May I Put My Hand In Your Tea-A Lesson In Wilful Ignorance

One day, in the distant future, someone with more money and time than I shall conduct an experiment on waitering staff across the planet.
From Rio de Janeiro, where waiters peer over one's shoulder studying the menu with morbid fascination; to London, where staff glare at you for rudely interrupting their analysis of who was sleeping with whom on Crossroads; to India, where wallahs bring you exactly what you didn't order, cold and an hour later when you have already succumbed to starvation; to Cape Town, where servers glide effortlessly past you as you wave your arms about like the nearly drowned attracting a life-guard. Each a microcosm of business disregard for their patrons.
"I wonder if it's on purpose?" I asked myself as I mopped up the water dammed behind piles of my clothes. The flooding was caused by a plumber who opened the main tap without first emptying the geyser. He built the dams to prevent the water escaping into the rest of my flat. Then he fled.
Their complaint is usually that they did not know. Certainly there are those who despise their clients but most are genuinely shocked when you have had an unpleasant experience. It can't be that every business owner embarks on a quest to make life unpleasant for their customers.
This is wilful ignorance on the part of business owners. They are fully aware that clients are getting a shoddy deal but - for as long as clients don't make a fuss - they are able to ignore the problem. People tend to avoid confrontation and business owners are happily capitalising on our fears.
The donors don't experience the service directly and have no idea what should be done either. Development organisations can get away with even lower standards of care since their clients, on the whole, are desperate and uneducated (otherwise they wouldn't be in need of charitable services) and hardly likely to complain. But businesses, at least, suffer the frequent indignity of having their crasser habits exposed in local newspapers or blogs.
In this organisations are doing themselves a disservice. It is not just that clients have no loyalty for their service providers. It is also that organisations are losing a wonderful opportunity for innovation and product development.
Clients do know what they like and don't like. When offered a reasonable choice they will switch to the service that offers them the most reward for their investment of time, energy and (occasionally) money. If the relationship has become confrontational - one of complaint and apology - then it is unpleasant for both sides. If clients are considered a component of business development and improvement then they become part of the overall strategy.
Yet the discussion over increasing obesity has gone on for over a decade. McDonalds was caught completely by surprise by the obesity movement and has had to launch a dramatic turn-around, introducing salads and low-fat alternatives. They prefer it slightly stronger, or weaker.

They change the amount of sugar they consume in coffee. The changes are subtle, but they are there. People change their preferences on a daily basis.
It is an opportunity for business owners to listen and remain a part of the economic landscape of winners. It is an opportunity for business owners to listen and remain a part of the development of their favourite products. It is an opportunity for business owners to listen and remain a part of the development of their favourite products.

It is an opportunity for business owners to listen and remain a part of the development of their favourite products. It is an opportunity for business owners to listen and remain a part of the development of their favourite products. It is an opportunity for business owners to listen and remain a part of the development of their favourite products. It is an opportunity for business owners to listen and remain a part of the development of their favourite products. It is the gentle murmur of consumers hungry to be part of the development of their favourite products.

The low grumble of clients is not a personal attack on the organisation.
And, when they do get round to testing those waiters, I hope it involves lots of electricity.
Whythawk also conducts research on behalf of donors to investigate regional development needs and assist in ongoing surveillance and vigilance of their interventions thereafter. Gavin Chait is a director of, South African-based, Whythawk Ratings, (white-hawk) who promote economic development by impartially measuring and rating the effectiveness of the health, welfare and poverty relief interventions of development organisations and charities.
http://www.whythawk.com

How to Cater Tea Parties and Add To Your Bottom Line

Are you interested in a rapidly growing
business
opportunity
Are you looking for that is an ideal addition to your catering business?
creative, fun and exciting
ways to expand your business? If so, consider
adding specialty tea parties to your list of services.
Tea parties are a unique and fun way to reach a large
market that includes children's parties. Many parents
are seeking alternative options to traditional parties.
Tea parties
easily fill this need
.
Tea parties are festive, can be adapted to any theme,
are safe, healthy and are different. All these factors
provide you, as a caterer, with an
instant market and
marketing angles
.
Tea parties can be a great way to expand your business and are a
wonderful option for caterers
, as
you already have much of the equipment.
As a caterer, you can provide a full service of food and fun because you
already have experience
From here, all you have to do is learn the art of tea and you're on your way. in the industry!
A small investment in bulk teas (which have a big mark-up), and possibly some props, and you're ready to
expand your business
to afternoon tea or even children's tea parties.
Children love theme-based parties
and tea parties can be
as creative as your imagination allows. The idea
that a tea party has to replicate an English Tea is
simply not accurate (although some may love this type
of party).
Examples of themed children's tea parties include
favorite books or characters (such as Harry Potter),
dress-up parties or
birthday parties
with a tea twist,
incorporating fun and fruity teas.
As a business owner, you're already
familiar with
methods to promote your business
Use these same tools to promote the tea party aspect of your services and watch your business grow! .
Word of mouth is a great way to start, as you already
have a customer base. People are always interested in

new and unique services
, so this will be one way to
get the word out quickly about your business. And
because this business is unique, many people will be
naturally curious about what you do.
Create targeted marketing materials to hand out to Add the tea party option to all of your existing marketing materials as well.
parent groups
, the local library, childcare providers and other places that target families.
Also run ads in
local publications
that are distributed
to families. When it comes time to renew your yellow
pages ad, include information about afternoon tea and
your children's tea parties. Be sure to add cross-
references in the yellow pages that will target children
in addition to your regular catering clientele.
Running a tea party business is
affordable
As your business grows, you can expand your offerings. You don't need a huge amount of startup cash to purchase teas. and when running the business through your existing catering company, the overhead is very low.
For example, you could begin by stocking some
traditional favorites and as you expand,
add unusual
teas for specialty parties
But don't skimp on the quality of the tea or your tea education. .
You will be surprised to find that many customers
know their teas just like coffee lovers know their
espresso.
Knowledge is power
with tea just like any other gourmet food.
The tea business is a growing one, with sales in the
billions of dollars each year and expanding, with sales
expected to reach
ten billion
by 2010. For those
looking for a unique way to expand a catering
business, tea can provide the creativity and flexibility
to make it happen.
(C) Dawnya Sasse
Dawnya Sasse is the creator of the ultimate tea business training school allowing students to discover the secrets of the tea industry, "quickly and easily" without ever leaving home.
Why do some people succeed in the tea business?
Discover how to "Unlock the Secrets of the Billion Dollar
Tea Industry from the Comfort of Your Own Computer"
and make your tea dream a reality. Free audio mini
course
www.StartATeaBusiness.com
This article may be distributed freely on your website, as
long as this entire article, including links and this
resource box are unchanged.
Copyright 2006 Dawnya Sasse All Rights Reserved.
Tea Events
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