Our Home Tea

In Search of a “Tea Face” II

hanswold — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:50:24 +0000

Our Home Tea L.L.C. is expanding it search for a “Tea Face”. Our Home Tea L.L.C. is in the development process of expanding it’s search for the “Tea Face” – which will be the “Face” of the company – and adding a search for “Tea Faces”.

The “Tea Faces” refer to the upcoming programs which are still in development stages. These programs will encompass getting younger people – a group which currently does not make up a very large percentage of tea drinkers – to get involved with some fun activities and become “a part” of the company by appearing on packaging, video’s and public outreach.

More to come, soon…

Ups & Downs of Building a Tea Business (IX)

hanswold — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:21:37 +0000

This blog is entitled “Ups &Downsof Building a Tea Business,” and I think it is fair to say I have many more ups than downs. I am on an “up” today because I am proud of how we handled a couple of customer issues.

The first was a regular customer that had ordered quite a bit of tea. Unfortunately we were did not have inventory to complete a small part of the order. The customer was contacted last week and told the rest of the shipment would be sent this week. Well, our supplier did not have that tea in stock either so I had become a “giver of inaccurate information.” This is not a customer service quality we aim for. I did act quickly and notified the customer – and because he is good customer – offered him a “free tea”. He replied quickly and basically said “…Not to worry.” Then he gave me a website idea I am going to employ. The idea came to me because this customer in his email began telling me about a “tea mix” that he had created. I will send him a note and ask him if we can post the mix on our web site and I am going to create a place on the site for customers and guests to post their tea mixes.

The second customer issue we with a new customer who simply asked if we had a brick and mortar place that they could go to. Again, I responded quickly and emailed her back and explained we were an online tea organization for the time being, but I told her I am all over the city and would be happy to drop it off when I was near by. She was so pleased with my willingness to extend myself and to be upfront and honest that she said she would be in our area and would love to purchase if I could meet her nearby.

The lesson I learned regarding customer service is two fold. One – if there is an issue with a customer, pick it up and handle it right away. I think a customer – especially one who has given us money – with an issue goes before those orders going out the door. Second, be very honest, and be willing to go the “extra mile”. People are so tired of poor customer service, when one extends and actually offers a way to resolve the issue that is in the benefit of the customer rather than the company people really appreciate it and often will reward you for it.

It also helps to smile when you write an email to fix an issue. You will have a better attitude about it!!!

Searching for Organization Builders

hanswold — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:38:48 +0000

Part of building a great organization is finding great people. As Our Home Tea L.L.C. has decided to move forward with the distributor / owner business model we have begun the search for great people.
We do not want to develop as an MLM but rather reward individuals on their work, not on someone’s work who they may not even know in their “down line”. I am not against the MLM business model – it is a very viable way to build a business – and there are some great success stories. At Our Home Tea L.L.C. we want to give our “distributors” to build a territory and become an “owner” in the business through our “Tea Business in a Box”.

For a very low initial investment an energetic person can build a solid business and enjoy what they have built. Distributors are Our Home Tea and we will all succeed together. We believe that in order for Our Home Tea L.L.C. to be a success our people have to succeed. Our Home Tea L.L.C. offers bonuses and benefits to ensure a distributors’ hard work is rewarded.

Our Home Tea L.L.C is currently looking for consultants to develop and run events around the country.

Distributors are also needed to open areas across the country. We are always ready to give some ownership for those who we feel are leaders and will find those leaders from within.

Ups & Downs of Building a Tea Business (VIII)

hanswold — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:10:22 +0000

One of the biggest challenges I have as a Tea business owner is handling the emotional “Ups and Downs of building a Tea Business. I enjoy the roller coaster as long as I can remind myself to “revel in the moment” – I borrowed that from Joseph Campbell and the ideas of “Reveling in the Chase” of life. One must be a bit philosophical is one is to keep “in balance” when building a tea company and I have tried to buy into the idea that the jewel of life is the living, the “Chase” or the experience – be it good or bad it is the experience that Mr. Campbell wanted us to “revel” in.

Well, I have to go get to work on the State Tea Debate, the Consortium, The tea events, etc. etc. Off to do more reveling…

The Great State Tea Debate IV

hanswold — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:20:31 +0000

The Great State Tea Debate is ratcheting up in Minnesota as plans are being put into motion. Our Home Tea L.L.C. will be reaching out to other tea companies in the state to assist in getting the word out to customers and friends.

A framework for a bill to be sent to the state legislature is in the process of being drafted and forwarded to the proper offices. It is exciting to see these things moving forward so smoothly. We are preparing for the bumps but that is why we are riding in a “bumper car”.

Fortunately, we have a bit of experience in the political world to know how things work so we are telling people to relax and get ready for a bit of a ride. This will not happen overnight. Maybe I should go on David Letterman to promote the state tea. We could name a tea after “Dave”. I will just wait for that call… So that brings a question to my mind. If David and his brother – If he in fact has a brother, I don’t know – walked into a room would they be the Lettermen or the Lettermans?

Back to laying down the groundwork now. More to come…

Ups & Downs of Building a Tea Business (VII)

hanswold — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:15:53 +0000

One of the big “downs” when building a Tea business is getting sick. You can’t package anything or expose product to any germs, you really don’t want the face of the organization to look ill and “forlorn” so it is hard to make sales calls.

I have decided that one of the best things I can do when feeling ill is too open a book or get on the web and learn, read, and share with others. I am going to lay down now…

The Great State Tea Debate III

hanswold — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:19:18 +0000

The engine is starting to warm up on this big deal!!! Won’t it be wonderful when we have a state tea we can call our own? The task at hand right now is to get the word out to folks to start the “tea ball” rolling. Our state representatives will need to be contacted as they will need to bring the bills to the floor. I will write up an outline for the reps to look over and we can go from there.

Looking back at the legislative history I think perhaps “patience” may be a buzz word here. It appears that these types of things – i.e. state bird, state flower – do take a bit of nudging to get passed so it may take some time but I look forward to that day.

I will be getting out the press releases soon, but I just hope we don’t have rioting in the street. That would be bad form. What we may do – if needed – is have a press conference on the steps of the State Capital so that the state legislature can see the massive public support for “Finally” get a State Tea. Wonderful, yes. Join me!!!

The Great State Tea Debate II

hanswold — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:34:06 +0000

It is starting here in Minnesota and will role across the country like, well, it will role like something really big, rolling!!! The Great State Tea Debate. I always thought that Minnesota was missing a little something from becoming the best place in the world to live, and now I have discovered what it was. Tea!!!

State birds and flowers are nice for those time when you want to get outside and explore but nothing compares to sitting by a nice warm winter fire “thinking” about the summers explorations.

The debate needs to discuss or defend why a tea should be a state tea. One can understand why the Loon is the Minnesota State Bird – for those of you not familiar there are a lot of Loons in Minnesota, but what metrics shall we use to decide the perfect state tea – in a state where coffee is king? Should we go with the most popular tea in the state, the tea that mimics coffee most? Let’s go…

We soon will be sending out the word in a big way. We will be doing interviews from the press, a rally at the State Capital and whatever else we can come up with to get the Great Minnesota Tea Debate front and center in the minds of Minnesotans.

Let the debate begin… Post your pick for the Minnesota State Tea and defend it. You should also think of a “pet” name for the Minnesota State Tea – like “Loon Tea”.

Ups & Downs of Building a Tea Business (VI)

hanswold — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:27:37 +0000

I am not really sure why I decided to use Roman Numerals in my headings – I am pretty sure I should capitalize Roman and Numerals however; yeah the Romans deserve a capital letter or two – those wild and crazy Italians.

I want to wish everyone a great 2012!!! Here in the upper Midwest
it looks like winter may finally get here. It has been unusually warm and we have very little snow. Perhaps that is why I still don’t have my holiday sales strategies put together yet. No, I am going to look at the bright side and say that I am way ahead of planning the 2012 holiday strategies!!!

Actually, the holiday planning was not an issue. You know what it was; yes you can say it… I did not follow through. I did not work the plan I had planned. I got overwhelmed and missed some things. Well that is just o.k. because I know that I have learned a valuable lesson. The reason I was overwhelmed is because I was
trying to pull off too many things at once. This year I will be sure to focus on my time management in the holiday sales planning.

I am right at the point in my business where I will start bringing in staff as well. It is exciting that we are finally getting the ducks in a row so that we can bring on staff. We will first start with sales staff development. I am running my first job posting now and getting some good responses. More on that later. Let’s go have a cup of tea!!!

Ups & Downs of Building a Tea Business (V)

hanswold — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:07:22 +0000

AS many of you business people know, one of the most difficult things to manage is
(tea) Time. You can schedule meetings with it, give it a praise sandwich, scold it, even
yell at it and (tea) Time just keeps on going. Sometimes I don’t think (tea and finger sandwich) Time is very respectful, and I am not sure about how productive (tea cup and
saucer) Time is being either. I might even give (tea is yummy) Time a pink slip but then when I think about it I realize I just don’t have enough (delicious oolong tea) Time!!!

We all know how hard it is to deal with time. I would like to read some of the
wonderful books about time management but I, just don’t have time. If I can
find the time I will run out and get one of those “books on tape” and listen to it in the car – that will save some time!!! You can use that one if you want to save a little of your time. Wouldn’t it be nice – like a delicious cup of hot herbal tea – if we could bank time? You know like a time out from time. Well, I am running out of time to write so I had better move on to my next task… Hope I have time…

Happy
Holidays!!!