Meet Teresa Eoff | Floral Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Eoff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The success of my brand is built on authenticity and trust. I want my clients to trust that I am not only capable, but passionate about the designs I create for them. My goal has been to create a business where I can be myself as a designer and be fulfilled by my work. While floral design is a form of art, it is also a skill. It has been important for me to maintain my design skills by continuing my education with professional classes but by also engaging with my peers, asking questions and learning the mechanics and processes needed to execute the designs I want to create. The knowledge that I have gained within the industry has helped me feel comfortable in the world of floral design where I don’t feel the need to “fake it till I make it”. I am comfortable with my style, my skills, and what I have to offer my clients. I believe in my own value, and therefore this is reflected in my brand. Confidence, transparency, authenticity combined with passion, creativity, and a love for flowers as my artistic medium, this has been the key to my success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of my favorite things about floral design is being able to transform spaces with colors, shapes and pairings of particular flowers. One of the things that sets me apart is that I’m not afraid to let an underdog flower, a “filler flower” take the lead in a design . I like to let every flower have its moment to shine if it fits the vibe I’m going for within the design.

I am proud of how far my business has come in a short period of time. I have been featured in numerous publications. I have designed a significant amount of weddings and events to sustain my business due to client referrals which means the most to me because my customers are satisfied with my work.

It is definitely not easy to manage a floral design business, especially in a world where the demands of social media are ever increasing. There is a lot of administrative work that goes into floral design that customers do not see, yet the expectation for immediate response times is always lurking. As an artist, sometimes you just want to create and not worry about everything else. There is also pressure to design everything perfectly, with the perfect ratios, balance, etc. I have learned to give myself grace , rebuke imposter syndrome when I feel it coming on, take social media breaks, and set realistic administrative goals for myself. I’ve learned that while I love my work, I love myself and my family more, so I am learning to set boundaries and create more of a work/life balance.

I’d like the world to know that I am a passionate creative who values beauty in all aspects of life. Life is definitely a journey but there is hope in knowing it is full of beautiful moments. I love that I can enhance those beautiful moments with flowers. That feeds my soul.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely plan a visit to brunch because brunch is life. During the day we would lounge on the beach and listen to music, check out a locally owned coffee shop, visit an outdoor shopping mall or the local farmers market, end the evenings at a nice restaurant with a view and an amazing meal.

I am a big fan of coffee. Whenever I visit a new city I make it a point to find the best rated local coffee shop and enjoy a nice cup of coffee .

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh goodness, I have a village of supporters in terms of the number of floral designers whose classes have honed my skills, shared business tips, are always cheering me on, answering my questions, giving me feedback and encouragement. The floral design industry is much more giving and community oriented than some would think. But if I have to narrow it down to just one shout out, it must definitely be given to my husband David. He encouraged me to take the leap to running my business full time. Anytime I am approached with a design that seems a bit intimidating he always tells me how capable I am. Despite having his own full time job and helping me with our children, he is behind the scenes of every wedding/event helping me keep it all together. From cleaning and organizing the shop to preparing orders for delivery, to assisting with the administrative load, creating spreadsheets, maintaining the inventory and balancing the finances, he has been a treasure.

Website: www.figureeightevents.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/figureeightevents

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tleoff/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/figureeighteventflorals

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/figure-eight-events-upland-3

Image Credits
Frykman Photography Shot by Ellen Glass Darkly Photo Little Honey Photography Robert Paetz Photography Lovely Ambiance Stella Cheng Photography Dana Rae Photography Trista Maja Photography