Hi Diana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I never contemplated the idea of having a business in this country. For me, it was completely impossible to do it here! Therefore, I started by acquiring many tablecloths in all colors and shapes and would also buy leftovers from brides who got married. They were ready to get rid of all their decor for very reasonable prices, and then, I will ship everything to my own country (Colombia), where I felt confident I would be able to manage a store long-distance. This was the first mistake of a long list of mistakes. But I was determined to do it so after at least a year of spending money left and right on shipping cost sending box after box to Colombia, I had to do the inverse operation to return all my goodies back to the states. Oh dear, when I think of those days, I feel so dumb!!! This story goes back to probably 2010. So I can say with all honesty I have been creating my collection for the past ten years!
In Colombia, there is no thrift stores. I am from a poor country where people stick to the same furniture for all their lives, and clothes are pass from the elder sibling to the next one and then to the next one until is a rag and if somebody dies the family gets till the last pan and pot, therefore, nothing will remain to donate to a thrift store. Ever since I arrived here (2002), I felt a total connection to this type of place. I could not believe that I could purchase those objects at those ridiculous prices. Sometimes they were even brand new!
Salvation Army and Good Will were absolutely two of my favorite places to find treasures. And that is exactly what I did, And is in the Salvation Army that I came across my first English bone china teacup sets. $2.99 I paid for each of the sets I bought (5), and ever since, I fell totally in love with them and I started collecting them like crazy. While all this is happening, I was still not connecting my rental business with the fact that now I was the owner of at least 100 teacups and a good amount of teapots as well. One day I was in Starbucks perusing an English bridal magazine and I saw some pictures of a bridal party displaying mismatch dishes and ohhhhh colorful teacups and teapots just like the ones I had so pretty and of course, something click on my head wait a minute. This is how I embarked my self in this project that is totally my passion.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? It’s been a long road for sure! Every day I learn something and I LOVE it! The huge challenge for me is to try to be on top of all the technology involved in it. It used to be so easy when you just had to place an add on the yellow book and wait for people to call you!! Or just to have some business cards printed with your name on them! Has it been a smooth road, though? I really would not know how to answer that. For me, there is no smooth or harsh. It is what it is. I’ve encountered so many problems along the way, but I only had one option: fix them and keep going. I remember at the beginning when I hired two different persons to create my website, and they could not be delivered up to my expectations, so I had to learn to do it on my own!!! With learning to create your own website then comes the fact that you have to learn how to do SEO and if you are doing that, you know that comes hand in hand with all the social platforms.
Hence, you start with Facebook, and then Pinterest comes along and then Instagram and learning to use all those platforms takes time and effort. And then you realized that you have to have a brand, so then, you need to learn how to brand yourself !!! It never stops!! I had days when I felt totally burnt, and yet I had to put those feeling aside and go back to work. I had days when my husband and I would have big fights because I felt he was not supporting me enough, but we always worked it out, and today he is my BIG help. I had days when I had hundreds of great ideas in my mind, but I was unable to bring them to reality, but I learned to focus and do just one thing but do it well and that strategy seems to work for me—starting to have a headache here! But I am totally committed to make it work, and it really encouraged me to see how far I’ve come.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The entrepreneur route I took allows me to design beautiful events and parties for other people to enjoy. The Tea Party Company is a ONE STOP SHOP with party packages that include everything, and when I say everything, I really mean it. I can provide tables, chairs, linens & decor. I offer pre-made packages, or I can work from scratch with the client’s ideas. Even delicious food party packages suited especially for tea parties. I think that all these details are what sets me apart from other companies. When I look back, I see this woman who emigrated to the States like so many others looking for a better future, and then I see myself today, I am loved, I am healthy, I am so happy and I am a “business owner.”
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
As for now, I outsource the food included in my party packages, but I realized I need to be able to cover that angle as well. I also realized it is not my area of expertise, so I would love love love to be able to find the right partner to fil in the blank.
Contact Info:
- Email: diana@theteapartycompany.com
- Website: www.theteapartycompany.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theteapartycompanyintampa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teapartycompany
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPqu4bs4WogUH-L-EKr8e6g
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-tea-party-company-thonotosassa
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/theteapartycompany
Image Credits
Maria Camila Serna Photography
