Title: The Tea Room Business Plan - The Value Added Proposition Word Count: 356 Summary: Business does not exist in a vacuum and you will not be successful just because you are a nice person. Business doesn’t work that way. All business represents an exchange of one form or another and the exchange is usually facilitated by money. The essence of the exchange however is the perceived value added on behalf of the customer. If your customer perceives that your offering adds value to their life or business, then there is a good chance that customer will do busine... Keywords: Wholesale tea, business plan, tea rooms, tea Article Body: Business does not exist in a vacuum and you will not be successful just because you are a nice person. Business doesn’t work that way. All business represents an exchange of one form or another and the exchange is usually facilitated by money. The essence of the exchange however is the perceived value added on behalf of the customer. If your customer perceives that your offering adds value to their life or business, then there is a good chance that customer will do business with you if you ask for his business. Without perceived value added however, you will not get the business and your business will fail. It is as simple as that. But remember that value must be perceived and communication to customers and prospects is as important as the value itself. What are the ways to establish perceived value in a Tea Room Business? First, understand the world of tea. Tea education is important if you are going to open a tea business. The more you know about tea, the more you will be able to educate your customers. The more you teach your customers, the more satisfied clients you will have. Satisfied customers become repeat customers which is what your goal is for your business. A tea room is a business that provides high quality tea and food products coupled with a comfortable, attractive setting and good service. Each element sends a message that reinforces a value added proposition. With the proper value added proposition, the tea room will be able to sell on quality (not price) and charge a premium price for products and services. Specific ways to establish the value added proposition are: • Provide only the highest quality tea products • Utilize only the best tea ware • Develop a menu that will offer complementary products that enhance the tea drinking experience • Provide a tea environment that is totally warm and welcoming • Develop a culture of customer satisfaction • Finally communicate your value added proposition to everyone you meet Tea Room Tip: No mater how strong your value added proposition, it will not be effective unless strongly communicated to your customer audience.