By CARA LORELLO
Staff Reporter
The former Computer Research Services building on South Lefevre Street in Medical Lake opened from a two-year closure on June 21 as Tea Scents & More, a tea, candle, and accessories shop run by area residents, Sharon Spilker and Cheryl Knowles.
Spilker and Knowles were offered the space next door by Rose and Garden Care business co-owner, Karen Strohmaier, who suggested they use it as a venue to sell their merchandise as distributors for Salt City and Bull River candle companies.
Spilker, a 30-plus year Medical Lake resident, said she has worked the home show circuit as a distributor for the last year. In exchange for the space, both women now work shifts at Rose and Garden Care during business hours, which are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“When we opened last Saturday, we had a lot of people come in and we sold quite a bit that day, and on Monday,” Spilker said of choosing to open shop during Medical Lake Founder's Day.
Here's a sampling of the items you'll find at Medical Lake's Tea Scents & More: regular or soy-based jarred scented candles in a variety of different fragrances, ceramic pots for brewed tea, cup-saucer sets, votive holders, scent chip melts and regular or electric melt pots.
The Salt City Candle Company uses a unique wax formulation allowing for higher levels of fragrance oils per candle. The Bull River candle products are all soy-based, which offer some benefits over traditional wax- or petroleum-based candles, including slow and cooler burning time. Because soy-based candles are non-toxic, they product very little soot as well.
“Both companies, their candles last a very long time and they burn very evenly. Neither candles use any lead in their wicks,” Spilker added.
There's also a bit of aromatherapy items, which include Salt City pillar candles, herbal teas and natural bath soaks. Knowles said it's a line they hope to expand, if aromatherapy is something that catches on with customers.
Spilker hopes her regular home show clients will drop in and see the latest collections as well, plus the ceramic products that range from single teacup and saucers and pots to full matching sets, and Mighty Leaf teas that come in individual packets, or full box sets.
She added she plans to continue to host home show parties.
“You need to get the initial booking to hold the party, and hopefully more people will book from there. That's usually how your sales get going,” Spilker said, who along with Knowles, are former employees of Lakeland Village. Spilker worked there 15 years as a nurse's assistant, and Knowles for more than two decades in management.
For a few short years, Spilker helped manage a Medical Lake pharmacy that ended up burning down due to old wiring in the building.
Asked about the current conditions of the former CRS venue, Knowles and Spilker agreed sifting and cleaning two years of clutter and dirt was a job.
“Nothing but dirt, and more dirt—you could not even walk through here,” Spilker said, adding they did manage enough to make it presentable enough for opening day.
Knowles said the store will add its own signage once they've earned enough profit—and a locate ladder high enough to reach the old sign, Spilker added.
Tea Scents & More is located at 106 S. Lefevre Street in downtown Medical Lake. For questions or information about scheduling a candle home show, contact Spilker at (509) 230-1199.
Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]
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