What is the name of the business you are nominating?
Apothica Teas
Who are the owner(s) and/or principal leadership in this company?
Laura and Shane Hollister
Location:
Niles
Nominator’s Name:
Veronica Smith
How many people work at the company you are nominating?
25
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
Apothica Teas is a family-run company. Laura Hollister has been a resident of Niles her whole life. Apothica provides customers a welcoming and unique environment. Loose leaf teas are available to purchase, as well as the opportunity for prepared hot or iced beverages, food from the scratch-made kitchen, and tea-themed accessories. I think what sets them apart the most is the staff. The owners care about their employees as if they were family. They all enjoy what they do and thus go out of their way to be sure customers feel comfortable and enjoy themselves.
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?
Apothica Teas is a welcoming and inclusive business, employing all different kinds of people. Everyone is friendly and does their best to help each other when needed. Whether kitchen side or tea slinging side, they also welcome their employees to be creative and try new things in their work.
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
The knowledge that the owners care about them. They are also proud of the unique atmosphere, as there isn’t another place like it. There is freedom to be creative and flexibility of working hours. Most of the employees are a bit ADHD, so they work well together and find a sense of community among them because they understand each other.
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Google or Indeed. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
Apothica is where passion meets creativity in the tea and culinary arts. From the friendly greetings when you walk in, to the exceptional care in crafting each beverage and dish, this place feels like a home away from home. The team’s energy and enthusiasm make every visit a unique and delightful experience. It’s clear they love what they do, making every day at Apothica a good day. Whether you’re a tea aficionado or a casual café-goer, you’ll find something to love here.
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
Friendly, Family, Caring
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? And why?
Empathy and innovation. These powers allow Apothica Teas to maintain a harmonious workplace and continually surprise customers with creative new offerings.
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
The leadership at Apothica fosters an environment of open communication and collaboration, encouraging staff to share ideas and feedback which are often implemented to improve service and product offerings.
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
A power outage threatened to spoil an entire inventory of perishables, but the team rallied, utilizing every resource to save the food and serve the community despite the setbacks. This not only demonstrated their resilience but also their commitment to sustainability and community support.
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard but also for playing hard.
Apothica blends work and play seamlessly. They celebrate every major holiday with themed events, creating a festive atmosphere that enhances teamwork and morale.
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
Just about all the food produced in the kitchen is scratch-made in-house. The staff members work super hard, sometimes working wee hours of the morning to be sure there are delicious baked goods ready for sale. Manager Rachael practically lives there because she’s one of the hardest working people, cares about what she’s doing, and wants to put out the best food we can.
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
- Staff fridge and snack cupboard
- Welcoming and friendly atmosphere
- Flexibility in hours
Anything else you’d like to mention about this company, its leadership, etc?
Apothica is a gem of the community. It’s rare these days for a company to put its employees first rather than the bottom line. It shows in their continued success and growth that the community is in need of a special place. The crew is top notch, and I look forward to see where they go from here.
