The Creston tea shop that didn’t stop

How Tigz Tea Hut kept its small-town warmth alive while shifting from a cozy storefront to an online tea haven

by Danielle Brost — December 05, 2025

Semi-retired and fully inspired: Tigz Tea Hut owner Lori Cameron continues to share her loose-leaf teas with customers near and far. — Photos courtesy of Tigz Tea Hut

There’s something unmistakable about the way a small-town tea shop feels: The sights, the scents, and the easy conversations that turn customers into friends. When Tigz Tea Hut in Creston closed its brick-and-mortar location, many wondered if that feeling could survive in the digital world. But co-owners Lori and Bill Cameron have managed to bottle that warmth and ship it across the country. Through carefully curated blends and a personal connection to Creston’s community spirit, they’re proving that heart-forward retail can thrive online without losing the soul that started it all.

Now operating entirely in the digital space, Tigz Tea Hut has grown into something bigger than a storefront. It has become a cross-Canada tea community rooted firmly in the Kootenays. In this conversation with KootenayBiz, Lori talks about the unexpected beginnings of the shop, the steep but joyful learning curve of becoming a tea expert, and the choice to transition into semi-retirement without slowing down their passion. From local partnerships to winter blends and customer traditions that have followed the company online, she shares how Tigz Tea Hut continues to serve comfort, connection, and “a daily hug in a cup,” no matter where the kettle’s boiling.

How are you keeping the spirit of your original shop alive in the digital space?

Being online doesn’t mean being distant—it just means we’ve found new ways to bring warmth, care, and great tea to more people.

What tea would you recommend for someone new to loose-leaf or specialty teas?

For someone just starting out, we usually recommend a blend that’s familiar, comforting, and easy to brew—something that feels like a gentle introduction to the world of loose-leaf tea. Our Tigz Creamy Earl Grey is a great place to start: Our flavourful earl grey mellowed with a delicious creamy taste, perfect with or without milk. It’s one of our most-loved blends and a favourite among both long-time tea drinkers and newcomers.
If you’re looking for something caffeine-free, our Creston Calming Blend is a soothing herbal option: Egyptian chamomile with a touch of mint and lavender—ideal for winding down in the evening.

We’re always happy to help customers choose the right blend and offer brewing tips to make the experience easy and enjoyable.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about tea?

That tea isn’t just for grandmas and rainy days, it’s a whole world of flavour, comfort, and surprise. There’s a tea for every mood: Something bold to kick-start your morning, something floral to make you feel fancy, and something cozy to wrap you up like a blanket at night.

Tea is a daily hug in a cup—and we think everyone deserves more of those.

red and white polka dot tea cup with a spoon of tea

What inspired you to open a tea shop in the Kootenays in the first place?

Honestly, it wasn’t part of the original plan! We started out creating gift baskets, and included a few loose-leaf teas as part of the mix. The response was overwhelming. People were excited to find a good variety of quality tea in Creston—something the town didn’t really have, and it quickly became a favourite feature of our store.

That growing interest inspired us to dive deeper. We expanded our selection, learned everything we could about loose-leaf tea, and eventually opened a dedicated tea shop right here in the Kootenays. It was a steep learning curve, but also incredibly rewarding. What started as a small addition to our baskets turned into a full-blown passion, and a business that’s brought us so much joy and connection.

How did your local community shape the identity of your tea brand?

Our community has been everything. People would come in not just for tea, but for conversation, comfort, and connection. That spirit shaped how we blended and named some our teas—many inspired by a customer’s favourite, or a local landmark.

What makes your online tea shop different from others?

We’re not just another online tea company—we’re a small, community-rooted business that puts heart into every order. We pride ourselves on offering premium teas, many of which have become local favourites over the years. Our customers know they can count on us for exceptional service, with most orders shipped or delivered the very next day along with free samples with every order.

four spoons, each with a different kind of tea inside

Convenience is a big part of what we offer. For our Creston customers, we provide free local delivery on orders over $25, and we’ve partnered with Cresteramics Gift Shop as a pickup location—they carry over 125 of our most-loved teas, making it easy to shop in person. For customers across Canada, we offer $12 flat-rate shipping and free shipping on orders over $95, with parcels delivered right to your door in most cases. We want to make it easy and affordable for people to enjoy our teas, no matter where they are.

We’re small enough to care deeply about every customer, but established enough to deliver quality and consistency. Whether you’re discovering us for the first time or you’ve been with us since our brick-and-mortar days, we want every cup of tea to feel like a warm welcome.

three white tea cups and a tall white tea container

What motivated the shift from a physical shop to an online-only business?

It was a tough decision. It’s been bittersweet—we miss the face-to-face moments, but we’re excited to reach more people across the Kootenays and beyond.

What prompted the change was the pace of our business. In addition to our tea shop, we also ran a gift basket business, and it became too much for just the two of us to manage. We reached a point where we needed to slow down and embrace a semi-retirement lifestyle. That said, we’re still deeply passionate about tea and committed to offering the same quality and care our customers have come to expect. Moving online allows us to continue Tigz Tea Hut while also allowing us to simplify our operations, and we’re excited to expand our online reach across BC and beyond, while staying rooted in the Kootenays by partnering with local shops to carry our teas

What have been the biggest surprises in moving online?

We were genuinely touched by how many of our long-time customers made the leap with us. Even without the physical shop, they continued to support us, place orders, and share kind words. That loyalty has meant everything.
Going online opened up a whole new audience. People from other parts of BC—and even across Canada—started discovering us through word of mouth, social media, and search.

We were surprised at how quickly we could process and ship orders. With a streamlined system, most orders go out the next day, which has helped us maintain the personal service our customers expect. Even though we’re online, our Creston customers love the convenience of local delivery and our pickup spot at Cresteramics. It’s shown us that blending online with local touchpoints is a winning combination.

What have been the biggest benefits in moving online?

One of the biggest benefits—for both us and our customers—has been the flexibility and accessibility that comes with being online. We still carry all of our customers’ favourite teas, and we’re constantly adding new blends to keep things fresh and seasonal. We have approximately 225 types of premium loose teas on our website (www.tigzteahut.com). If you can’t find a type of tea you are looking for, we will try to bring it in for you.

Without the overhead of a physical shop, we’re able to keep our prices lower than many other online tea companies, which mean more value for our customers without compromising on quality.

We’ve also made it a priority to keep our personal touch. Customer service has always been at the heart of what we do, and that hasn’t changed. Whether it’s a handwritten note in your order or a quick response to a question, we want every customer to feel like they’re still walking into our shop—even if it’s now a virtual one.

Would you like to have your teas in other local shops around the Kootenays?

Yes! We’re especially interested in connecting with shops who share our commitment to premium loose-leaf tea. Our goal is to bring high-quality tea to towns where it’s not readily available, where customers might not have many options locally. We aim to work exclusively with one shop in each community, giving them the unique opportunity to be the sole local source of our blends.

Are there any upcoming promotions, or seasonal blends readers should watch for?

Yes! Our winter collection is available now, with cozy blends like Fireside Apple Cider and Holiday Winter Spice. We’re also working on Holiday Tea Variety boxes that feature a collection of seasonal teas which make wonderful gifts.

Also, NEW this year: Holiday Tea Gifting Made Easy. If you are looking for a thoughtful gift of tea that feels personal and indulgent, our Holiday Tea Variety Boxes or a selection of other premium loose-leaf teas of your choice are available for shipping directly to your loved ones. Each gift includes a festive tag with your name and a short holiday message, so your recipient knows exactly who sent the cozy cheer. Whether it’s the Holiday Tea Variety Box or any tea gift you choose, we make it easy to share the warmth of tea this holiday season. We ship anywhere in Canada for just $12 flat rate. Spend $95 or more and shipping is on us!

Email [email protected] to get on our email list to see specials, promotions and new teas arriving, check out our Instagram or follow us on our Tigz Tea Hut Facebook page.