We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Steve Yates, the CEO of Yangua Wellness, a business known for producing both CBD and non-CBD teas. Steve shared his personal journey, the inspiration behind his business, and his thoughts on holistic wellness.
It was a really insightful conversation. Let’s jump in.
Tell us about your business and what inspired you to start it.
In 2019, I suffered two heart attacks in one day. As part of my recovery, a friend encouraged me to try CBD, and I found it to be very effective. I incorporated it into my wellness routine and became increasingly curious about holistic medicine and natural remedies. That curiosity led me to start Yangua Wellness, where we produce tea with various infusions, including CBD. Some of our infusions use simple ingredients like ginger or ashwagandha, depending on the type of tea. We offer custom teas, both retail and wholesale, and we’ve grown rapidly in that space. Tea is now at the top of our product range, followed by our CBD products. Ultimately, it’s all about wellness—helping people manage their health issues in a way that feels comfortable to them.
Where is your business located?
Our shop is located in Carrollton, Texas.
What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered, and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges in the CBD space is the stigma associated with it, as well as the fact that not all players in the industry are credible. You can find CBD on almost every street corner, so the challenge becomes how to differentiate yourself and build trust with customers. We’ve also had to deal with the misconception that CBD and cannabis are purely about getting high, which isn’t what we’re about at all. That’s one of the reasons we pivoted to tea. Tea is widely accepted—75% of Americans drink tea—so it’s easier to have conversations about wellness through tea. Whether someone wants a traditional tea or an infused tea, we can cater to their needs, and that’s helped us grow.
What would you say is the key solution your business is providing?
Our goal is to help people understand how natural remedies can improve their quality of life, and we’re doing that through our tea and wellness products.
Steve Yates (CEO of Yangua Wellness) with a customer.
Awesome awesome!! What advice would you give to a business owner looking to succeed in your industry?
Be prepared to change direction. When I launched Yangua Wellness a couple of years ago, it didn’t look anything like it does today. What you think you know when you start will evolve as you learn more, so be ready to adapt. You also have to understand the laws around CBD —they change frequently, and you need to be flexible as they do.
What unique approach are you bringing to the market with your business?
For me, it’s all about relationships. Your business is an extension of yourself, especially in the beginning. I’m not interested in just making a one-time sale; I want to build relationships with my customers. That way, I can track their progress and continue improving my products. A transactional business model doesn’t allow for that.
What feature of Maoney Connect have you found most valuable?
I really appreciate how Maoney Connect educates its users. It makes it easy for businesses like mine to grow and connect with customers. As business owners, we want to attract customers, build our brands, and have partners like Maoney that help us do just that.
This is really amazing to hear.
What advice would you give to new users on Maoney Connect to maximize their experience?
You have to be intentional and patient. Building relationships takes time, and things don’t happen overnight. You need to ask questions and be active in engaging with both the platform and its community. That’s how you get the most out of it.
How do you envision Maoney Connect evolving in the future to support community building and engagement?
I’d love to see Maoney Connect become even more integrated into users’ daily lives. It should be seamless, something that feels natural to use. I think incorporating AI into the platform will take it to the next level, making it even easier to connect, engage, and build strong communities.
Thank you, Steve. I appreciate your time today.