Meet Emily & Eliah Tan | Spice & Tea Purveyors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily & Eliah Tan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily & Eliah, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
How to know whether to keep going or give up?

First things first: Keep going until you know for sure you won’t continue moving forward on the same path.

I think “giving up” has a pretty negative connotation. Everything comes to an end at some point. Not continuing forward with a business or project that isn’t working for you, could be looked at as a pivot or even an ending, but it certainly shouldn’t be considered a failure or giving up. The work that was poured into the business is important and should be acknowledged and celebrated even if the outcome of that work isn’t all we expected or wished it to be.

At SpiceTopia, Eliah & I (Emily) happen to be in the process of deciding if we’ll continue forward with our spice & tea shop, and if we do continue on what it will look like in the future. After four years of owning our business, we’re realizing the model of a physical retail shop might not be the best one for our business.

In the process of considering other options, the most helpful thing has been our sounding board of other business owners. This group of fellow business owners understands the challenges of being self employed while also having a broader viewpoint of our business that is sometimes hard to see when one is so up close to the everyday mechanics of running a business.

A few of the considerations they have encouraged us to look at:
What aspect of running our business do we love?
What aspect is heavy and hard for us?
Is there a way to do those things we love while divorcing the heavy and hard things?
What other models are out there that we might consider? Online retail only, teaching, vendor events, wholesale, classes, ect

And most importantly, when deciding to continue on or make a change, taking time is important. Time away from the business (even if that’s just a long weekend or even a few afternoons), time to just think, time to talk to others, and time to brainstorm is important.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At first glance, SpiceTopia is a Spice & Tea Shop, but dive in deeper and in addition to hundreds of spices and teas, you’ll see over fifty small California brands on our shelves. We’re proud to provide a space and mentorship to small local brands that may be just starting out. Many passion projects got their start on SpiceTopia’s shelves before moving onto the shelves of large national chains such as Costco and World Market.

We are proud to be able to provide the space for those just starting businesses to grow and develop.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We love our downtown Ventura and helping out of town guests explore is one of our favorite things to do!

Start your day off on Main Street at Kappicat where coffee, tea, and breakfast has a Tamil Indian flair! And the owner, Nicholas and his mom Mel welcome you with open arms!

Once your tummy is feeling happy, meander down Main Street visiting little independent gift shops where you’ll find local created treasures! Jellyfish Ventura Vintage is just one of those shops where you’ll find classic vintage housewares and jewelry mixed with locally handcrafted art. Sisters Cynthia and Stephanie will make you feel like you have personal shoppers while exploring all the little finds throughout their store.

Next, hit up a thrift shop like Coalition! Ventura’s Main Street is a destination for thrifters across Southern California. You never know what you might find at the many second hand shops, but rest assured your purchase always support a great cause.

Of course you’ll need to make a stop at SpiceTopia — a shopping destination for all food and tea lovers. Not only will you find hundreds of teas and spices, but you’ll also discover delicious local food brands made by small mom and pop businesses! Ask for samples of anything in the store–we are happy to help you taste away! Don’t leave without a jar of Ventura Spice –our custom blend featuring the flavors of Ventura County! It’s the tastiest souvenir you can find!

Right up California Street is Ventura City Hall! All are welcome to visit this historic building. Walk the halls, explore the artwork, and compare the old and new parts. You’ll often find a visitor guide right inside the front doors happy to answer questions or even accompany you on a tour. On your way out, don’t forget to take a few moments to enjoy the view down California street to the ocean!

Behind City Hall is Ventura Botanical Gardens, a 107 acre garden with spectacular views of the ocean and channel islands as well as the foothills surrounding the city of Ventura. With over 100,000 plants, these gardens represent all five Mediterranean climate zones of the world. Every turn provides a view you just won’t find anywhere else.

From City Hall walk right on down California street to the pier to enjoy lunch! Find a casual taco place or a more formal steak or seafood restaurant right on the waterfront. Then enjoy a walk along the waterfront or play in the sand and waves. There are several play ground areas for the kids if wiggles are setting in! If you’d like to surf, you’ll find a community of surfers here just about anytime of day.

After beach time, head on back to Main Street to enjoy the many shops and restaurants. No matter the cuisine you are looking for, it’s most likely represented: Thai, Ramen, Italian, Sushi, Pizza, Tacos, Northern Indian, Southern Indian, French, Belize, Irish, Japanese Bistro, Seafood, Californian, Vegan, Bar Food, ect.

End the day at the Hotel San Buena, where you can enjoy a glass of wine in a beautiful historic bar or outside on the courtyard in front of a fireplace.

If your time extends another day, head to the harbor where you can catch a whale watching cruise with Island Packers. Or visit the Channel Islands Visitors Center to learn about the unique chain of islands just off Ventura’s coast. Often called the Galapagos Islands of California, this area has more unique wildlife than any other set of Pacific Islands!

Be sure to get your chocolate fix at Top This Chocolate, a unique chocolate shop where you create your own chocolate bar with a choice of over fifty inclusions.

Then head to Brophy Brothers to enjoy the sunset over the ocean while enjoying fresh seafood.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A big shoutout to the business community on Main Street in downtown Ventura. We are truly a community that has come together to support and lift each other up.

Website: https://www.spice-topia.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spicetopia_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpiceTopia/

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SpiceTopiaCA/