AN INTERVIEW WITH. . .
VICKIE SURBER, MISS MARIE'S TEA

This month we are interviewing Vickie of Miss Marie’s Tea, home to a variety of teas and herbal tisanes, a delightful selection of books, cards and invitations, gifts, jewelry, accessories, and specialty foods.

GAIL/THE THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:   Tell us about some of the newer offerings at your website including tea cozies, infuser mugs and teapots.

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA: We often update our cozie offerings as popular older patterns retire and beautiful new patterns become available, our newest are the lime green and pink polka dots...actually had a client borrow a few to wrap around round vases for use as centerpieces at a wedding shower.  Green hydrangeas and lime green polka dots ...we sold a few from this event, as tea cozies or decorative flower vase covers I'm not sure!  We are expanding our colors of ceramic teapots and have received favorable feedback on that and our infuser mugs are top-sellers in 4 colors. Our "Tea of the Month Club" is increasing in popularity...we seem to have progressed to more direct customer contact than we expected.  It's been fun....members of the club actually call us to talk about their teas, their likes & dislikes, sometimes even place orders for items, usually cozies or strainers, to be included in their next months order.

GAIL/THE THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  I noticed in the gift section of your website, a beautiful, hand-blown glass teapot ornament.  This is beautiful and would be a wonderful gift for Christmas, but I can also image this hanging in my kitchen window.  What is the design and how is it packaged?  What are the dimensions?

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA:  The ornaments make beautiful gifts any time of year. It is a hand-blown glass hummingbird teapot ornament, beautifully hand-painted from the inside and arrives in its own attractive fabric box.  The size is 3.5" with the spout & handle by 2.5".

GAIL/THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  What types of teas do you carry?

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA: Quite a variety and we are constantly trying and adding new ones.  We always attempt to add a new tea or two when doing tastings and so far they have been good choices...we have had to add them to our online offerings! We offer reds, whites, greens, blacks, herbals, mostly loose leaf but have added a selection of tea in bags.

AIL/THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  Tell us about the cards and invitations.

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA: The unique invitations are beautifully designed.  As a special order they take approximately 2 weeks, but are well worth it for a heartfelt invitation to a special event. Our variety of Tea Bag Cards fit all occasions; all include a gift tea bag for a comforting cup of tea.  The pictures on our website don't quite do them justice...all are lovingly detailed.  Also, we will soon be offering beautiful stationary, note cards and cards from the Carol Wilson line.  They will be in stock soon and online shortly!

GAIL/THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  The teapot jewelry is beautiful. I own some myself and always receive compliments.  What types of jewelry do you carry and what is your best seller?

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA: We don't carry as much of this as I would like to...it seems to sell much better at our teas when guests can pick the pieces up and see for themselves the quality and lovely designs. The teapot brooch for use with scarves is a popular one for us. 

GAIL/THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  Tell us about the variety of accessories and strainers.

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA: Quite a variety, strainers and infusers, spoons, tea measurers and caddies.  One of our most popular items are the boxes of paper tea strainers...make your own tea bags! We suggest these a lot as a simple way to urge guests to try a variety of loose leaf teas as opposed to restricting themselves to always purchasing tea in bags. Of course we sell teapots, the pretty to look at ones, but also the great workhorses...the brightly colored ceramics.  A beautifully patterned cozy with a matching ceramic teapot seems to be the gift to give!

GAIL/THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  And, specialty foods?  My fav, Victorian House Scones!  What variety of Victorian House Scones do you offer and what other types of food items?

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA: I agree with you about the Victorian House Scones, we sell them and also bake them up for tea tastings.  Our guests love them and we always have an increase in sales after our teas! Usually we keep in stock the Oatmeal, Lemon Poppyseed and the Original.  There is a lot you can do with the original for variety. Other scone mixes we carry that have proved popular are the Blueberry Mix and the Buttermilk from Curdelicious. Other offerings include cookies, curds, hot chocolates and other baking mixes.

GAIL/THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  Do you offer wholesale on any of the merchandise found at your website? Or is everything retail only?

VICKIE/MISS MARIES TEA: Right now we offer retail only.

GAIL/THE TEA HOUSE TIMES:  Thank you Vickie!

To order from Miss Marie’s Tea, please phone 704-277-4953 or visit http://www.missmariestea.com