There is nothing quite like traveling for pleasure.
Every aspect can be enjoyable...

How To Start a Tea Business
On-Line Schooling With Dawnya Sasse

Lady Dawnya is the author of the first online tea training course called "How to Start A Tea Business." She is also the creator and director of Victorian Days - A Girl's Camp and owns Tea Events teahouse in Bend, Oregon. For more information visit her websites:

www.Startateabusiness.com www.VictorianDays.com www.TeaEvents.com

1) What is your background in relation to tea?

I started my tea journey in 1997. My original tea training was with Ron and Donna Lasko (New England's Tea Couple) who spent several days with me one on one. In 1998 I opened a fulltime tearoom in downtown Bend. In 2000 I turned my fulltime teahouse into a by reservation teahouse focusing on special events. During the past 7 years I have continued to pursue tea education and have trained with Pearl Dexter, Norwood Pratt, Tomislov Podreka and a host of other tea experts. Most recently I completed a one on one training seminar with Edward Brahma of the Tea and Coffee Museum in London.

2) When did you start your business?

I formulated the business in 1997 and opened the doors in 1998.

3) How long have you been offering on-line tea training classes?

Since 2003

4) Please give a brief description of how your program works? Is the on-line course interactive? Is most of it reading and discussion via e-mail and teleconferencing or do you have on-line video as well?

 The Start A Tea Business Course was born out of shear frustration. Tea is hotter than ever but if you don't plan to go to the traditional tea seminar you are out of luck when it comes to business training. I created a totally online course in order to better provide tea entrepreneurs with training from home. I also wanted to make sure that tea entrepreneurs could receive training in a variety of tea fields not just tearooms. Start A Tea Business focuses on finding the right opportunity for you and your lifestyle. Students are given entrance into a password protected site. This site is filled with the course work for the week along with a large resource area. Course work includes written, online and audio segments along with tons of training links. Live phone seminars are presented each week along with an online forum where students can post their work and ask questions. In addition, students receive a started kit via snail mail filled with a variety of loose leaf tea which they will use in the cupping portion of the course. Currently we do not offer video due to poor internet quality. We will continue to consider that for the future.

5) The course is a 3 week course. How long is the course in terms of hours. Can participants work at there own pace?

The course is 3 weeks with an additional week allotted for homework. Students work at their own pace and only complete work that is relevant to where they are on their tea journey. For instance, if a student doesn't know exactly which field they want to incorporate tea into they cannot complete the business plan in the course. Some students are farther along and already have their business course done, etc. Start A Tea Business is an entirely personalized approach. I work with the students independently to try to help them reach their personal goals. Students can receive a certificate if they complete the coursework and post all of their appropriate homework within the allotted four weeks. All of the curriculum is available for student to save to their own computer or print out for their files. Thus they are able to go back over the materials again and again.

6) Does the student also receive reference materials, contact lists etc.

Yes. The students are set and ready to research tea. They have access to reference materials and the students also receive my personal wholesale list of over 200 vendors in a variety of tea related fields.

7) How does one access the course once they have paid?

Students receive a series of instructional emails to prepare them for the beginning of class. Once the class begins they are given access into our password protected coursework. It is really easy.

8) Is your course geared to benefit anyone starting a tea business?

Yes, I think it is important to show students that there are a ton of options out there. Starting a tearoom is great if that is the right option for you BUT we also look at a large host of other options. Many of the business portions could be used as individual training or you could take several portions of the course and create your own unique business doing the things that you love. The class is also very personal. When a student finishes the class work they feel like they know me. I am very open and honest about my ups and downs with my tearoom. I have done just about everything along the way and my students can benefit from my mistakes. In addition the course work hosts a variety of interviews with "regular Joes" who are in tea related business. These interviews are really a treasure trove of information.

9) What kind of business people have taken your course?

Every kind. I have had students that have very established tea businesses and are looking for more input along with stay at home moms who love to have tea parties. I have even had a retired Harley Davidson exec.

10) How often do you offer the training course and do you have a maximum or minimum you require to run the course. If so Why?

During this last year I have offered the class every eight weeks to work out all the bugs. By fall 2004 I will be offering Start A Tea Business only three times a year but we will also be offering a "class on demand" feature that will allow students to get the training materials in a home study manner. (without the class interaction)

My maximum student load is 12. For three weeks I devote myself entirely to my class. I am basically "plugged in" to the computer and the telephone during the class season. I want to be totally available to my students and I cannot do that with a class load of more than 12. Start A Tea Business is far more personable and interactive than your regular seminar because the instructor is there to help you as an individual with your personal needs, goals and desires.

Editors Notes : I thought the class sounded very interesting and was curious to hear from Dawnya’s students. All interviewed found Dawnya’s class to be an “excellent” course. They found that the information and resources provided exceeded expectation and were well worth the investment.