It is very hard to believe that I am just a little over a week away from closing my sweet little Main Street shop. The days are just flying by! Last week we celebrated Customer Appreciation Week, treating customers who happened in to tea, baby scones and gingersnaps. It was a lovely week, enjoyed by all! I had many lovely comments left in my memory book.
We have been receiving quite a number of questions from customers lately, and I decided we just better address some of them posthaste! Change can be concerning, I know.
Q. Why are you “going out of business?” Is it because of the economy?
A. Well, first of all we are not going out of business, and no, it has nothing to do with the economy. In fact, Island Tea Company has weathered the recession remarkably well. We are moving to a home-based internet business and it is all about family. In particular it is for the young man pictured below, flying through the air! :-) I promised to be home before he started his senior year.
And it is also about my other son, soon to finish his college program. I’m looking forward to helping and encouraging him as he begins the next phase of his life. In this photo of my 23-year old, I can just imagine the pensive look on his face.
I’m am also looking forward to spending more time with my ever so patient husband, and in my garden, and creating in my studio, and taking tea with friends.
Q. How will the shop’s closure impact local customers?
A. Customers accustomed to visiting our Freeland shop, will need to order online via our website’s secure ordering system, or can call our same old phone number, 360-331-6080 to place orders. Local customers can have their packages shipped at a reduced rate or will have the option of picking up their orders at The Paint Escape, a paint your own pottery studio, right next door to our present location. We’ll be dropping off orders twice a week.
Q. Will online customers be impacted?
A. Other than a bit of a transition as equipment and phone lines are moved at the end of the month, our online customers will not be impacted. In fact, our online shoppers will see our website expanded with new teas, teawares, gifts, recipes, etc.
Should you have other questions or concerns, please do post them here and we’ll address them promptly! Rest assured Island Tea Company will continue on. I can’t imagine life without it! :-)
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Best wishes for your new adventure~~
Thank you for your kind comments. May you always be charmingly blessed.
I hope you’ll stop by my blog. I am hosting a giveaway for a darling French tote.