I’m having so much fun with this business adventure. But it is also exhausting. I’m glad that I put opening day as far out as February 1st. I want it to be good and then I did the huge mistake with ordering too small product bags. I didn’t do my homework as I should and measure other bags but I went on what the website said the bags contained… I needed 3 oz and it said 3.5oz… wroooooong. It only contains 1 oz of tea. So not only was this a setback in time since I had to order new ones but a huge toll financially. Or so I thought… I have been a loyal customer to VistaPrint for many years, ever since I moved here if not even before that. So the day after I got the delivery they sent me an email asking if I was pleased with the product. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the actual product, the mistake was completely my mistake. And that’s what I answered them. Then I thought why not ask if they have a discount code that I could use for my re-order. Any penny saved is gold and I didn’t have anything to lose just asking. VistaPrint gave me an over 50% discount code on my order of the new bags!!! Do you realize what a huge help that is for me!!! I was in complete disbelief when I saw this. So happy and grateful. It was so much more than I’ve ever imagined! I had planned to order some business cards and postcards in February but thought that it had to wait a couple of more months with this mistake but it will be on schedule after all! Thank You VistaPrint! Amazing customer service!

I am continuing testing all blends. Today I put it all together in some of the packages I have. I have 9 blends in total right now.

More blends to come later in the spring and summer but this is a good start I think. I will have them available in 2 sizes; 1oz and 3oz. I have so many plans and ideas it’s just crazy. I have to stop myself from doing all at once and accept that this is a journey! But I am glad I started the journey.

The other day I started to try the first blend. I have always loved Earl Grey so I started with that one. As soon as I opened the package it was in, I knew this was amazing. That smell brought me back to Singapore in an instant. And I was right. That was the most delicious tea I’ve had since I moved to Texas. I became a little emotional… okay, I was sitting at my computer bawling. Not because I was sad… but because mom was not here to be with me on this adventure. She loved tea so much. But maybe she is watching over me and making sure this becomes a success? I hope so.

I have done almost everything I can do as of right now before the opening. I still have a bunch of blends to try to make sure they are as good as the sample was and those I’ve tweaked turned out good. I was trying to connect the webshop to Facebook and Instagram today but apparently I don’t have enough traffic… I think it is more because I don’t have drop shipping (selling without seeing the product). So now I have two weeks to figure that out how to do. I have around 90 followers on Instagram and 40 on Facebook. A little surprised that there are more on IG than FB but pictures sells I guess…

This was supposed to be my 3 day weekend but I have to work. Need more money… so I signed up for an extra shift in Mineola tomorrow… I hope it will be fun.