Elizabeth Ascot: The Ultimate Immersive Reading Experience Powered By Wise Business

A good novel can transport you to a different time and place - to the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, or in the case of Elizabeth Ascot, to drinking a cup of British tea in the Victorian countryside. 'Elizabeth Ascot' is a unique British heritage brand, combining literature and high-quality tea blends to enhance the reading experience.

But despite its emphasis on local British traditions, the Elizabeth Ascot team spans the globe, with freelancers in the US and suppliers in India. Using the Wise Business international account, Agnes Fernandes - the creative mind behind the brand - is able to support the day-to-day operations of the company and access fast, local payments that help her business run smoothly.

Elizabeth Ascot: Where Literature, History, and Tea Culture Unite

A former scriptwriter, Agnes Fernandes knows how to immerse her audience in a story. Elizabeth Ascot is Agnes’ new novel series, which is designed not only to be read but to be experienced. Each book in the Elizabeth Ascot series is paired with a meticulously crafted tea blend inspired by the narrative, creating a multisensory experience for readers.

''The whole thing comes from the fun idea of people who love books and enjoy having a cup of tea while reading them''.

The Elizabeth Ascot series begins with the book Treasure in the Attic, which takes place across two parallel narratives. It follows a modern-day story about a fashion designer who stumbles upon the diaries of a governess from 158 years earlier. This dual narrative structure allows Agnes to explore the connections between two women separated by time but linked by a cottage in Ascot. It was this book that inspired Agnes to introduce a new element to her stories, and create teas that her readers would enjoy alongside her characters: “Because the story includes tea parties in Victorian Ascot, we thought it would be fun to include tea blends too."

''Every single character in that book is inspired by someone who lived in this area. I changed names and events, but the context remains authentic''.

The second book is The Extraordinary Ladies of Ascot, and unfolds in Ascot in 1862, just after the passing of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband. A young governess finds herself in a world of afternoon tea parties and grand manor houses.

Wise Business - bridging borders to travel through time

Agnes's creative endeavours span the globe, as she has previously worked for clients based all over the world, from Hungary or India to the US. She explains she began using Wise Business as she was in need of an international account: ''Back then, I received payments from several countries, and it seemed like a wise choice to receive those in their original currency rather than relying on a traditional UK bank for currency conversion.''

''Our first choice is Wise when we're paying suppliers and freelancers, we have accounts in five different currencies including Euro, US Dollar, Indian Rupees and Hungarian forints.''

Agnes' business continues to be global - which means she needs a global solution to move and manage money internationally. With Wise Business, Agnes can hold account details in up to 9 different currencies, including British pounds, US dollars, Indian rupees, and Hungarian forint, offering Agnes the flexibility to manage her international operations seamlessly. Whether it's paying her freelancers to develop her website, creative artists based in the US, or paying for tea in India.

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Agnes further emphasises she enjoys fast international payments with Wise Business: ''The benefit of using Wise Business is that the payments are * instant. You can make payments and it arrives on the same day, which is kind of natural with UK's local transactions, but not so much with international payments. And that gives quite a good impression in terms of business. Your payments are on time, very quick, and reliable''.

''We've used Wise for years and never had an issue with it, I can't say that about my traditional bank provider''.

After these positive experiences using Wise Business, Agnes often recommends the product to her suppliers, who can use the product to manage their own international payments.

The Road Ahead

To continue growing the Elizabeth Ascot brand, Agnes plans to host her own events, particularly during Royal Ascot week in June, at historic houses. These events will offer afternoon tea with the signature blend along with the book to provide a unique atmosphere for attendees to enjoy book readings, learn about Elizabeth Ascot's backstory, and connect with fellow literature and tea enthusiasts.

Future expansion, potentially in the US where British literature is widely read and discussed, is on the table. Thanks to Wise Business, no matter where the business grows, Agnes will always have a solution that allows her to move and manage money internationally - quickly, cheaply, and conveniently in the right currency.

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What's the secret to a perfect tea blend according to Elizabeth Ascot

Creating the perfect blend is no small task, Agnes explains. First, you need to sample various teas from a range of countries before selecting your ideal flavour. The 'Victorian Black Tea' paired with her first book uses leaves from Malawi that are grown on an estate run by a Scottish family with a heritage spanning generations.
This estate employs traditional tea-making methods dating back to the late Victorian era. Not only does this method align seamlessly with the era depicted in her books, but the high-quality tea also features an Orange Pekoe 1 grande, guaranteeing a delightful taste whether enjoyed plain, with milk, or the European way - with lemon and sugar

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