The Tea Trove

Rockin' the new lemonade blends!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:22:00 +0000

Okay, so here's the latest:

Lemon Bomb - Pinapple, papaya, cherry, and goji berry, lemon juice and sugar

Hibiscus - Not overly tart from the hibiscus; great balance with the lemon and sugar

I LOVE lemonade as much as I love teas.

Check out the new e-commerce site at teatrove.com

Happy tasting!
KDM

Earth Day Omaha April 17, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:37:00 +0000

Greetings!

If you've missed our blends or are eager to sample new ones (and we know that you are!) come see us at Earth Day Omaha! You'll be able to sample, buy a cup and purchase teas to enjoy later.

See ya there!

Peace.
Kori

Be sure to become a fan on Facebook!

Enter to WIN!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Stop by our booth at the Omaha Farmers Market (1oth & Jackson - 8 a.m. -12:30 p.m.)and enter to win a gallon of your favorite blend (tea, tisane or lemonade) from us.

See you there!

Peace and Tea.
Kori

News flash!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:06:00 +0000

Greetings!

You may notice a few changes/additions to our marketing. This blog is now simply called: The Tea Trove. You can also find us at:

wwww.google.com/profiles/TheTeaTrove
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tea-Trove/84572155336
*Be sure to become a fan so you can get the latest information from our blending guru!

Peace & Tea!
Kori

We are still here after 6 years! Yah!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Greetings!

As I sit sipping Breakfast Serenade, listening to The Today Show and realizing my kids are a little too quiet, I can't help, but wonder where the time has gone. Our business began at The Omaha Farmers Market (11th & Jackson) in 2003. Back then, I was traveling the US for work and returning each weekend (when possible) during the market season to conduct market research. It was a grueling schedule, but we were determined to see where this "tea thing" might go.

The original business plan was written while I was in Colorado where direct competition existed. Omaha was different. We had to really figure out if there was a market for tea. I knew there was, but banks are more encouraged by "proof." Then, a direct potential competitor opened a retail store (about a year before our retail store opened)and we were able to watch and learn.

Our retail location finally opened after much "sweat equity" and frustration. The location was not ideal, but we had to try to make it work. After two years of doing everything short of parading around in costume on a street corner to get attention,(but considered it) we determined we could not make the location work. A bad location is difficult to overcome. And, more importantly, we were learning that our niche really was blending. Our list of custom blends was developing rapidly and demand for them by other stores was also increasing.

We made a business decision to shift gears. The store closed, but not before we purchased property to which the business could relocate. Our blending facility is the original home on our acreage. It was built in 1877. It is a work-in-progress and as of today, coming along quite nicely.

Now, our business operates more freely. Our hours are typically M-F from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., but that does not mean you'll catch me in the building! You are more likely to receive our voicemail. That routes to my cell phone or computer. Cellular reception is a challenge in the country. I do respond within 24-48 hours after receiving a message.

We also made a decision that our children would be more actively involved. Our business is family-owned. Our children do participate. They help pack boxes for market and help with deliveries. Customers will frequently hear our son say "would you like a sample? or "here is your tea." Our daughter is young so she helps pack boxes.

The news consistently covers stories on balancing family and work because people apparently have difficulty doing so. I think it is especially challenging for moms who work "outside the home" or have a home-based business. I am not as readily available to customers as I was when the store was open. And, my family does take the number one position to the business in many instances. What are the ramifications? Well, I know we loose potential business because others do not agree with our approach. I also know that one of our motivators for beginning a business was to have more control over our lives. So, while we would love to be a million dollar business "yesterday", it will be a slow climb since we also want to enjoy our children growing up.

Our business is small. We like it this way...for now. Business plans are living documents and ours has changed several times over the course of six years in business. Occassionally, we feel the push to grow faster or to compete more strongly, but, and this is huge, we do not believe in increasing our debt load in order to grow our business. Many businesses are struggling through this challenging economic environment. Our "growing slow with purpose" plan is helping us to weather the storm. We do not take on more than we can handle. We are realistic.

Six years and we are still here. We've been approached by third parties representing people wishing to buy our business. It is not for sale. Our hand-blended loose leaf teas and tisanes are some of the best in the tea market. Our ability to create signature blends for customers at a reasonable cost cannot be beat. Working with us is laid back and easy. We laugh a lot. We play a lot. And, we enjoy learning about our customers. Heck, you just might catch us playing chess or trivial pursuit with a few at the farmers Market!

Peace.
Kori

Welcome Harvest Health & Coffee!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Greetings!

Just thought I'd take a moment to welcome Harvest Health & Coffee in Fremont and York, NE as our newest customer. If you are interested in shopping locally, visit Greg's stores. He makes an effort to work with Nebraska producers and to promote Nebraska-made products.

Over the course of the summer, several retail customers inquired about where our teas can be purchased. We list the locations on our site: teatrove.com. These customers also made suggestions (very appreciated), but some were very surprised to learn our approach to growth. We take the turtle's view: Slow & steady. We want our custom blends to sell, but we don't want them to be drowned out in an aisle of teas. Those who've sampled our teas know that we are very particular about our blends in terms of taste and quality.

Sometimes, lower quality tea leaves are used to make blends whether they be flavored or straight blends. This is partly due to cost. If I can purchase a lower grade Assam ($5.50/lb wholesale), jazz it up with flavor and sell it for $30/pound, then I will make money hand over fist. But, and this is a huge BUT, I want our teas to have depth. When I add flavoring, I do it to enhance the overall experience, not to simply cover up a poor quality tea leaf. This is our philosophy.

I LOVE really good food. Tea is no exception. I can get just about any tea (expensive or cheap and anything in between.) I carry standards, but if someone is serious about trying something new, and wants to spend the money to get it, then I will find it. What I will not do is carry expensive teas that will not turn over regularly enough to keep them really fresh. Expensive teas must be fresh in my opinion.

My brother paid for me to have personalized license plates many moons ago. My family and I brainstormed various things to put on it. One of their favorites was "picky." This is completely inaccurate. I am not picky. I am, however, selective. Expensive does not always equal better in my mind, but oftentimes in tea, I have found this to be a true statement. There are thousands of teas and plenty of them are moderately priced and are really great for blending or simply enjoying unmodified. I rarely purchase an expensive tea for blending. What is the point in that? The exception is a wonderful, organic silver needle that I found. I use it for Sweet Snowflake during the holiday season. Never say never, right?

Well, this has gotten longer than I intended. Time to get some blending done for an order.

See you at the farmers market tomorrow!

Peace.
Kori

Clearing the clutter

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:09:00 +0000

Greetings!
It's been a long, grueling few weeks, but a bit of oolong tea really helped! Each time I've been faced with a traumatic life event, what is reinforced is how important it is to have a sense of normalcy. Being able to make my tea in the morning is just one thing that does that for me.

We began the clean-up process at our property. It is a slow process and I am not the most patient person on the planet. While I try to complete orders as quickly as possible, I must admit it is difficult to focus. I am one of those people who does not like clutter (physical or mental). It feels so great to clean things out. My mental clarity returns. In my former life, I would tell students that I got more accomplished in the wee hours of the morn than most people did all day. When I have no clutter. My focus is keen. In fact, my nickname was Keen Kori in my former career.

It is frustrating to see all of the damage to our property. There, I wrote it down, thought it and said it aloud. Now, I can move on. We are making great progress getting the outside to look like it once did. Trees have been chopped and chipped. Piles of debris are being cleared. And, today, I was inspired! There is a flower garden just to the south of our main house. It was destroyed. I mowed it a week or so ago. Today, I looked at it and for the first time it occurred to me that it does not need to be there. What?

Now I have a vision of what the garden on the south side should be and just how it should be expanded. The blending building is a bit further south and slightly behind the main house. Our original plan was to create a path from the drive to the door of the building. The grass is slowly dying because of the vehicles that have to drive to the building to make repairs. What better time to recreate the space into a larger, informal garden with a winding path to the door? Better still...no more mowing on the south side of the house! We are always exploring ways to reduce how much lawn maintenance we do. So, I discovered one more up side to a bad situation. Yah!

While we won't be able to host our afternoon tea on the lawn this year, we are looking forward to doing it next year. Maybe the new garden will even be established! That would be very cool!

In the meantime, come visit us at the downtown farmers market each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. As always, samples are free.

Peace.
Keen Kori

p.s. Email is the most reliable way to reach me. My phone messages go to my email so do leave a message. If you include an email addy, then you will hear back faster. If you do not hear back from me in 24-48 hours either by phone or email (and it's not the weekend or a holiday) then it is a safe assumption that I did not receive your message.

Mother Nature is my home girl...

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:41:00 +0000

Greetings!
Well, Mother Nature just kicked our butts BIG time, but there are postives. While we are unable to fulfill orders due to no power or water for approximately the next week, our family is together and SAFE. Passersby marvel at the damage our property sustained. Sure, a giant cottonwood tree fell on and crushed our work van. Sure, the entire tree along with other limbs and a pine tree are blocking the driveway. Sure, our windows were blasted out of the front of our house and our blending building. And, yah, there is debris (lots of glass, etc.) in both buildings. And, while we really enjoyed the enclosed patio, there is a bit more of a breeze. Okay, so what are some positives besides being together and safe?

Our son can reach the basketball hoop now that it is bending completely backwords. The tree that took out our van missed our house. The tree we thought would take out our house didn't even budge. We will have a lot more firewood. We won't have to mow for a while. Oh, and weeding is a bit less important or necesssary at the moment. Our 130-yr-old building is still standing. Our 93-yr-old home is also still standing. We discovered a mulberry tree we did not know we had. Mother Nature apparently approved of our playground equipment. It is surrounded by tree limbs, some huge, but the equipment appears to be unscathed. We have great neighbors. People we did not even know stopped to help clean up today. Our dog made it through the storm without a scratch. She's tough!

So, while we could focus on the damage and the amount of serious work we have ahead of us, we are focusing on the positives. We know our business is being negatively impacted by this turn of events, but we cannot control Mother Nature. We can only control our response to the situation. So, while we move tree limbs, cut up wood, pick up glass inside and out, and live without power and water, we will remind each other everyday how lucky we are. We could have lost it all. We could have lost each other.

A BIG thank you to Mother Nature for reminding us that our family is the most important aspect of our existance. Sometimes I think we forget. I know I do.

Peace.
Kori

Do we still sell retail?

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:25:00 +0000

Greetings!
The short answer is yes! When you visit our web site, you will see our newest blends and a short list of what can be ordered. The blends we list change depending on the season. Now, if you have a question, just email or call. We will get back to you within 24 hours M-F between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. We are still the area's largest specialty tea merchant with over 100 teas/tisanes.

If you do not reach us, please leave a message. Your message is re-routed to my email and I listen on line. Vonage plug: Very cool service. Since we are out in the country, my cell phone does not get great reception. When you order, be specific about quantity (1 oz, 2 oz, etc.) and if you would like a sample of a tea, let me know. Sending email works even better and I can get back to you faster if I need more information.

In the near future, we will allow visits to our blending facility. There, our teas still will be displayed in sniffing jars. Visits are always by appointment only.

So, we are not completely out of the retail environment, but we have made significant changes to our approach. Our custom blends are currently available at Wohlner's Neighborhood Grocery Store, Scheels, Confluence and the downtown Omaha Farmers Market. If you know of a store that might be interested in our Made in Nebraska Custom Blends, pass our information along.

We also are available for tastings @ $12/person. If your organization would like a speaker, call us to see if there is a good fit.

The bottom line is, well the bottom line, but we are flexible and easy to work with. Our pricing is competitive and our custom blends are the best in the area because we select specific teas with which to blend. I do not simply find an Assam from "wherever in India" or a lower grade Chinese Keemun that cannot be traced to its source. In tea, you really do get what you pay for and I am selective.

Cheers!
Kori

Tea? Why talk about that?

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:21:00 +0000

Greetings!
After reviewing a few blogs, I realized that while I do enjoy talking about tea, I really enjoy talking about life. So, this year our blog is likely to take a slightly different path.

Life is short. Tea is forever. Well, unless you believe global warming is a major issue. In that case, tea may not be forever. I'm not clear on that point yet. For us, it is important to be aware of our energy consumption, the products we use, how and where we purchase items, etc. Honestly, we've been this way at least as long as Steve and I have been together.

As we work on the new Tea Trove blending building, we are assessing how it uses energy. We are repairing the windows (original) and installing insulated drapes, adding insulation, repairing holes, etc. I learned from a bit of research that replacing the original windows was a bad idea (for several reasons.) One tidbit is this: an insulated drape over a single payne window provides more insulation than the same drape over a double payne window. Who knew? I found some study that tested this and problably have a copy of it if anyone is interested.

Having a little land with which to experiment is going to be fun. I plan to start an organic garden (not sure when, but it is in the plans) and we are looking at solar options for a few things.

So, tea is not necessarily forever, but it is for now. Enjoy and experiment!

Peace.
Kori

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:26:00 +0000

Greetings and Happy New Year!

May 2008 be your year for accomplishing all that you set out to do. I plan to seize the day! Everyday! Life is short and I plan to be exhausted in the end. Nothing reminds me more of just how important this is than when someone dies. For us, 2007 brought two deaths to our family in a span of about one month. We said good-bye to 2007 with another family member passing. This has been an especially difficult year for our family as well as our extended family. So, I resolve to be exhausted!

On the upside, we welcomed our daughter, Zara, into the world. What a fabulous experience this has been so far. She is a smiling, laughing and curious girl with lots to say. We also relocated personally and professionally. Moving to the country has proven to be a great decision. We are more relaxed and our son LOVES the new place. On Christmas morning, we were visited by a peacock! He likes to hang out on our deck and peak inside. Zain is fascinated!

Closing and relocating The Tea Trove is in phase one of completion. Nearly everything is out of the store and in Fremont. Here's a tip: I don't recommend moving a business in winter.

We are so excited to be making positive changes for 2008! We hope you are too!

Cheers!
Kori

Moving Sale Dec. 26-28, 2007

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:53:00 +0000

Greetings!

Come and get it! What is that from? An old TV show, I think. Anywho... Our moving sale began today. If you know you are interested in something, but cannot get here by 5 p.m., let me know. We will be cleaning out the store until about Dec. 31st. Of course, by then it will probably be a cash only sale since our system will be packed and moved already.

Here is a brief list of what's available:
1 pizza machine
1 Bunn Iced Tea Brewer
2 Bunn dispensers
1 cash register
1 wood wall info display unit
2 rectabgular dining tables
2 round dining tables
1 rocking chair
chairs
books
various tea ware

All sales are final and items are sold "as is." We accept all major credit cards.

Thanks!
Peace.
Kori

Thoughts on Retail

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:43:00 +0000

Greetings!

Since announcing that we are closing the retail store front, many customers (new and old) have expressed disappointment and even sadness at our decision. My brother, who is also one of our business advisors, shared that he too was sad to hear the news though he believes we made the right choice.

It is not an easy decision. Many times during the past two years, customers asked if this is my dream. Not exactly. One of my goals is to operate successful businesses. In order to do this, I have to analyze what is working and what is not. We learned from this experience and will use the lessons to make the business stronger and better. Focusing on a wholesale approach with a smaller percentage of retail is what makes sense for our business. This is not true for all tea merchants, but we believe it is true for us.

Our focus is on exceeding our customers' expectations whenever possible. That will not change after we relocate the business. Sure, it will be different, but I will still be available to provide presentations. And, my motto has always been "have tea, will travel!" Our beverage catering business will also have an opportunity to expand. Heck, I will even entertain hosting teas in a person's home. This is something I could not do with a store front. Tea tastings are still available and can be conducted at a location determined by the customer. No store front really translates into greater flexibility.

Steve and I are excited to begin a new phase of our business. Operating a business is challenging and rewarding. Many of you know that I loved my former career as a consultant, but I got bored. That meant it was time to move on and challenge myself with something new. Tea was and is a great fit, but the better fit is simply the challenge of growing and improving a business. Like other entrepreneurs, we have tons of business ideas. Which one do we go after first is our question.

Entrepreneurs are a different breed of people. Sure, they are risk-takers, but in a very calculating way. And, they have more than confidence, passion and determination. I have always known I would do my own thing. I cannot speak for Steve, but I'd bet money he would say the same thing.

I rarely see a situation as a problem. In my former role, one of the concepts I taught was E+L=M. This means event + language = motivation. For example, let's imagine you were just fired (event). You could use all sorts of language to describe the negative aspects of the event: I'll never find another job; That employer was _______; The economy is so bad... You get the idea. Or, you could use more positive language: You know, it was time for me to move on. That job was not a good fit for me. There are so many new possibilities. I could explore a whole new area! The list goes on and on. The positive language moves you forward while the negative language brings you down. I am not saying this is easy, but I am saying that I am in control of how I perceive a particular situation.

I'm not advocating the wearing of rose-colored glasses, but I am advocating accentuating the positive. Life is too short to get bogged down. My father always says if something is an albatross around your neck, kick it to the curb (okay, something like that!)Personally, I like Auntie Mame's philosophy: Life is a banquet and most poor saps are starving to death! Live! Live! Live!

So, will I miss having the store open? No, not really. I loved having it. I enjoyed building it with my husband. I had a great time meeting some fabulous people. (One of my favorite people was probably one of our first customers: a then 10-year-old boy. He taught me to play chess. We'd play weekly and simply chat. What a great kid! His parents are doing something right!)Life is definately about the people you meet along the way and the impact you allow them to have on you. I love playing chess now!

When you find yourself needing tea, give us a call or email. We'll get it to you. If you want to try something, we'll get a sample to you. If you want to have a special blend for that special someone, let us know. We will be happy to work with you! We are the area's largest tea merchant. If we do not have a tea you want, we can probably get it!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Peace.
Kori

CLOSED 12/21 AND 12/22

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:09:00 +0000

Greetings!

I woke up this morning with the realization that I need to do my own Christmas shopping! We are hosting Christmas in the Country this year at our new home and I am not even close to ready! Eeeck!

We will be closed for retail business until after Christmas. The moving sale is Dec. 26-28, 2007 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone and email orders will be filled and delivered/mailed. Call today! I'll be in and out of the store to prepare other deliveries all weekend. When you dial the store number it is forwarded to my cell phone or to Vonage vmail. Please leave a detailed message and I will get back to you.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Peace.
Kori

Tea Trove Closed Today

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:16:00 +0000

Greetings!

I apologize for the late notice. Due to the weather yesterday, I am buried under snow and ice in Fremont and unable to get out to open the store today. (It took me about 2 hours to shovel all of the snow!) I will be there blending this afternoon, but will be closed for walk-in traffic. With both children with me, it will be impossible to service customers properly. I am making the usual scheduled deliveries this afternoon.

Tomorrow, we will close at 2 p.m. due to appointments and scheduled deliveries.

I do not anticipate any issues Friday, but will post here if something should arise.

Thank you for your patience! After we relocate the blending and close the store, these delays will be easier to handle. After all, USPS delivers through rain, sleet or snow!

Peace.
Kori

Closed 11/22/07

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:50:00 +0000

Greetings!

We are closed today due to SNOW! I can't believe it. Here I sit at my kitchen table overlooking a few acres and the snow is falling while the wind is blowing. My son and I are SO excited! We love playing in the snow. He's already talking about making snow balls. Watch out!

Beginning in Jan. 2008, Kathy will be responsible for deliveries around Omaha. We are planning to select specific locations unless the delivery is to a business. While we understand it is more convenient if delivery is to a person's home, we must think about the safety of our employees. During Farmers Markets, customers have the option to pick up their order at those locations.

Our moving sale is scheduled for the 3 days following Christmas. We are selling some equipment and furniture. If you are interested in receiving a list, contact me directly.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Kori

The Tea Trove is moving!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:43:00 +0000

Greetings!

We have exciting news to share with you! Recently, we had the good fortune to purchase a building for The Tea Trove ®. Our new building was constructed in 1877 and really says “tea merchant” all over it. This move will allow us to focus on creating even more custom blends for our retail and wholesale customers. In addition, Tea-n-Motion Beverage Catering ® will expand its operations to include Omaha, Fremont, Valley, Wahoo and the surrounding communities.

In spring 2008, look for us at The Omaha Farmers Market downtown and the Haymarket Farmers Market in Lincoln. We will be a season vendor in Omaha and a weekly vendor in Lincoln.

In fall 2008, our customers will be invited to a traditional “Afternoon Tea on the Lawn.” Be ready to play croquet and badminton! While visiting, you will have the opportunity to tour our new “blending” building.

Although we are moving, our customer service and commitment to providing you with a fresh and exciting tea selection has not wavered! Delivery into Omaha will occur weekly between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. You will, of course, have the option of having your tea mailed via USPS. You also will find our custom blends at Wohlners Neighborhood Grocery, Scheels, The Omaha Community Playhouse and Confluence.

Visits to The Tea Trove are by appointment. You can reach me via phone, fax and email.

Our moving sale will be held Dec. 26-28, 2007, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. We are selling some furniture and equipment. If you are interested in a list of these items, feel free to contact me. We will accept offers before the sale for pick up on those days.

Thank you for your continued patronage! The two years in Bel-Air Plaza have been great because of the people we met along the way.

Sincerely,
Kori and Steve

Closing early today

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:41:00 +0000

Greetings!

I am closing the store at 4:30 p.m. today. We will open and close at our regular times tomorrow.

Peace.
Kori

Lunch no longer available

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:14:00 +0000

Greetings!

We recently decided not to offer lunch. We still offer scones, brownies and our Irish Afternoon Tea. We will accept reservations for tea until the second week in December. You can make a reservation by emailing kori.miller@teatrove.com. Specify the day (W-Sat) and the time (3 p.m. - 5 p.m. W-F or 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sat.)

The Tea Trove is also a great location for your holiday parties. We allow outside catering with the exception of non-alcoholic beverages. The store can accommodate a "mingling" event for 30-35 people. We are competitively priced and easy to work with! Contact me via email if you have questions or want to reserve a date. We are open for private events M-Sat.

Happy haunting!

Kori

Closed Today

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:33:00 +0000

Greetings!

We are closed today, but if you need to order, feel free to email me.

Peace.
Kori

Seasons Change...

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 16:20:00 +0000

Greetings!

First, our apologies to our customers who've attempted to visit the store to discover that we were not open on that day. As the saying goes, "the best laid plans..." We are currently operating with one employee. This caused us to re-evaluate store hours until the end of December, we plan to be open for retail customers W-F 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wholesale customers can make an appointment with me M - F. Call or email.

We have some exciting changes planned for 2008. Our recently purchased building in Fremont will be ready. Soon, we will announce all of the changes, but for now, just know that we are open. If you are looking for a specific tea or blend, just call ahead and we will get it ready for you!

We are planning a few seasonal events in the near future. Look for information here, via email and at teatrove.com.

I am available to provide tea consultations and presentations on a variety of topics. Feel free to inquire for more details.

Thank you for your patronage and referrals!

Peace.
Kori

Upcoming changes

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:51:00 +0000

Greetings!

The Tea Trove family is getting a bit larger. Our store hours will be temporarily adjusted to accommodate employee schedules (They are beginning their college careers! Very exciting!)and the newest addition to our family. Visit our website www.teatrove.com for details regarding store hours and availabilty for our Irish Afternoon Tea.

I am not sure how much time I will need away from the store, but Spencer and Kathy will be available to assist you with orders. They will communicate important messages to me. If you are looking for a custom blended tea, let them know and they will tell me. You may have to wait more than 48 hours to receive it. Our custom-blended lemonades will be available. Kathy is the lead for the Farmers Market every Saturday so if you have questions, you can certainly ask her.

Feel free to email me at kori.miller@teatrove.com. I will check email periodically while I am away from the store and will respond as quickly as possible. At present, I anticipate being virtual for the month of September.

We appreciate your patience and continued patronage as we welcome a new addition to our family.

Peace.
Kori

Sometimes Life Just Happens

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:12:00 +0000

Greetings!

Well, we returned from our "working vacation." It was fun and exhausting! Only one glitch occurred in our absence: an afternoon tea had to be cancelled. Unfortunately, I was unable to reach the guest hostess to inform her of a delay encountered at the Orlando airport. This combined with a health challenge concerning one of our sons made it impossible for us to host the tea. Although the guest provided a number, there was no answering machine and I forgot to bring along her cell phone number. As a result, I could not leave a message until the morning of the tea. A message I later learned she did not receive.

I bring this up for one reason: Whenever you make a reservation with us, be sure to provide contact numbers with a voicemail/message option. Unless a life is on the line, someone will contact you if there is a problem. We will attempt to reschedule your tea if that is what you want.

Sometimes life just happens and we have no control. Flights are cancelled. Delays happen. Children become ill. Family members die. This has been our last three weeks. So, if you stopped by the store and found us closed, now you know why. This week brings another death and another funeral to our family's doorstep. We will attempt to keep the store open, but we hope you understand if the hours are adjusted.

Most of the time, our customers come first. Sometimes though, life just happens. We appreciate, in advance, your patience.

Peace.
Kori

Updates and Tidbits

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:53:00 +0000

Greetings!
I just realized it's been a while since I posted news and information. So, this is a "catch up" posting! I hope it finds each of you feeling happy and healthy!

Spring has been a busy time for us. We hired employees: Kathy, Spencer and Colin. You may run into them at the Courthouse downtown, in the store, making a delivery or at the Omaha Farmers Market where we are a season vendor. They are learning about tea, are enthusiastic and helpful so we appreciate your patience as they develop their knowledge of our teas and processes.

We are members of GrowNebraska. This organization promotes products made in Nebraska. Our custom tea blends were recently evaluated by a panel of five judges and will now be available across the state! We also had an opportunity to showcase our teas a few weeks ago at the state Capitol. Senator Harms invited GrowNE members to an open house to bring greater attention to Nebraska-made products.

Our blends are available at: Scheels, Wohlners Grocery, The Omaha Farmers Market and The downtown Courthouse (beverage only at this time.)

Last Saturday we participated in the first annual Black Business Expo. It was a great event! It allowed us an opportunity to network with other minority-owned businesses while showcasing our tea lines. You may have read a brief article about it in the Sunday World Herald. It really did not do the event justice. One business that stood out to me was WomenCrafters. The founder, Vicky Muli displayed hand-made bowls, artwork and hats by women from Uganda. Another vendor, Afromaha.net displayed samples of their graphic art. It was fabulous! The owner is even putting together African-American children's coloring books. Very cool! And, if you ever need a clown for an event, IMA Clown does amazing face painting! We are looking forward to participating in an even larger event next year!

Next Saturday (6/9) I will participate in a panel for the Money Matters Program. The event is sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. The panel includes female/minority-owned businesses in Omaha. It should be an informative and enlightening day! There are workshops and a keynote speaker. It's all about financial fitness for the ladies.

Our store hours are a bit strange as we continue to train Kathy, Spencer and Colin. For now, we are open M-F 11:15 a.m. - 6 p.m. and closed on Saturday/Sunday. We will accept reservations for Irish Afternoon Tea on Saturday, but will be closed to the public. This is a temporary arrangement. Please check our website for updated hours.

The store will be closed June 11 - 15, 2007 for a much needed break. We understand that this may be an inconvenience and apologize in advance.

And, one final bit of news that will impact the store: We are expecting our second child at the end of summer. This will likely impact our hours and more specifically, my hours. So, if you are trying to reach me, please know that I will return your call as quickly as possible. Kathy, Spencer and Colin will be able to answer most of your questions by then!

Until next time...enjoy the summer! And, remember we have the best iced tea and blended lemonades in Omaha!

Peace,
Kori

Spring Tasting and Other News You Can Use!

noreply@blogger.com (The Tea Trove) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:32:00 +0000

Greetings!

Our Spring Tasting was a great success! Attendees enjoyed great pastries, wines, coffees, gelato, teas, lemonade and an opportunity to socialize with fellow "food enthusiasts." The festivities started early with people raving about the fabulous scones.

This was our last tasting until Fall. This summer we will be out and about introducing people to our many custom blended teas, lemonades and T-cicles (TM). We might even get in a little camping this year!

If you are interested in yoga, there will be a FREE class at Rockbrook Women's Gym. Vaughnda Lumphrey is leading the session and plans to cover yoga breathing and relaxation. This is open to women ages 14+ and any fitness level is welcome. No pre-registration is required, but if you have questions, call: 933-6031.

It is a gorgeous day out! It makes me want to play hookie, but since I can't do that, I will settle for sitting outside at one of our comfy tables.

Have a great weekend!
Kori