Meet Ella Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ella Williams. 

Hi Ella, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We launched our business April 1, 2021, but the idea had rooted itself well before then. It’s a bit of a long story. There were multiple events that triggered my journey into entrepreneurship. There were multiple events that triggered Posh Teatime Co.’s inception. 

The 1st, being as a child my sister and I were in and out of foster care & homeless shelters because of my mother’s severe Schizophrenia. To cope I often devoted my time to reading anything fiction I could get my hands on, writing & watching musicals. Those things were my escape. It allowed me to transport myself to magical worlds where I was more than an impoverished girl. I loved the glamour in musicals, these films and books allowed me to imagine myself as a glamourous lady enjoying a much more luxurious life. 

The 2nd event occurred in the early 2000’s I was the very 1st Tea Host at ZenCha tea salon in the Short North. I worked there a few years and my education & passion for tea grew and evolved. 

Fast forward to 2018, my mother passed away and I was in a dark place. My husband suggested we take a long vacation. We booked a trip to Europe 7 countries and 12 different cities in 3 weeks. It was breathtaking, but some of the most magical experiences we had were in Italy. We visited Milan, Venice & Rome and in Rome experienced an opulent tea service at the Villa Laetitia. This boutique hotel owned by the Fendi family was filled with fashion illustrations that adorned its beautifully aged walls and left me inspired to bring this decadent experience to Central Ohio, but it would be another 2 years before I acted. 

I began hosting tea parties in my home for friends to share with them various tea traditions and my baked goods. My dearest friends loved the tea parties and urged me to turn it into a business, but I was way too scared. I continued to work a very corporate job as a Systems Analyst, in 2020 the company had a mass layoff that I was included in. I chose to use the time off to create a business plan for Posh Teatime Co… and I took the biggest risk, by cashing out my 401k to purchase all my licenses and vintage inventory for Posh Teatime Co. Here we are today, a small business that is growing! 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Entrepreneurship has not been easy at all. I still work full-time in IT. Working full-time, having a husband and 2 children to say the least some days are more difficult than others. Running Posh Teatime Co. feels like I have 3 full-time jobs some weeks. I am Marketing/PR, Accounting, Sales, Content Creator, Dishwasher, Baker and so much more, but I absolutely love seeing our business grow & evolve, and my husband Nabil has pushed and supported me with this venture. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I genuinely believe that Afternoon Tea is the new Happy Hour. Our communities and culture are evolving. Socialization in America has been centered around alcohol since the prohibition era and many people want to have social gatherings that are elegant, glamourous & alcohol-free. Hosting a High Tea party with vintage China, cutlery & crystal delivers a magical experience which guests of all ages can socialize. 

We are a unique tearoom, not only because we are targeting luxury & that we are mobile, but because we are mission-driven. We believe in supporting our Communi-Tea with our Etiquette Academy & Charm School classes. We have partnered with The Huckleberry House Inc. to offer these etiquette classes complimentary to at-risk youth. I am a graduate of The Huckleberry House Transitional Living program. As a youth & they helped me find independence, by helping me gain custody of my younger sister. I was 16 working two jobs while in high school and they helped me get an apartment. They set me up for success. There are a lot of children and young adults that don’t have access to home economics. We help fill the need by teaching etiquette & other essential life skills. 

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I view success as leaving a lasting impression and truly making a difference in people’s lives. We strive to give white-glove service for our client’s tea parties. Whether it be serving our high-quality teas and hand-crafted food we ensure that every detail is taken care of and that our High-Tea parties are hassle-free. 

Success is also arming our Posh Teatime Co. Charm school students with confidence and life skills, there is grace, beauty, and power in giving back to the Communi-Tea. 

Pricing:

• Cream Tea $49 Per Person
• Moroccan/Mississippi Tea $79 Per Person
• Traditional English Tea $89 Per Person
• Creme De La Creme Tea $99 Per Person
• Teas starting at $9.95

Contact Info:

• Website: www.poshteatime.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poshteatimeco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poshteatimeco

Image Credits
Comfort Witcher