Jamie Yang supports women, welcomes children at Sherwood Tea House

Yang says her clientele is “99 percent” female, and she likens it to old-fashioned tea societies, where women would meet at tea houses while men would gather at saloons

By Kristen Forbes

The Times, May 29, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

Kristen Forbes / Times Newspapers

Lavender Tea House owner Jamie Yang is excited to renovate her business. She says to expect a larger venue with an elaborately redone kitchen and bathroom when the tea house reopens in September.

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When Jamie Yang’s husband decided to go to law school, Yang realized she wanted to take on a new project, too.

“I’d gone through another degree with him – his master’s degree – and that was pretty painful, as a woman,” Yang says, “because I had no outlet for myself while he was getting fed. He was growing, and I was at home with the children, and I didn’t feel like I was empowering myself to be someone more. When he decided to go into law school, I decided that I was going to do something different as well. This was my outlet.”

Yang had worked for years as a wedding and event planner but knew she didn’t want to continue pursuing that after she had children (she has three, ages 3, 7 and 9), because of the travel, long hours and stress involved. She wanted to use her savvy business skills for a new endeavor.

Two and a half years ago, Yang took over as owner of Lavender Tea House at 16227 S.W. First Street in Old Town Sherwood.

“I did it to be around other women,” Yang explains. “To be around others who can encourage and inspire and accompany you in your daily travels and be able to share things with you.”

Yang says her clientele is “99 percent” female, and she likens it to old-fashioned tea societies, where women would meet at tea houses while men would gather at saloons. Men are always welcome, of course, but Yang recognizes there’s something distinctly feminine about the tea experience.

Yang currently employs six stay-at-home moms and has discovered an idea that solves the problem of rising food costs in a slowed economy while helping women utilize their skills and make a profit. She’s always admired the entrepreneurial spirit of women who find creative ways to work from home by selling makeup or cookware or going on eBay.

“I decided to capitalize off the stay-at-home mom idea. Everything I sell in my tea house and will sell soon in the bakery consignment program is made by stay-at-home moms. They come in here, they bake it, they sell it and I get a percentage of it. They get filled. I get filled. It’s a win-win situation.”

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