If you have a complaint, there are no 1-800 telephone numbers for The Tea Room of Keystone Heights and Gift Shop or Pat’s Nursery. If you have a problem, they want to hear from you directly.
“You know, when folks come into the Team Room, I treat it as an extension of my home,” said owner Jennifer Ford. “Owning a small business is probably one of the most personal things I have ever done. I think I get the most gratification from building those relationships. I actually have a sign outside my Tea Room that says, ‘Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends.’ I believe that was all my heart.”
The U.S. Small Business Administration urged Americans to support Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30. It was designed as one day to support small retailers and restaurant owners who are the backbones of the local economy.
But why just one day? When we spend our money locally, we keep our money in the local economy, which means we support local employment and local programs funded by taxes and contributions.
Shop Local should be a year-round commitment.
“We're small businesspeople, and if you add us all up at one time, it does help the economy,” said Alan Stuckey, the Vice President at Pat’s Nursery. “As far as that goes, you support many families – not that you don't do that with the big mass merchandise or box store. But if you keep things keeps things local … people shop here, they have kids in school here, things like that. We always try to support the school systems and around the county. What comes around goes around.”
According to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, for every $1 spent on locally owned businesses, 67 cents remains in the county, which helps to create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors for essential professionals like teachers and first responders. It also invests in entrepreneurship, takes advantage of local expertise and makes our community a destination.
Jennifer’s Tea Room has established a unique clientele in the last three years. She requires a reservation for a group of at least five. Groups are treated to 90-minute British-style tea with finger sandwiches, crackers, fruits, vegetables, spreads, slices of bread, scones and 40 different teas. And everyone is outfitted with traditional fascinator hats.
“It didn't actually start as a tea room,” Jennifer said. “I like to tell folks I never really intended to buy myself a job, but I love it. “I can't tell you how many people, not only in the City of Keystone but just Clay County in general, are just thrilled that it's been successful.”
Stuckey’s nursery is a mainstay for professional landscapers and homeowners. On weekends, cars are often lined for several hundred yards in both directions along U.S. Highway 17 on Fleming Island to buy plants, sod or to get advice. And each customer gets personal treatment, whether it’s a question about identifying a weed or purchasing a $1,000 palm tree.
“We're just a small business,” Stuckey said. “I think we're pretty important in the community here. Our customers are our neighbors, our friends. It’s not just a business; it’s personal.”
Every customer is greeted as they enter the parking lot, and their purchases are carried to their cars by an employee.
“We’ve built a good reputation over the last 29 years,” Stuckey said.
And they’ve helped make Clay County look beautiful – all while keeping most of our money in the community because we decided to Think Big by Shopping Small.
