Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Weir.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
After developing a fascination with Chinese tea and traditional Chinese brewing methods called gong fu cha, I knew that I wanted to run my own tea shop and began working on a business plan. A few months after moving to Knoxville from Brooklyn, NY, a friend sent me an article announcing the opening of a bookstore on Gay Street. I was curious about the store and close to an hour after reading the article I was knocking on the door of an unfinished Addison’s bookstore.
Brian Worley, the owner, happened to be there and let me in. After a bit of good-natured confusion, he gave me a tour and told me about his vision for the space. The words “coffee or tea bar” escaped his lips, and I immediately proposed that I brew tea for him at an interview. Brian was very open minded about the idea of a tea bar serving gong fu cha and supported me opening The Tea Bar inside his bookstore. Addison’s was scheduled to open within two to three months of our interview, which gave me very little time to pull everything together.
Thankfully, I had already completed my business plan, established relationships with potential suppliers, and had the experience needed to handle digital outlets from my time as a digital marketing strategist in New York City. Even with my preparations, those months were still filled with chaos as I fumbled through each step to open a business with a physical location. I reached out to a few local business owners along the way for advice and recommendations for who to work with in town.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I created The Tea Bar in an effort to build a local community of tea lovers and elevate the public’s perception and appreciation of tea by sharing what single origin Chinese loose leaf teas have to offer when brewed using traditional Chinese methods. Drinking these teas is a delightful and soothing experience with the complexity of flavors, varying mouthfeels, and delightful aromas equal to that of fine wines. However, most customers are not familiar with Chinese teas. My main challenge is to afford customers context around the tea we offer without being overbearing in the education process. It is a fine line to walk, and I am still in the process of figuring out how best to accomplish my goal by testing a variety of approaches through various mediums.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My background is in digital marketing. I worked for a small agency in Manhattan for a few years before leaving to be a freelance consultant. I’ve tackled problems within the many digital marketing disciplines and particularly enjoy user experience design. My specialty lies within iterative problem-solving. Small changes can make a big impact on a user’s experience. Finding those pain points and developing strategies to turn problems into money-making solutions is quite satisfying. I still pursue this line of work from time to time, assisting local female business owners with website redesigns. However, I’ve funneled most of my time and skills into constructing a fully flushed-out business. The craft of business building is new and exciting. I want to expand The Tea Bar and the tea community in Knoxville. There are a variety of creative outlets to accomplish my goal and numerous challenges forcing me to broaden my capabilities.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
No one is perfect, and everyone has their way of doing things. These are the two lessons I have learned from seeking the advice of those around me. With this knowledge, finding more than one mentor is essential. A few carefully selected mentors can help you navigate uncharted waters more confidently. To find mentors, you have to go where they are. I wanted to open a teahouse, so I went to many teahouses. I asked to speak with the owners. I was curious and consistent. A mentor is not just someone who passes down knowledge when requested; it is not their responsibility to seek you out. There may be many people vying for their attention and time. Why should they spend it on you?
Some mentors may be generous and seek nothing from you, but the best mentors are looking for an exchange of value. You are hopefully building a lifelong relationship, and you don’t want it to be one-sided. Offering value in exchange for your mentor’s time is an excellent way to build a relationship.
Pricing:
- Chinese Tea Ceremony is $30 per person.
- Tea To Go is $7 for a 16oz cup.
- 1 hr Brewing Classes are $50 per person.
- Additional classes and events pricing is available on the website!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theteabarataddisons.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theteabarataddisons
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theteabarataddisons
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-tea-bar-knoxville
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theteabatataddisons
Image Credits
Amanda Swanson
