Comments on: Ode to a Dream - Ya-Ya teahouse has closed down http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/ News from the Teahouse, about tea and more Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:26:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Jo http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-117226 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:36:29 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-117226 Hi Tom, thanks for your kind words. While the closure of our teahouse was a sad event, it also created new opportunities. The way of interactions has changed, but many of our clients have become rather friends than customers and email can be a great way of communication. I've met most of the folks here from Christchurch and have shared many pots of tea with them. Feel free to drop me an email if you feel the urge for a "place to call home", it could be at my home for a steaming pot of good leaves... Hi Tom,
thanks for your kind words. While the closure of our teahouse was a sad event, it also created new opportunities. The way of interactions has changed, but many of our clients have become rather friends than customers and email can be a great way of communication.
I’ve met most of the folks here from Christchurch and have shared many pots of tea with them. Feel free to drop me an email if you feel the urge for a “place to call home”, it could be at my home for a steaming pot of good leaves…

]]> by: Tom http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-117196 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:44:28 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-117196 It's a real shame to hear of your closure but as others have said it's great to hear you are continuing with your online sales to a dedicated following. I have only recently gotten into tea and have been to town twice to look for your tea house, but just couldn't seem to find it, now i have stumbled upon this blog post and am filled with a strange sense of sadness even though i never got to experience ya-ya teahouse. I think it's sad that whilst so many sterile and busy coffee shops remain open, a place of tranquility and peace has had to shut, hopefully in future there will be more demand for this, and other small-business operations focusing on tea. The many tea drinkers and would-be tea drinkers of Christchurch will need a place to call home. Regards, and all the best in future Tom It’s a real shame to hear of your closure but as others have said it’s great to hear you are continuing with your online sales to a dedicated following. I have only recently gotten into tea and have been to town twice to look for your tea house, but just couldn’t seem to find it, now i have stumbled upon this blog post and am filled with a strange sense of sadness even though i never got to experience ya-ya teahouse.

I think it’s sad that whilst so many sterile and busy coffee shops remain open, a place of tranquility and peace has had to shut, hopefully in future there will be more demand for this, and other small-business operations focusing on tea. The many tea drinkers and would-be tea drinkers of Christchurch will need a place to call home.

Regards, and all the best in future

Tom

]]> by: Jo http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-48996 Sat, 30 May 2009 22:37:49 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-48996 Hi Ronald, as I mentioned in the post, the closing down was NOT primarily related to a lack of customers but rather due to other circumstances beyond our control. I don't think that Christchurch's population is too small, but it is very conservative and habit-driven, which makes it difficult for any progressive or innovative business to get established. People here are also not very keen to come downtown to shop or relax, they rather crowd the strategically placed malls. Towns in Europe that are about a third of the size of Christchurch have usually a much broader range of owner-managed small specialty stores than we have here in Christchurch. It's more in the mentality than in the numbers, but I see it changing here, too. But the progress is very slow and hesitant... Hi Ronald,
as I mentioned in the post, the closing down was NOT primarily related to a lack of customers but rather due to other circumstances beyond our control.
I don’t think that Christchurch’s population is too small, but it is very conservative and habit-driven, which makes it difficult for any progressive or innovative business to get established. People here are also not very keen to come downtown to shop or relax, they rather crowd the strategically placed malls. Towns in Europe that are about a third of the size of Christchurch have usually a much broader range of owner-managed small specialty stores than we have here in Christchurch. It’s more in the mentality than in the numbers, but I see it changing here, too. But the progress is very slow and hesitant…

]]> by: ronald http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-48921 Sat, 30 May 2009 01:43:59 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-48921 Hi The fact is christchurch is such a small place to do decent business. I have seen lots of shops close down. In Australia the population is huge so that means tons of customers. Christchurch is just too small. Hi

The fact is christchurch is such a small place to do decent business. I have seen lots of shops close down. In Australia the population is huge so that means tons of customers.

Christchurch is just too small.

]]> by: Jo http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18994 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:10:05 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18994 Hi Andreas, while we are not quite ready to think about a new teahouse at the moment, the idea is definitely present. Every once in a while, we allow it to come forward and partially take shape. It might happen, it might not. Who knows. But until then, we'll continue on our quest to spread the word about tea. Hi Andreas,
while we are not quite ready to think about a new teahouse at the moment, the idea is definitely present. Every once in a while, we allow it to come forward and partially take shape.
It might happen, it might not. Who knows. But until then, we’ll continue on our quest to spread the word about tea.

]]> by: Andreas http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18984 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:45:19 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18984 Hi Jo and Diane, I am sorry to read that you are closing YaYa’s-teahouse. It’s a great pity! But it is good to read that you will continue your online-shop. That is maybe a small gleam of hope to establish a new teahouse in the future, anyway. Best wishes for your Tea-future ;-) Greetings from Germany, Andreas Hi Jo and Diane,

I am sorry to read that you are closing YaYa’s-teahouse. It’s a great pity! But it is good to read that you will continue your online-shop. That is maybe a small gleam of hope to establish a new teahouse in the future, anyway.

Best wishes for your Tea-future ;-)

Greetings from Germany,

Andreas

]]> by: Jo http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18781 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:48:36 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18781 @Esther: Thanks for the kind words. I do agree that online interaction does not have to be anonymous and we are usually very personal with our customers (if they want to). Unfortunately, there is no virtual substitute for the energy and feeling a place like the teahouse is able to create. We had numerous customers (of which many eventually became friends) that frequented the teahouse for the way it made them feel and adopted it as a kind of second home. We will miss this interaction very much and are thinking of ways to maintain it in a different form. Regarding your son, Raphael is quite a special kid. From his first email on, he never ceased to amaze me with his questions and interest (I can't wait to have a read through his presentation on tea). It is people like him that make a business like ours so satisfying and if I happen to be in your area, I'll make sure to try to arrange a tea meeting. Jo @Esther: Thanks for the kind words. I do agree that online interaction does not have to be anonymous and we are usually very personal with our customers (if they want to). Unfortunately, there is no virtual substitute for the energy and feeling a place like the teahouse is able to create. We had numerous customers (of which many eventually became friends) that frequented the teahouse for the way it made them feel and adopted it as a kind of second home. We will miss this interaction very much and are thinking of ways to maintain it in a different form.
Regarding your son, Raphael is quite a special kid. From his first email on, he never ceased to amaze me with his questions and interest (I can’t wait to have a read through his presentation on tea). It is people like him that make a business like ours so satisfying and if I happen to be in your area, I’ll make sure to try to arrange a tea meeting.

Jo

]]> by: Esther Belikoff http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18778 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:13:25 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18778 Hi Jo, I am so sad to hear about the teahouse closure. But the online venture, while no substitute for direct interaction, is not as anonymous as one might think. You have had an enourmously positive impact on my son. (He wanted to fly to Christchurch for his birthday!) I am so happy that the online shop will continue. We depend on your tea supply. My son is grateful for your support and eagerly awaits your messages. Best of luck, Esther Hi Jo, I am so sad to hear about the teahouse closure. But the online venture, while no substitute for direct interaction, is not as anonymous as one might think. You have had an enourmously positive impact on my son. (He wanted to fly to Christchurch for his birthday!) I am so happy that the online shop will continue. We depend on your tea supply. My son is grateful for your support and eagerly awaits your messages. Best of luck, Esther

]]> by: Jo http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18314 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:03:05 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18314 @Jesse: What a surprise that you're into tea. I've come across your blog (which I like) .through Bamboo Forest and had no idea that we had even the subject of tea as a common interest. And thanks for your best wishes, it is just hard to move away from a very social / personal interaction-based business to a much more anonymous venture of online retailing. @Kelly: We are thinking the same. Although we believe that for New Zealand the teahouse might have been "ahead of its time", it was other circumstances (much further beyond our control) that caused this situation. I know how you liked to hang out in the teahouse and I'm sure we'll be able to arrange having tea together sometime soon again. @Jesse: What a surprise that you’re into tea. I’ve come across your blog (which I like) .through Bamboo Forest and had no idea that we had even the subject of tea as a common interest. And thanks for your best wishes, it is just hard to move away from a very social / personal interaction-based business to a much more anonymous venture of online retailing.

@Kelly: We are thinking the same. Although we believe that for New Zealand the teahouse might have been “ahead of its time”, it was other circumstances (much further beyond our control) that caused this situation. I know how you liked to hang out in the teahouse and I’m sure we’ll be able to arrange having tea together sometime soon again.

]]> by: kelly http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18293 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:12:18 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2008/07/05/ode-to-a-dream-ya-ya-teahouse-has-closed-down/#comment-18293 So sorry to hear the news, it is such a shame. You will be sorely missed. Glad to hear that you haven't left us completely though, your many loyal customers will be pleased that they don't have to go back to supermarket brands - you've ruined us for life! Best wishes for the future. I will continue to hope that the teahouse was just ahead of its time and that it may yet be resurrected! So sorry to hear the news, it is such a shame. You will be sorely missed. Glad to hear that you haven’t left us completely though, your many loyal customers will be pleased that they don’t have to go back to supermarket brands - you’ve ruined us for life!

Best wishes for the future. I will continue to hope that the teahouse was just ahead of its time and that it may yet be resurrected!

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