Rising Stars: Meet Allie Robinson-Ollila

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Robinson-Ollila. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Blessed Be Tea and Apothecary was conceived in October of 2019. Courtney Wiggins (They/Them) and myself, Allie Robinson-Ollila (She/Her) met while camping with friends. We quickly realized that we had similar goals of opening a brick-and-mortar “witch shop”. Our focus would be herbs, and herbal products, as well as being a “one-stop witch shop”, providing all the wares necessary for those who are spiritually inclined. Production of herbal tea products began that winter, and we were prepared for sales to begin when COVID hit. We were pretty much resigned to begin an online business, or scrap the whole project entirely when were accepted as vendors at the Interlochen Outdoor Farmers Market. Our official first sales were in June of 2020. Born in the middle of a pandemic. Despite having a fairly niche product, we found that we were very successful. Our customers kept telling us, they had been “waiting for a company like ours to emerge.” We continued doing vendor sales every Sunday at Interlochen, and picked up other craft and vendor sales in the surrounding areas. we were welcomed at the Grand Traverse Commons sales on the historic front lawn, as well as their winter farmers market in the Mercato. We packed up, and traveled to shows in Mackinaw City, Kingsley, Elk Rapids, Bellaire, and more. We also did larger shows, like Witches Weekend in Houghton Lake, and Hoxeyville in Wellston where were coached along are way by the excellent people at SCORE and SBDC. Courtney and I slowed our productions in the fall of 2021. I was set to marry my husband in October. and life was getting busy for Courtney. Before winter Courtney and I made a mutual decision to go separate ways. They wanted to focus more on their Vibration Sound Therapy business, Joyful Noise, on their awesome kiddo Danny, and on their continued community and social justice work. Courtney relinquished the business over to me in the winter of 202`1. 

I sat questioning the direction I wanted to take with the business for a couple of months. did I want to continue packing up and breaking down vendor sales? did I want to focus on wholesale and online orders? did I have what it takes to open a brick and mortar? Oh, man, I had no idea what I wanted to do. My husband, Jason, asked me, “what is it that you love about Blessed Be?”. 

My Customers, I love my customers. I love putting magick in their hands. I love teaching about intention and manifestation. I love talking to those curious about nature, magick, and the craft. I love seeing the magick work. 

I, with the encouragement of my husband, decided the best thing to do was invest in myself and my business. it was time to open a brick and mortar. but where? 

I was strolling the downtown tc strip when I came upon a for rent sign in a tucked back hallway window, between Murdicks fudge and the Camershop. I gave the number a call, toured the space, and went to the bank for a small business loan. 

The space had been vacant for over 2 years and had been used as a catch-all, by some of the other tenants. there were large pieces of equipment, dated grungy paint choices, a copious amount of phone lines and jacks, and 2 layers of commercial carpet. my husband and I went to work. we ripped out the carpet. painted the walls and ceiling, installed new flooring, and built fixtures, such as our retail counter and apothecary shelves. 

We breathed life back into this space. 

We opened on Beltane and a new moon. May 1st, 2022 

Blessed Be’s Mission Statement: Blessed Be Tea and Apothecary strives to provide powerfully charged products with a purpose, whether that be physical or metaphysical. Our focus is to produce Tea as well as essential tools for the modern-day spiritualist. We strive to source our inventory and materials from unique small businesses and farms to better enhance the individual. It is important for us to create a safe space for being, learning, growing and communicating. Our products are made with great intention, but magickal/medicinal results are not guaranteed. 

It is my honor and pleasure to have built a business, with the help of my former partner, family, and community partners. Our doors are open to those who practice all types of spiritual faiths, as well as those who are just curious. We also welcome those who just love tea, and natural soaps, and such. essentially, you don’t have to be a witch to shop here. 🙂 

Our teas are put together with purpose, we can help bring love or luck into your life (which we all need a little bit of these days), or help with sleep and tummy troubles. all the teas are made from my own recipes, and my culinary experience helps guide me with flavor profiles. none of my teas are lacking in flavor. the ingredients are all sustainably sourced, and locally sourced when available. the majority of my ingredients are organic. the teas are put together in a commercial kitchen on Hammond, called the Uncommon Kitchen, (we think this is fitting 🙂 ). My product and business is licensed for food retail. 

We feature a lot of local vendors and makers. many of whom are just starting their business and some that have been in business in traverse city for over 30 years. It is my honor to provide a platform to other small business. Plus, these people make excellent product. they do it better than I ever could. We are not a big box store, in anyway. You will find typos and skewed printing on labels. You will find product lacking labels altogether, but what you will also find is product made with love and intention. Product that comes from hobbies, that keep single mothers sane, and product from hobbies of those who live in the rat race of corporate, who just need to connect with nature. Making product is their medicine, I am helping to allow them the opportunity to continue making, to keep being creative, and bring in some profit for both of us as well. 

Another goal here at blessed be is to reduce reuse and recycle. We feature a hand-curated collection of bizarre antiques, and oddities, that is forever growing. We also have handpicked thrifted clothes. we dig to find the cool stuff, so you don’t have to. The idea behind this is that there is enough mass-produced items coming out of fast fashion and corporate retail. It is our job as stewards of the earth to find new homes and purpose for items that have been previously discarded. 

And lastly, our job here at bbtea is to be a safe and open space for all people regardless of gender identity, race, age, religion, politics, and physical ability. we are offering a community. We have a book coven (club), we do dead poets society (open-mic-style poetry readings), witch 101 classes, events to celebrate the full moon and the solstice. We host tarot readers, paranormal investigators, and authors for book signings. We are creating a safe space for people to gather. 

Ultimately it is our job to put the magick into the hands of the people. Not a day goes by when somebody doesn’t get goosebumps, just from the natural energy circulating in the shop. Traverse city was ready for a witch to move in downtown. The community has been very supportive. I think people are realizing that I, a witch, am just like they are. I take my kid to soccer, and coach tball. I’m not standing behind the counter stirring a cauldron and cackling. I’m here just living my life with consciousness and intention. I think everyone, regardless of their spiritual path can relate to that. the shop has only been open for 8 weeks, but I know I will be here for ages to come. – Blessings 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always struggles. currently, my biggest struggle is balancing home and work life. It is common for small business owners to put in 50-80 hours a week when they are just starting out, and especially in the summer, when we have our largest tourism boom. I have decided to only be open 5 days a week so that I can have a day to make tea in the kitchen, and a day to be with my family. but it definitely doesn’t feel like enough time. My husband is holding down the fort at home after he works 40 hours a week as an electrician. I typically come home to a hot meal, a watered garden, and a couple of loving kiddos, who just missed me all day. I know I will eventually find the right balance. I am grateful to my family for their sacrifices as I realize my dreams. what do they say? there’s no rest for the wicked? To that I say, it’s ok, I’ll sleep when I’m dead. lol 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m proud of traverse city, for being emotionally and politically available to accept a business outside the norm. I am proud of all of my customers. I am proud that people are sensing the magick of this powerful area, the water the land the beasts. I am proud that people are taking time to treat themselves to some tea! I am proud to offer education and conversation to those who are wondering. I am proud to learn something new every day. I am proud of my kids, I am proud of my husband, 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Intention, intention, intention it is important to understand why I am making, why I open every day, why I host events. and I’ll tell ya, it’s never for the money. It’s always about truly sharing this life and the magick it has to offer with those around me. 

Speaking of money- I will say this because I think it is also inherent to my success. I view money as a tangible form of energy. A good traded for other goods or services. Energy, just like money, can be used for good or evil. I choose to think of money as positive energy, flowing my way, so that I can continue to flow positive energy back to the people. 

Pricing:

• tea- 0.5 oz bags $8 each or x4 0.5 oz bags for $28 (you save $4 by buying 4 bags)
• consignment- always looking for vendors, I offer 60% of retail sale price to them, and I keep 40%
• antiques/clothing- I keep my prices fairly low on these items because I want to be able to put the magic back into the hands of the people.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.blessedbetea.com
• Instagram: blessed_be_tea
• Facebook: Blessedbetea
• Other: TikTok @blessedbetea

Image Credits
Carly Fisher