This may seem like an off-topic article for a B2B newsletter, but as any salesperson worth their salt will tell you, good manners and being considerate are fundamentals of good business. Whether selling or buying or simply ‘being’, the exchange between two humans is eased by soft smiles, listening well, and understanding the needs of the other. Human tensions have increased to a scary edge in the past few years, a situation exacerbated by the stresses of the pandemic. Tea, of all things, should lead us to a calmer place where we can be more mindful of our words (written as well as spoken) and actions.

As we move through the holiday season and beyond, taking a little more on the chin, turning a little more of the cheek, and rethinking our words before (and after, if necessary) when spoken during times of strong emotion are essential for good business relations with vendors, colleagues, and customers and never more needed than now. Also remembering to simply say 'thank you' is a small kindness that is easy to give yet so easy to forget.

Remind your staff to take moments to recover after dealing with difficult customers, and give space to those who don’t have it ‘gathered up.’ Everyone is dealing with so very much. Chamomile is in stock after a long trip from Egypt and it can’t hurt to have it readily available as free brewed tea samples all season long to relax tensions and calm steady nerves. Let your business be an oasis to all!

Most of our clients have shown us great patience as we anxiously awaited our overdue shipments to arrive, for which we are grateful. Thank you! In business and in all things, patience and lovingkindness go a long way to keep the world in harmonious working order. Happy Thanksgiving!