Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika De La Teja.
Hi Erika, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
One Social Design started back in 2014 as One Social Events. I have done interior design for over 12 years under a different entity for commercial and retail clients. After planning my own destination wedding and then having to replan per drastic weather changes in the country where it was located, I had to replan my wedding in just three days. While all my guests were out and about enjoying their vacation, I spent three days nonstop replanning my three-day wedding festivities when I realized I didn’t mind doing that at all. I actually really enjoyed the design process, the planning, etc. My existing design clients were always asking me if I would help with their kid’s birthdays, or corporate events, etc. as they liked my aesthetic and style. I also have sat on the boards of different nonprofits and always was in involved in the planning of our charity events. However, I just never thought of myself as an event planner. Fast forward to 2014 when I met a colleague who was also looking to start a party planning service. We joined forces and One Social Events was born. As time went on and the interior design and event world kept colliding more, I opted to change the name to One Social Design and house both sides of my design business under one roof. Around this same time, my colleague decided to focus on her own side business and left the company. Since 2017, I have been the lead designer and planner for OSD.
I am a wife and a mother of five beautiful and amazing girls.
I have my masters degree in business,
I also own a small business consulting firm, where we help other small business with their marketing, finance, insurance and real estate needs.
I am also a partner in several restaurants.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road, but wouldn’t change a thing.
Changing personnel, at the same time I did a name change and had my youngest baby girl was not easy. Shortly after my daughter was born, she was diagnosed with a life-threatening genetic disease, and shortly after that come to find out her older sister in her 20s also carried the same disease and we never knew it. It was so much, and so much all at once I wanted to quit and just close up shop. But something told me not to, that I could still keep and grow One Social on my own and make it successful. It still has a long way to go, but I am very proud of where we are at today. Two of my daughters have worked with me these last few years, it is definitely a family business now. As my little one grows and needs me more, I am still torn on if I should continue with One Social, all of it, part of it, or let someone else take it from here…verdict is still out.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Currently events in so cal have taken off, with a slight dip recently with the current covid delta variant coming into play. Nonetheless, events are still happening just on a smaller scale, and most clients tend to want to host outdoors.
On the interior design side, we are working on a few residential remodels, four restaurants, two coffee shops, and restoring a historical property.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was born in Mexico City and grew up in Fullerton, CA.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.onesocialdesign.com
- Instagram: onesocialdesign
Image Credits
Nola Fontanez Photography, Nancy Ramos Photo, Navas Click Stop
