Meet Barbara

Since a young age, Barbara has always considered herself a serial entrepreneur. In 2022, Barbara noticed a gap in the market and opened a one-of-a-kind tea lounge in Memphis, Tennessee. As a small business owner, Barbara has an enormous impact on her local community.

“I love tea and there wasn’t a place in Memphis that had more than a few teas on their menu. I knew if I was looking for a proper cup of tea, someone else was looking for a cup of tea.”

Barbara’s business, Enchanted Tea Lounge, offers an authentic British afternoon tea service. Customers can get a cup of tea to-go, but the most popular service is the sit-down afternoon tea. Each person receives a collection of finger sandwiches, pastries, jams, and a personal pot of tea. Many people in the community come to Enchanted Tea Lounge for special occasions and celebrations, including anniversaries, birthdays, and baby showers.

“I love educating people about tea and what I do, and introducing people to new things who might not get the opportunity to experience an authentic afternoon tea anywhere else.”
Barbara has four additional employees who greet guests and prepare the tea. Most of Barbara’s employees have walked through the doors because they love the business and asked if she’s hiring.

“Small businesses need to thrive for communities to thrive. Owning my own business has allowed me to live my dreams. I’ve always wanted to work for myself, but also provide jobs for people in my community. I feel like I’m helping the community and the economy by having a successful business.”

Barbara joined Grameen America after hearing about the program during a presentation at a business networking event. She knew most loan companies have requirements, but felt like Grameen America was unique.

“Grameen America is giving women a hand up, especially women who may not be able to get funding in other ways. What really sold me was there’s no catch, Grameen America is all about helping people. This is the first organization that I’ve seen that is actually here to put people first. They go straight on your merit and your word to pay your loan back, all while helping build your credit. For me, it’s not just about the money, it’s about the community and the support.”

Through Grameen America’s financial and business education, Barbara has learned more about credit-building, legal business structures, and social media. Barbara used her most recent Grameen America loan on supplies for her shop and digital advertising to raise brand awareness. What Barbara has learned about social media and advertising has had a positive impact on her business - her sales in one weekend boomed and equaled what she typically makes in one month. The additional capital has helped Barbara grow her personal savings and add another positive line on her credit report.

“It’s hard running a business, but having a tribe to support me has given me more confidence to make my business better. I call my Center my accountability partners. If one of us sets a goal and needs help reaching that goal, we are able to push each other and support each other.”

Over the years, Barbara has paid for business coaches, taken training courses, and read extensively to become a better business owner. Her biggest advice for other entrepreneurs is to invest in yourself.

“In the short-term, I want to expand into a bigger storefront and hire more people as business grows. Right now, I have 70 flavors of tea and my goal is to have at least 200 different flavors. Eventually, I’d like to have multiple locations and possibly open a French tea lounge.”