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© by Sally Jones; all rights reserved

Earlier this week I heard on ABC evening news that some restaurants were having trouble with the children that come into their establishments. The children lacked discipline.

One restaurant owner was interviewed and explained that some of his customers that usually frequented his restaurant turned around and walked out because the kids were running around or using the silverware as drum sticks. Obviously, this was not a good thing for the "bottom line" of the restaurant.

The restaurant owner put a sign on the door that tactfully said that children were welcome but children were expected to behave or be disciplined by the parents. The parents took offense at this and began boycotting the restaurant because they didn't think that the restaurant had any right to tell them how to bring up their children.

In a couple of states these people want to put a referendum on the ballot to make restaurants have a separate place for children. What now!--a separate place for smokers, non-smokers and now a separate place for children?

Unfortunately, parents are not teaching etiquette to their children because they never learned it themselves. This is a good opportunity for tea rooms and tea establishments to step in with etiquette classes. This is an excellent source of revenue and takes so little effort on your part.

You can have classes for little girls 5-7 years old, 8-10 years old, and 11-13 years old. I, also, would do classes for boys in the same age groups. I would not have the boys and girls mixed in the same class.

In the early spring, hold classes for teenage boys on prom and restaurant etiquette. Have a men's store come in and talk about "dressing for success." Of course, you would also want to do the same class for teenage girls. Again, I would not have them mixed in the same class.

What should the curriculum look like for young boys and girls? Here is a list of topics you can include in each class.

Meeting adults
Table manners
Play dates
Behavior in public
Telephone manners
Party manners
Writing thank-you notes
Sleepover manners
Dining out
Yucky foods
Watch your words
A good sport
Soap, showers, and socks

For the teenagers, table etiquette will be very important as they will be eating in fine restaurants. Following is a list of topics you can include.

Table manners
Opening the door for their date
Telephone manners
Party and prom manners
Dress
Meeting the parents
Car etiquette
Dance etiquette
Flowers
Reservations
Please and thank you

I'm sure you will be able to add more to the list. This is much needed information. Why not offer it to your customers?!

As you know, I work part time for a tea room. We have had women come in and ask us to have etiquette classes for their husbands!

There is a need. I hope you will fill it.

When you are having a special tea think about having a local clothing boutique have a fashion show for you. You can advertise their business and they can advertise your special tea at their establishment.

Ideally, after your customers have tea they will go to the dress shop or they may buy the clothes "right off the models' back." This is really a win-win situation.

January 2006:
Speciality Tea Institute Levels 1, 2, and 3 Certification, San Francisco, California

January 22-24, 2006
31st Winter Fancy Food Show, Moscone Center, San Francisco, california

March 27-29, 2006:
World Tea Expo, Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

May 4-5, 2006
Fresh Cup Roadshow, Adam Mark, St. Louis, Missouri

May 7-9, 2006
8th Spring Fancy Food Show, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois

July 9-11, 2006
52nd Summer Fancy Food Show, Jacob K. Javits Center, New York

We would like to hear from you. If you have any tips that you found helped you build a successful tea business, please submit a tip and we will publish it in a future Tea Business Success News. We will also give you a permanent link to your site.

I had a question regarding using your own kitchen to bake and cook when catering tea parties.

I know the regulations are different in different states. The first thing you should so is make an appointment with an official at your Health Department and discuss this with them.

In Nevada, there are no regulations covering cooking in your client's kitchen. However, if I were to bake and cook in my kitchen, I would have to have the Health Department inspect it.

I was fortunate as I had a friend that had a commercial kitchen that I could use. Some small restaurants will rent out their kitchens when they are closed. This may be what you have to do.

Hope this is helpful to you.

Contact Sally