Prosperi-TEA: February 2021 Update

I made it! I keep whispering that to myself these days. February marks the start of my fourth year in business. It also marks the 12th month of operating 100% curbside with the tea stand. I spent 10 of the 12 months of my 3rd year outside in the elements of Arkansas weather slinging tea and finding solace in the faces of my neighbors and customers. I MADE IT!

I would be remiss to not take the time to document some of my milestones during this weird last year. Despite not operating a single part of my food service business (dine-in operations, private tea party bookings, etc.) I somehow ended the year up 32.8% over 2019 - on just tea sales and tea stand shenanigans alone! What an incredible accomplishment - one that validates that my blends and my brand are viable all on their own. 

I also have a whole new batch of regulars who discovered me from being on the curb - these folks have never even set foot inside the shop yet! I cannot wait for the reopening when these folks will get to experience the whole dream. Currently. the shop sits in this eerie stand-still just waiting for me to be ready & comfortable to open again.

My online business has boomed in this last year, too. When I first opened the shop, I had just left a career in digital marketing & advertising. My burnout from that decade-long dedication to being attached to my phone and email was at its peak and I setup the e-commerce site with just a handful of blends but honestly I had no intention of expanding that part of my business. 

When everything shut down last March, I was grateful I had it built out so that all I had to do was get my inventory online - and boy, it has paid off. It has broadened my reach to customers across the US and some new folks, too. One of the most incredible parts of the online business is the encouragement and support from friends all over the US who haven't been able to support me before this year. College friends, high school friends, and even childhood friends. 

There's been so much good despite all of the hurdles the year has brought to us. That's not to say that it has been easy. Even still, people walk up and think my cute little tea stand is a "Going Out of Business" sale or the person who just moved to the neighborhood on their walk who stops to say they didn't realize things were so "desperate" here. On the show, Ted Lasso, he gives a very profound commentary on being underestimated that has resonated with me these last few months.

I suppose the tea stand is all in how you look at it, some see it as a desperate attempt to survive. Others see it as a source of hope and endurance. For me, I see it as an incredible opportunity that saved my business and it saved me, too.

"I've been underestimated my entire life, so my dart skills are just the tip of the metaphorical iceberg. The wise Walt Whitman once said:
"Be curious, not judgmental."
So if you're curious how I got good at darts, here's what my father taught me every Sunday." ​- Ted Lasso

The loneliness of 2020 was really hard for me. Not just at the tea shop that sat quiet and empty day after day, but the world in general was a hard and lonely place. Isolating from those we love, the tensions of extreme partisanship in our country, and the loneliness of being misunderstood and directly lied about were all things I struggled with more than ever in year 3. 

​Stacey Bowers - Bang-up Betty &
​​Erin Pierce - Organized Chaos Collection

In the midst of the hard stuff, I somehow ended up making incredibly deep friendships with women who inspire me every single day. These were women who were always in my peripheral - we'd done events together, we were always friendly. But in the face of this crazy year, our group texts and shares became almost a daily thing for me to look forward to. 

​Sharing the weird stuff, the hard stuff, the FUNNY stuff - and just trying our best to encourage each other to keep going. 

At 34, finding new friends is hard. And I don't know that I really think these are new friends - just some that have deepened because of all of this. So, Stacey & Erin, thank you for getting me through this past year.  If you don't know these women, check them out & support them. 

My Anniversary Tea Stand is on February 10th, these ladies will be joining me for a pop-up. Check that event out on Facebook.

So, what's next? Well, Grami got her first round of vaccinations last week. Mom & Jessi will be getting their first round this week. I will be in the next group once they open it up. I hope to have the shop open again by May, though it might not be 100% normal when I re-open. Really just depends on what the world looks like in May, every week looks different these days.

For now, I will keep setting up my tables and breaking them down each day the weather allows for it. We are moving into a rainy season so I will be leaning on my online tea sales to carry me through until Spring. I hope you all will stick with me as you have done so far.

I am forever grateful to all of you.