Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Escobedo.
Leah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Honestly, this is not where I had envisioned my future. I always thought be living the corporate life. I loved the idea of wearing heels to work on a daily basis.
I distinctly remember my Grandfather chuckling at my ideas of where I thought my career path would lead me, he knew better. He bought a plot of land in coastal Encinitas back in the 60’s and started a Greenhouse. Some of my first memories are walking through the many rows of hanging flowers. I would take home bunches of flowers to watch them open in my bedroom, I loved them, but I hated the idea of making them my life. I saw the hard work it took to grow the flowers. The struggles with unforeseen weather and in an instant, a crop could freeze and there goes your livelihood.
I was offered a job working for the Four Seasons Resort. I was trained by the best management team, met the most wonderful people and was able to travel around the world. I loved the service training they gave me and thought my future would be in Event Planning. After experiencing a taste of the work behind the scenes of events, I realized that it was the creative side of these events that was calling. It was the look and feel that flowers brought to the space that really defined the décor. I wanted to dazzle clients when they walked into the room. The look on a Bride’s face when she sees her wedding day flowers, that’s what I craved.
So there I went…. to take over a floral business.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My Mother started the retail flower shop that we design out of today. She put in her blood, sweat and tears while raising a family, and now it’s my turn. Finding the right balance between work and family time is something that I’m still working on. As a matter of fact, I often spend time with my family by putting them to work with me during events and holidays. We end up having a great time working together and I’m very fortunate to have such wonderful, supportive people around me.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Matteson’s Florist – what should we know?
Come visit us! We have a large stand-alone shop in Leucadia. We curate everything flower, from small gestures to large-scale events. We are known for our super talented design skills, but also for our iconic sign on the building, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” I am proud to keep the core values of my Grandparents while serving our current day community. I love the relationships that have been built over the generations between our local growers and lifelong clientele; it is something to be cherished.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I’m glad you asked! The success of a small business lies in the hands of the surrounding community. So many people have contributed to our success over the years through business referrals, rave reviews, and strong team members; but, on the top of my list are my Parents and my Husband.
They have encouraged me through the years to keep growing and have always been there to lend a helping hand. They literally re-build everything inside of the flower shop and also made my dreams come true when it came to building new rental items such as structures, columns and chuppahs. The answer is always, “Yes, now let’s figure out how to do it.”
Contact Info:
- Address: 1967 N. Vulcan Ave.
Encinitas, CA 92024 - Website: mattesonsflorist.com
- Phone: 760-943-7873
- Email: mattesonsflorist@gmail.com
- Instagram: mattesonsflorist
Image Credit:
Heather Elise Photography, True Photography, Laura Christin Photography, Heather Anderson Photography
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