Shop Talk is a weekly column featuring locally owned and operated businesses. This week, we talk to Nini Ordoubadi of Tay Tea in Andes.
How long have you lived in the area?
Ten years in the region, and five years in East Meredith.
Tell me about your business:
There are three aspects of my business: PayPal/Internet; wholesale; and this shop in Andes where customers can sample tea, learn about the variety of teas that I create, shop for tea, teaware and gifts along with enjoying the most recent addition to my shop, a light menu of seasonal, organic, vegetarian foods along with tea-infused cheeses and tea itself to enjoy on location or to take with you.
Describe a typical day in your business:
As soon as we open, I make a pot of tea. We put food out in the cafe, select some music and customers begin coming in. There is always a relaxed flow of people who would like to try selections from our menu, regular tea buyers who are stocking up on their favorite varieties, gift shoppers purchasing teawares or local artisan creations, and those who are learning about my teas, sampling for the first time.
How did you get started in this line of work?
My story of getting started in this line of work begins in my childhood where my grandmother mesmerized me with the beauty, fragrance, happiness and allure of tea. As an adult, I began blending my own tea for my family and friends, who all wanted more to share with their families and friends. This is how the business began.
Where do you see this business in five years?
The business will grow and change and expand, one cup of tea at a time. I have just added the cafe and the tea-infused cheeses made by Brovetto's Cheese, to the business.
Describe a memorable moment in your workplace:
It seems that everyday brings memorable moments because enjoying a cup of tea is not like gulping coffee on the go _ sharing tea allows people to get to know each other.
What have you learned from your work?
I have learned to tend to my business and this includes learning time management. The tea blending, the cafe, the wholesale and Internet aspects, my relationships all need care and attention. I have learned to follow my intuitions on where this path leads me.
What is the most challenging part of what you do?
I find that deciding what direction to go with the business and how to expand is challenging. My husband is my greatest supporter and he believes in what I am doing, encourages me and offers guidance so that the challenges are not faced by me alone.
The most enjoyable?
The most enjoyable part of what I do is knowing that I am part of making this a beautiful community. I pass on to my customers the calm, well-being and peace that comes from my teas.
What are some advantages as well as drawbacks of doing business in this area?
Right now the drawbacks are drawbacks of many communities. The economy makes running a small business in a small town difficult, but the advantages are that Andes has an attraction, an ambiance that will rebound from this economic downturn.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
I am different from all others because this brand is me. I am very personal, and my blends, my story, is interwoven in my teas. I am a devotee of the path of tea that leads me, and my customers, to slow down and appreciate life.
What advice would you give to someone trying to enter your field of work?
I am currently helping someone who wishes to blend teas in California and as I have told them: Get into it! Be brave, do the right thing and people will come. Get help from friends and the business community.
For more information about Shop Talk, or to suggest a business, call 432-1000, ext. 217, or e-mail news@thedailystar.com.
Archive
Related Photos
-
CSSF6C1.jpg
Discussion
COMMENTING ON STORIES:
Welcome to our story comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including the unpopular ones. We only ask that you keep your conversations clean, civil and on the topic of the story you are commenting on.
Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.
Disqus gives users the ability to log into our story comments feature so that they may be able to track their conversations, receive emails when their comments get a reply or to even have your comments update onto your Facebook or Twitter accounts.
For the time being, our story comments feature will continue to have the ability to post comments anonymously. We reserve the right to require registration in the future using your name and verified email address.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified at the newspaper’s discretion for a number of different reasons. Please follow our Online Rules of Conduct at all times.
RULES OF CONDUCT:
We reserve the right to remove comments that are unacceptable, to wit:
1. False and inacurate statements.
2. Personal attacks. Explicit name-calling.
3. Harassing, harmful, vulgar, obscene and defamatory language.
4. Threatening statements or statements that suggest violence.
5. Hate speech of any kind.
6. Intolerant comments on religion, race, age, gender, sexual preference or disabilities.
7. Accusations of criminal activity.
8. Content that is harmful to children and minors in any way.
9. References to any type of sexual activity and other private matters.
10. Random and inflammatory statements that are off topic.
11. Advertising of any kind.
12. Typing in all caps.
WE ENCOURAGE REASONABLE AND COURTEOUS COMMENTS THAT:
1. Create conversation on issues of interest and concern to fellow readers and local community members.
2. Express opinions and contrarian views.
3. Stimulate debate with respectful language.
4. Stay within the boundaries of these rules.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND OR TERMINATE ACCESS FOR:
1. Violating any of these Online Rules of Conduct.
2. Deliberately disrupting discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or spam.
3. Misrepresentation of identity or impersonating another user.
WE WELCOME:
1. Flagging violations of these rules that you observe to our attention.
MONITORING:
We monitor comments regularly Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approval of comments outside of this time (including weekends) will be sporadic.
Welcome to our story comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including the unpopular ones. We only ask that you keep your conversations clean, civil and on the topic of the story you are commenting on.
Coinciding with our websites redesign, we launched our new story comments feature through Disqus.
Disqus gives users the ability to log into our story comments feature so that they may be able to track their conversations, receive emails when their comments get a reply or to even have your comments update onto your Facebook or Twitter accounts.
For the time being, our story comments feature will continue to have the ability to post comments anonymously. We reserve the right to require registration in the future using your name and verified email address.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified at the newspaper’s discretion for a number of different reasons. Please follow our Online Rules of Conduct at all times.
RULES OF CONDUCT:
We reserve the right to remove comments that are unacceptable, to wit:
1. False and inacurate statements.
2. Personal attacks. Explicit name-calling.
3. Harassing, harmful, vulgar, obscene and defamatory language.
4. Threatening statements or statements that suggest violence.
5. Hate speech of any kind.
6. Intolerant comments on religion, race, age, gender, sexual preference or disabilities.
7. Accusations of criminal activity.
8. Content that is harmful to children and minors in any way.
9. References to any type of sexual activity and other private matters.
10. Random and inflammatory statements that are off topic.
11. Advertising of any kind.
12. Typing in all caps.
WE ENCOURAGE REASONABLE AND COURTEOUS COMMENTS THAT:
1. Create conversation on issues of interest and concern to fellow readers and local community members.
2. Express opinions and contrarian views.
3. Stimulate debate with respectful language.
4. Stay within the boundaries of these rules.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND OR TERMINATE ACCESS FOR:
1. Violating any of these Online Rules of Conduct.
2. Deliberately disrupting discussions with repetitive messages, meaningless messages or spam.
3. Misrepresentation of identity or impersonating another user.
WE WELCOME:
1. Flagging violations of these rules that you observe to our attention.
MONITORING:
We monitor comments regularly Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approval of comments outside of this time (including weekends) will be sporadic.
November 1, 2010
Shop Talk
Tay Tea 72 Main St., second floor, Andes Owner: Nini Ordoubadi Established: 2003 Employees: Three
- Local News -
-
-
Local economic 'game plan' ready for action
Attracting, developing and promoting business and economic development in Otsego County are moving to the front burner in a ``game plan’’ to apply for state funding, three local officials said this morning.
- Upper reservoir at Blenheim-Gilboa to reopen for recreational boaters
- Drug "kingpin" arrested in Otsego County
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving
-
Local economic 'game plan' ready for action
