Sheboygan February Program - "How to Reinvent a Business"

Learn to Look at Business Differently and Create New Income at February Women in Management

Martha VandeLeest, Vice President of Finance, and Kathryn Schwark, Retail Furniture Division Manager, both of Richardson Industries, Inc. will take Women in Management members through the process of creating the Atrium Tea Room and Café, located in Richardson's Furniture Emporium.

In 2007, they used their combined knowledge of the trend of tea rooms and healthy eating to take a fresh look at the unique atrium space in the Furniture Emporium and created the Tea Room. As the developers of the Tea Room, they will detail for meeting attendees the process from brainstorming through continued evolution today.

During their presentation, Schwark and VandeLeest will detail research of the initial tea room concept, reconfiguration of the space, sourcing of products, education of staff, and continuing enhancements. Originally started with an array of premium loose leaf teas and a limited food offering, the business has steadily grown. Today, in addition to hundreds of teas that are precisely brewed, their menu features lunch options, desserts and specialty tea drinks, exclusive to the Atrium Tea Room. They further expanded the business a year after it began to provide an educational component through tea classes.

In addition to reinventing the existing furniture business with the Tea Room, they have added bath and body care items, jewelry lines, wearable art, and a Chef's Corner. Today's business world demands innovative thinking to anticipate and capitalize on trends and these speakers will share their acumen on how to do that.

The February 15 meeting of the Sheboygan Area Chapter of Women in Management, Inc. (WIMI) will be at the Elks Lodge, 1943 Erie Avenue in Sheboygan from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost for the luncheon is $12 for members and $15 for guests. To attend, reservations must be made to Membership Chair Anne Harrington by Tuesday, February 7 at 5:00 p.m. to rsvpwim@gmail.com

WIMI is a networking group for area business women who are managers, aspiring managers, business professionals, and business owners. The group has 92 members and growing and meets on the third Wednesday of each month, from noon to 1:30 p.m. For more information about Women in Management, Inc. contact Anne Harrington at 783-2429 or rsvpwim@gmail.com