Winter White Promotion Winners!
Apologies for the delay in posting this and notifying the winners. I’ve been tech challenged over the past couple weeks.
I made out the entire posting last Sunday and then it disappeared in cyberspace when I lost my internet connection. For some reason, this sort of thing has a tendency to dishearten me and I have to rebuild momentum to try again.
So, the first somewhat significant snow we had was on Sunday 12/27, though I don’t think it was quite an inch when it finished. Then we had slightly more snow on the following Wednesday 12/30. Since it was a Wednesday, I could not get by the shop to actually measure it, as I said I was going to do. Someone had guessed that day as the “snow day”.
Since no one guessed any days in the week of Jan 4, when we got really measurable snow – I am awarding the prize of ½ oz of white tea of choice to April D., and the sampler of whites goes to Tom K.
Come by the shop during our regular hours and pick up your tea! (I will be emailing notices to you)
Question re: Saturday’s Farmers Market
Edited to add….
OK – I WILL Be there – and SO will Jane/Queen’s Cuisine, with her lovely eccles cakes and scones.
I hope lots of you turn out to make all that baking worthwhile! (and bring your friends)…
We’ll have plenty of hot tea (and St. John’s Special Blend coffee) to warm you up.
Where: St. John’s Episcopal Church at 3664 Arsenal from 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. Saturday 1/9/2010
Happy New Year everyone!
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What do you all think about Farmers Market this Saturday? with the weather forecast and all? Should I plan on being there? Are any of you planning to come, regardless of the weather?
If so, should I have english pastries available for purchase as well?
Winter White Promotion for Traveling Tea Customers and Shop Visitors
General Guidelines:
- Starting this weekend – Come in to the shop and tell us the day you think our shop in Maplewood will receive the first snowfall of at least 1”. We will record your name and phone #/email address on a calendar in the shop.
- The person (or persons, in case of a tie) with the correct guess will win 1/2 oz of a White Tea of their choice (limited to varieties on hand – as of this posting we have 5 luscious choices – and will probably have more by the 1st snowfall!)
- All entrants will have their names entered into a drawing for a White Tea Sampler (Value of $15-20)
Clarifications:
In lieu of official measurement by a local meteorologist, snowfall measurement will be made in our front yard, using a standard ruler.
The cut-off for opportunities to record your prediction and win will be retroactive to the actual snowfall by 7 days.
A Gift of Tea
Traveling Tea Gift Cards are NOW in (and they are so cute and colorful!). You can purchase for any amount from $10 and up. They have NO expiration date and are re-loadable.
Special bonus offers (until 12/31/09):
- For $50 you get a card loaded with $60 value
- Purchase at least 3 cards with values of $30 or more and get a bonus card for yourself worth $10 or 10% of your purchase (whichever is more)
AND
BE the FIRST Customer to PURCHASE a Gift Card ($20 or more) and you will receive your choice of FREE TEA or a coupon good for at least $5 off your next Traveling Tea purchase.
New shop photos
As promised, here are new photos now that I have tea in the shop!
Outside with banner sign
- View from entry door
Would you like to taste a sample?
Table display
Sunshine and Tea and CATS
First – I want to send out a BIG Thank you to all who braved the sunshine last weekend to stop by, say “Hello”, purchase tea – and especially those who explored the unknown realm of Tea Leaf Readings. You raised more than $140 for Tenth Life Cats (including what went into the donation jar as well).
Thanks to Kristin for bringing the trio of 8 week old kittens looking for a home. Wish I had a photo, but I think Elizabeth was going to post one on the Tenth Life site.
I wish I’d even thought to bring a camera so I could document all the comings and goings. It was so much fun – meeting new people, catching up with old friends.
I will take some photos of the shop this weekend, to show you how it’s filled in. We took a count at one point and found we have more than 68 different varieties and blends of teas and tisanes (and I’ve got more coming in next week).
The selection changes based on your requests, so keep your ideas and suggestions coming. It makes the shop more interesting for everyone. Look for another upcoming post for a new service – (thanks to Doug).
signs & shelving & tea – Oh My!
I’ve never been a long-range planner – which is why I’m not good at chess. Probably a good thing right now. If I’d realized all the big and little things I have to make decisions on, I don’t know if this tea shop would ever have gotten off the ground!
I had to get a temporary permit (30 days only) so I could put up a banner at least – so you can find us this weekend. Then, if I’m understanding correctly, I have to have a sign idea ready for city council meeting in less than 2 wks. All while I have to figure out shelving and best use of space, AND keep on top of my tea orders.
Of course, other seasoned business owners realize all of this. I’m VERY green – like my sencha!
So, we’re not doing fancy. It will be a lot like my booth at the market – but we’ll be dry and warm; and the best part is – I don’t have to wait till next Summer to see my regular customers.
Opening Kick-Off Celebration
3134 Sutton Blvd in Maplewood
The Kettle is on in Maplewood!!!
Come help us celebrate the Opening of Traveling Tea at the Wellness Center of Maplewood, 3134 Sutton Blvd. on October 31 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and November 1st from Noon to 4:00 pm.
Come Celebrate All Hallows Eve with us!
Join us to sample the wonderful teas and treats available from Traveling Tea. And for a special treat, satisfy that brewing curiosity with a tea leaf reading by local psychic, Loving Rose.
The Schedule:
From Noon-4 on both Saturday and Sunday we will have local psychic Loving Rose in to do Tea Leaf Readings. The charge is $20 for a 15 minute reading. Purchase of a cup of tea is not required to get a reading. If you’d like a cup of one of our tasty offerings for your Reading, you will get it for half the usual price.
We will be limited to 12 readings per day, so please call Kateri at 314-477-8516 for a pre-paid reservations to ensure your chance at a Reading. Complimentary package of tea with your advance reservation!
A portion of the $20 fee for the tea reading will be donated to tenthlifecats.org, a local cat rescue organization that provides for special needs feline recovery and adoption. Hopefully, a representative of Tenth Life will be on hand to share about the wonderful work they are doing. We will at least have information available of some sort.
How did we choose Tenth Life? Anita, who works with me in the Tower Grove Farmers Market booth on Saturdays, has been fostering one of their kitties until he finds a permanent home; and I love cats too.
Hope to see you there!
Shop Hours
In its own separate post so it’s easy to find!
Opening Saturday 10/31 11 to 4:00 (ish), as long as we have customers in the store,
we’ll be here Sunday 11/1 Noon to 4:00 (ish)
After opening weekend, regular hours will be:
- Friday Evening 5:30-8:00
- Saturday 11-4
- Sunday Noon-4
Other hours by appointment or chance.
Do You Have a Shop? – UPDATE
Well, you’ve done it! Your persistence in asking me “Where will I get my tea this winter?” has bolstered me to say “YES!” to a lovely space in the Wellness Center of Maplewood at 3134 Sutton. Click here for map.
Wellness Center of Maplewood
Mere words cannot convey all I am feeling at taking this baby step (that feels like a giant leap) into creating a retail tea haven for you. I will be able to offer on-the-spot tea samplings and group “Tea Tours” in a homey, nurturing atmosphere.
After I acquire appropriate furniture, individuals and small groups can have a cup of tea while they knit or read a book, or work on their thesis papers (or whatever!).
There is even a small deck and a patio area in back! I am SO excited!!
We will open up on Halloween, special announcement to follow. Though we are starting out bare bones (appropriate for Halloween), we will have some new tea flavors you haven’t seen in our booth yet, and lots of event ideas brewing!
Main space with nothing in it
Inside the shop, looking out