loyalty Experiences: Hang's platform enables brands to tailor loyalty programs to individual customer preferences and behaviours. This personalised approach enhances customer satisfaction and strengthens brand loyalty
• Seamless Integration with Existing Systems: Hang integrates seamlessly with existing loyalty programs and point-of-sale systems, allowing brands to easily incorporate web3 elements into their current loyalty structures.

They do all of this in an “out-of-the-box” style - i.e. clients can customise a range of Hang’s loyalty products.

Examples of Hang's Partnerships:

Hang has partnered with various brands across industries to implement Web3 loyalty programs. Notable collaborations include:

• Flipkart: Hang powers Flipkart's new loyalty program, leveraging NFTs to reward loyal customers and enhance brand engagement
• Boba Guys: Hang has partnered with Boba Guys, a popular boba tea chain, to launch a Boba Guys Passport NFT collection, providing exclusive benefits and rewards to holders
• 88rising: Hang is collaborating with 88rising, a music management company, to create a Web3-powered loyalty program for music fans, offering unique experiences and rewards