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CONSUMER INTEREST
April Showers
bring May Flowers & Tea!
Springtime is a
popular time for showers. Not just rain showers that bring beautiful flowers,
but baby showers and bridal showers. The weather is lovely and everyone wants
to get outside or bring the beauty of flowers from outside in. What better way
to celebrate a shower than with an afternoon tea celebration and plenty of
flowers?!
Start planning your
springtime teas early. With flowers as your main focus, think of ways to
incorporate the beauty of flowers into every aspect of your tea party. Start
with pretty invitations. Plan to use beautiful dishes or very special paper
goods. Decorate the tables with flower petals scattered over the tablecloth.
Use teapots as centerpieces with a small plant inside. You might also give each
person attending a teacup to take home. Plant a small annual into each teacup
and set on the table alongside each place setting. Imagine what a beautiful tea
table this will present.
Next, incorporate
flowers into your menu. There are plenty of edible flowers to make beautiful
tea sandwiches. All you need is a dollop of cream cheese or flavored cream
cheese upon a small round cutout of bread – topped with an edible flower.
(Check with your specialty grocer or search online for ways to use edible
flowers, where to buy, and recipes.)
Don’t forget the
tea. Have you seen the beautiful hand tied teas that open into beautiful
flowers? Hand tied, blooming teas are full leaf tea leaves hand tied around
beautiful flowers. When placed into hot water, the teas bloom into what looks
like a flower with beautiful green petals. These teas are delicious, beautiful,
and can be re-steeped several times – making the cost per blossom not bad at
all. Find blooming teas at www.theteahousetimes.com and many local tea rooms or
specialty shops. Find sources for these wonderful teas at
www.teabureau.com
Afternoon tea is a
very special way to celebrate any special event, or just because. Incorporate
flowers and you will really wow your guests. Find a tea room directory and
sources for all things tea at www.teabureau.com Find FREE, printable tea party
games at www.theteahousetimes.com Enjoy your tea!
By Gail
Gastelu, aka Lady Gayle, Publisher, The Tea House Times -
The Tea House Times
is a Victorian, Afternoon Tea Publication. Subscribe at our website or mail
$17.50/yr inside U.S. to: The Tea House Times, PO Box 1049, Dept. TBA, Sparta,
NJ 07871 Visit our website for recipes, tea party ideas, tea news, tea speakers
bureau and more. www.teabureau.com
www.theteahousetimes.com
Contact Email Click Here.
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Courtesy, Hospitality, Chivalry
In a recent edition
of The Tea House Times, we focused on Courtesy, Hospitality and good old
fashioned Chivalry.
According to
Cynthia Grosso, Charleston School of Protocol,
www.charlestonschoolofprotocol.com, “Courtesy is NOT something you show
others . . . it is something you show yourself. Everyday you teach people how
to treat you . . . when you use courtesy; you show others how you expect to be
treated, by treating them that way. When you approach someone with an attitude,
that is what you get back . . . an attitude . . . but when shown courtesy,
although it is not a 100 percent guarantee, you have a lot better chance of
being treated with courtesy back. To get courtesy, you must give it.”
According to Lisa
Wynn, Artisans Cup/Artisans Press,
www.artisanscup.com,
www.artisanspress.com, “Hospitality is a gift. Bestow it on someone and
watch their reaction. To be able to pamper someone over afternoon tea in your
home changes things. To put out your best china, light a candle, and use real
linen tea napkins says, ‘You are worthy of my time.’ Challenge yourself to write
invitations and pass them out to everyone in your immediate neighborhood – it
will change something inside you and others. . . Nobody has the time – you have
to make the time. Be the person to open your home. Boil your water and watch
your relationships ‘brew’.”
Now for the man’s
view. In our July/Aug issue, James E. Patterson, editor of Tea Totaling with
Earlene,
www.earlenegrey.com, shares with us some pointers for men at tea. James
says, “In the U.S. many people think chivalry is dead and want it to be so.
This is not the case in a well-run tea room. If you can do something nice for
someone, do it. This starts with opening the door to the tearoom and allowing
friends and family to enter first. To put this in a context that most men will
understand; if this was a game of golf, opening the door for others is worth a
birdie on the first hole.” James goes on to offer some tips for proper dressing
and how to enjoy the process of afternoon tea. The full article can be viewed
at
www.theteahousetimes.com at our Society page. “Afternoon Tea is all about
the process and the people you are with, and can take one and a half to two
hours. Go to tea, enjoy the experience and find your own benefits.”
“What goes around,
comes around.” So, show a little courtesy and you’ll surely get it back. Offer a
bit of hospitality and enjoy the benefits of a warm reception. And, don’t think
chivalry is dead ~ revive it and feel rewarded by your good deeds. As always,
find some time for family and friends. Take a friend, family member, or business
associate to tea. You’ll be surprised how many people truly enjoy it. Enjoy
all your “Tea House Times.”
By Gail
Gastelu, aka Lady Gayle, Publisher, The Tea House Times -
The Tea House Times
is a Victorian, Afternoon Tea Publication. Subscribe at our website or mail
$17.50/yr inside U.S. to: The Tea House Times, PO Box 1049, Dept. TBA, Sparta,
NJ 07871 Visit our website for recipes, tea party ideas, tea news, tea speakers
bureau and more. www.teabureau.com
www.theteahousetimes.com
Contact Email Click Here.
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TRADE INTEREST
Maximizing the
Attendee Tradeshow Experience
By George Jage,
President, World Tea Expo,
www.worldteaexpo.com
Tradeshows are one
of the most powerful tools for a small or growing business. They are intense,
exciting, social, star-studded, and inspirational. It can give you an
opportunity to meet with hundreds of potential suppliers, get your business in
front of the leading trends, learn best practices from industry peers, and even
create lifelong friendships with people who share your passion.
But it can also be
overwhelming, confusing, and expensive. With limited resources and time, how do
you decide which trade events to attend and which you can miss? And if you
can’t go, how can you still gather knowledge from that event to help your
business? Not to mention, how do you step away from a business that requires you
to be there everyday to operate?
Here are a few
simple strategies to help you decide where to go, how to go, and what to do when
you are there, as well as what to do if you can’t make it.
Which Tradeshow
is Right for Me?
There are thousands
of tradeshows held each year in the US, and often many that could meet your
needs. Almost all have websites that you can use to research.
First, you must
identify your objectives for attending a tradeshow. Are you looking to source
new vendors, or establish more industry contacts through networking? If the
former, focus on the exhibitor list, if the latter, be sure there are ample
networking opportunities provided at the event and be sure the attendees have a
similar business profile as you. (Determining your objectives for a specific
event is a critical step that will transform the deer in the headlights into a
savvy attendee.)
Take a look at the
events webpage. Do they identify who attends and who exhibits? They should,
and you should be able to identify your business with one of the groups that
attend. Is the show covering a broad horizontal market such as beverages, or a
specific vertical such as tea or coffee? Decide which will best meet your needs.
Also look for any
demographics. Are a lot of the other attendees’ small businesses? How many are
new businesses? If this is a small number, it is likely the show has been
around for awhile and the exhibitors and attendees may be a close-knit group
that may not be that receptive to new-comers.
Do I have the
time?
Running a small
business is a BIG challenge and you are often the backbone of the business. The
thought of leaving for a few days can create a lot of anxiety.
JUST DO IT! The
importance for you to be able to grow your business and network with your peers
is essential for your future success. Further, if the business can’t run
without you for a few days, then you haven’t created a business, just a job for
yourself. Stepping away is a powerful way for you to really access the state of
your business and allows you to come back refreshed and rejuvenated to continue
to grow. This will be the number one thing for you to work on when you get back
Preparing for
the Show
As mentioned
earlier, determining your objectives will allow you to have laser-like focus
when you arrive at the event and not be overwhelmed, over-exhausted, and
overloaded. Prioritize your objectives on paper, and then map your schedule
accordingly.
If seeking
knowledge, review the class offerings, whether free or paid in advance. See if
the speaker’s contact info is on the website and send them an email to make sure
their seminar will cover the specifics you want to learn. Make sure the class
level corresponds with the level of knowledge you seek. If you want to learn
about the details and end up in a class that is just an overview, you will find
yourself very disappointed.
Research the
exhibitors. Again, well run tradeshows should have each exhibitors profile
online months before the event. Find the ones you think can supply you with the
products and services you need. Contact them in advance, if not to set an
appointment, then to introduce yourself as a serious buyer so when you show up,
they should be eager to help you right away and know specifically what to show
you.
Download a floor
plan for the event and highlight the booths you want to visit. I even recommend
color coding them for levels of importance. Get around to the must-see
exhibitors first, then focus on the next level of importance.
Schedule the
networking time. If there are designated networking events, put them on your
schedule. But also be sure you have times where you can go and meet other
attendees and industry colleagues. This is a huge aspect of any face-to-face
event and must be part of your plan.
Get your elevator
pitch together. You will have the opportunity to meet a lot of people. Imagine
you just met someone important on an elevator and only have 30 seconds to tell
them about who you are and what you do. It make sound corny, but practice this
before you go, so when you meet someone, you can explain quickly, clearly, and
confidently why they need to know you! A good elevator pitch should include 4
key components; who you are, what you do, why it is different, and why the
person you are telling should care. That’s it, no more, no less.
Make sure you
schedule time to “download”. Tradeshows are busy and often action-packed. Be
sure you schedule some time for you to take breaks to reorganize, refocus, and
refresh yourself.
What to Bring
Make sure you bring
plenty of business cards. You might be surprised how many you go though at the
event and you can’t afford not to have them.
Many shows offer
advance registration, so don’t forget your badge and credentials before you
leave. If registering on-site, be sure to check the shows policies for
admittance. For trade shows, they often require at least two forms of
identification to make sure you are in the trade. This may include business
cards, a pay stub, your sales tax ID, or more.
If you are planning
on making purchase or placing orders at the event from new vendors, you should
bring some credit information and will definitely need a copy of your Sales Tax
ID. At a minimum, the credit information should include the name of your
business, location, your FEIN, Sales Tax ID, your bank contact info, and the
contact info for at least 3 existing vendors who provide you with credit.
And most
importantly, bring comfortable shoes.
It’s Show Time!
If you have set up
a good plan of attack in advance, you will be ready to maximize your tradeshow
experience.
Make sure you allow
yourself time to rest. Trade shows can be very grueling with continued
activities throughout the day. You will want to stop and spend time taking
notes of your conversations, refresh, and be your best and most energetic self
whenever you are engaging other industry people.
Be conscientious of
what you walk away with. At most shows, there are mountains of literature,
samples, show guides, publications, and more at your disposal. A majority of
this gets thrown away in attendees hotel rooms creating unnecessary waste and
creates more work for you to sort through at the end of each day to discern what
is worth keeping. Make that decision before you load up your show bag with
more stuff you will have to carry around for the rest of the day.
Attending on a
Budget
Book in the block.
Almost all trade events set up room blocks to ensure there is adequate housing
for delegates. Their volume purchasing of the rooms almost always offers the
lowest rates.
Register early.
Events that have a registration fee almost always offer significant discounts
for early registration, take advantage of these. The events will also send you
more information about the event and how you can maximize your experience. Some
events extend free registrations coupons to the exhibitors. Call the exhibitors
to see if these are available.
What to do if
you missed the event
Even if you can’t
go, there are often lots of opportunities to get the content and information
presented at the event in addition to the information available from the event’s
website.
See if you can get
a show guide sent to you or ask a friend who is going to grab you an extra one.
Often exhibitors contact information is available and you can follow up with
vendors to send you a catalog or contact you to discuss their products. If
there is a conference program, see if recordings are available on CD or podcasts.
There is nothing to replace the experience and excitement of being at a
face-to-face event, but if the force of nature prevents you from coming, don’t
miss the rich resources created by the event.
©2008, George
Jage, President, World Tea Expo
www.worldteaexpo.com
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Networking and Afternoon Tea
Do you have any
idea what afternoon tea is? I recently attended a business networking group
where you typically go around the room, introduce yourself to others and attempt
to make new connections. As Publisher and Editor in Chief of The Tea House
Times, a Victorian, Afternoon Tea Publication, I introduced myself and explained
my business, etc. While some definitely knew what afternoon tea was, others
simply scratched their heads and said, “what’s that?” They had no idea there
was such a thing. If you have no idea what afternoon tea is, it’s time to learn
about it now.
Afternoon Tea is a
delightful repast of delicious treats including a pot of tea, dainty sandwiches,
scones, and other sweets. Historically, an English Tradition, Afternoon Tea is
traditionally served between 3 and 5 pm as a way to stave off hunger to a later,
evening meal (often referred to as High Tea—not the same thing at all). You may
enjoy Afternoon Tea at a local tea room, a fine hotel, or in your own home with
some careful preparation. Afternoon tea is also a delightful gathering for any
charitable organization to raise funds.
Now, how about
networking over tea? Why not invite a group of business people to tea at your
office or local tea room? OR, why not make afternoon tea your next power
lunch? Many tea rooms in America will serve Afternoon Tea at lunchtime. So,
you may enjoy a very unique, very relaxing time with your special friends,
family, or business colleagues. If you don’t always have time for Afternoon Tea
(which can take anywhere from one to two hours to properly enjoy), then simply
have cream tea (scones, clotted cream, jam, and a pot of tea). Or, simply enjoy
a cuppa anytime with anyone.
There is something
about tea that is extra special. It is not at all a coffee break. Somehow a
coffee break always turns into a working break………not a break at all. Tea brings
with it a sense of calm and purposely provides a real, calming, sit back and
take a few minutes to yourself time. Why not bring your delicate, china cup to
work. Take a real break and just sit back and enjoy your cup of tea. It won’t
take long, and you will return to your work just a little more refreshed. You
work hard, you deserve a break, now take it!
To find a tea room
near you, or to find recipes and proper tea brewing techniques, visit our
website:
www.theteahousetimes.com
By Gail
Gastelu, aka Lady Gayle, Publisher, The Tea House Times -
The Tea House Times
is a Victorian, Afternoon Tea Publication. Subscribe at our website or mail
$17.50/yr inside U.S. to: The Tea House Times, PO Box 1049, Dept. TBA, Sparta,
NJ 07871 Visit our website for recipes, tea party ideas, tea news, tea speakers
bureau and more. www.teabureau.com
www.theteahousetimes.com
Contact Email Click Here.
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Drink Tea for the Health of it.
Drinking tea is indeed healthy according to findings
presented at the recent Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health in
Washington, DC. If you have not yet found a tea that satisfies you, try
some new ones. Look for whole leaf teas either loose or bagged. When
properly brewed, tea is tasty. So many people say – ew – I do not like the
taste of green tea. Try another brand, but before you do, try brewing it
properly. Green tea is best prepared at a lower temperature than black
tea. Black teas can be brewed with water that has come to a full boil.
Green teas should be brewed with water that is under the boil point. White
teas are even more delicate and need to be brewed at a cooler temperature still.
The point is – don’t burn the tea leaves. They are delicate. Besides water
temperature, watch your brew time too. Steep to your taste and remove the
tea leaves. Left in the cup, tea will become bitter and undrinkable.
Below are some pieces of tea and health information
released recently from the symposium. The original article is quite long,
so please visit our website to read it in its entirety:
www.theteahousetimes.com/tea_news.htm
WASHINGTON, DC,
– Leading scientists from around the world convened in Sept, 2007 in
Washington, DC for the Fourth International Scientific Symposium on Tea &
Human Health to review the latest findings on the potential health benefits
of tea, including studies on how it may help maintain a healthy body weight,
control blood sugar and even help us think more clearly. New studies adding to
the body of knowledge regarding the comfort beverage’s potential ability to
reduce risk for several chronic diseases, such as heart disease and certain
cancers were also presented.
The latest data provide further evidence of tea’s role
in helping individuals maintain good health and vitality. Research
scientists from top medical institutions in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and
North America gathered to share their new data.
Some of the other exciting findings presented at the
Fourth International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health relevant to
public health were:
Tea
flavonoids may improve cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation and
improving blood vessel function;
Tea
drinking may play a role in gene expression that is involved in cancer cells;
Tea
may play a role in shifting metabolism to favor weight loss and better manage
blood sugar levels;
Tea
is a major contributor of flavonoids in the US diet.
The symposium, which was sponsored by the American
Cancer Society, American College of Nutrition, American Medical Women’s
Association, American Society for Nutrition, The Linus Pauling Institute and the
Tea Council of the U.S.A., was held at the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA). Leading researchers from around the world joined
American scientists in presenting the latest clinical, laboratory and
epidemiological data on the role of tea in promoting healthfulness and reducing
the risk of disease.
“The list of health benefits associated with tea
consumption continues to grow. And, unlike medications, there are no known
medical reasons not to enjoy tea as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle, ” said
meeting co-chair, Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., Professor, Friedman School of
Nutrition Science and Policy and Director, Antioxidants Research Laboratory,
Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University,
Boston.
“The scientific community around the world is making
tremendous advancements in better understanding the mechanisms by which tea may
reduce risk for heart disease, certain cancers, type II diabetes, and help
maintain neurological function. Researchers are finding out exactly how
bioactive compounds in tea exert their positive effects on human health,”
commented co-chair Lenore Arab, Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine at the
University of California, Los Angeles.
Symposium news provided through the Tea Council of the
USA. Press contact: khughes@pollock-pr.com
Visit our website to read the full article:
www.theteahousetimes.com/tea_news.htm
By Gail
Gastelu, aka Lady Gayle, Publisher, The Tea House Times -
The Tea House Times
is a Victorian, Afternoon Tea Publication. Subscribe at our website or mail
$17.50/yr inside U.S. to: The Tea House Times, PO Box 1049, Dept. TBA, Sparta,
NJ 07871 Visit our website for recipes, tea party ideas, tea news, tea
speakers bureau and more.
www.teabureau.com
www.theteahousetimes.com
Contact Email Click Here.
READER NOTICE
This information is not intended for use as a
substitute for consultation with a qualified medical practitioner, medical
treatment or medical advice. If you have symptoms of any illness, or a known
disease, it is essential that you see your doctor without delay. You are unique,
and your diagnosis and treatment must be individualized for you by your own
doctor.
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TEA
BUREAU ARTICLE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
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your business is a Tea Bureau member. Click here
for membership details. If you are already a Tea Bureau member, please
send ONE article per month in the below format. Please DO NOT send as an
attachment to an email. Type your article in the following format, cut and
paste into the body of an email and send to us
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BODY TEXT:
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(Please keep the body text
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COPYRIGHT PROTECTED
©2008
The information on this page and in our website is provided as a service to the
tea industry and for private use. The information contained herein may
not be published elsewhere; copied or reproduced in any manner whether print
or electronic. The names of businesses included may or may not be approved
by or affiliated with The Tea House Times or Tea Bureau. Any contacts you
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