We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiffany Escoe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiffany below.
Tiffany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?
Reflecting on my job history as a business owner, I’ve come to realize a profound lesson – there are no wasted experiences. If you ever peeked at our resumes, you might wonder how two people with such different backgrounds ended up leading a business in hospitality design. But you know what? It’s precisely this blend of our combined experiences, relationships, and knowledge that has formed the blueprint for our journey at Cera Cera.
As we navigated through different industries and positions, we absorbed knowledge like little sponges, cultivated relationships that would prove pivotal, and honed skills that, unbeknownst to us at the time, would become the building blocks of our business.
Every role has given us invaluable insights and skills, from our first jobs to our highest positions. They’ve granted us the ability to approach challenges from multiple angles, stay flexible, and keep evolving to meet our clients’ ever-changing and unique needs.
In essence, we’ve realized that success in business isn’t just about the products we offer – it’s just as much about the relationships we nurture, our ability to deliver exceptional service, and our willingness to tackle challenges head-on.
Every experience has a purpose and place in the entrepreneurship journey.
Tiffany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
We’re two friends deeply passionate about interior decor and the transformative power of well-designed spaces. With Jamie’s product development expertise and my interior design and merchandising background, we founded Cera Cera in 2021.
Cera Cera is rooted in the firm belief that the smallest details can make the biggest impact. We specialize in curating and supplying complete packages of small decor accessories for hotels, restaurants, bars, living facilities, and resorts.
The name “Cera Cera” is a nod to our origin – ceramics. There was just something about a beautifully crafted ceramic piece that sparked joy for us. Our love for beautiful and modern ceramic pottery drove us to seek the best designs and highest craftsmanship in vases, decor, trays, and accessories for luxury hospitality spaces.
While we initially started exclusively with ceramic vases, we’ve found beauty in many forms. We have since expanded into other materials, always staying true to our love for small decor accessories.
One source of immense pride for me is how we’ve evolved as a brand and company since starting, adapting as we gain validation from the market. We’ve allowed ourselves the freedom to grow and change, ultimately finding our unique niche. Despite setting ambitious goals for ourselves, we’ve come to appreciate the beauty of taking measured steps forward. We’ve dedicated time to truly listen to our customers. It’s like a great hike in the Pacific Northwest; you can really hear so much when you pause to quieten your own footsteps!
Some of our clients are fellow creatives and designers working on large-scale projects with many moving pieces and looming deadlines. Specifying decor accessories is typically the last piece of the puzzle and can feel like a daunting task by that point in the project. This is where we step in, forming partnerships with designers to gain a deep understanding of their projects and providing comprehensive accessories packages. Our goal is to make the process effortless for the designer and their clients, simplifying the task of choosing the perfect finishing touches.
Other clients come to us with a clear vision for a specific decor piece. We’ll take their vision and work with our network of manufacturers and artists to find the perfect piece and bring it to life.
Ultimately, our mission is to offer curated and inspiring accessories that make designs and events feel complete. We take immense pleasure in our work, striving to create a difference while having fun along the way.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Our friendship began more than two decades ago in Portland, Oregon, in a high school IB Biology class. After high school, we went our separate ways for college – Jamie attended the University of Pennsylvania while I pursued interior design at Oregon State University.
After graduating, Jamie moved to New York for ten years, working in product development for companies such as OXO. I completed a design internship at Kroger and went on to work for them in merchandising.
Eventually, Jamie returned to Portland, bringing us back together, and that’s when Cera Cera was born. Life’s winding paths led us to different states and careers. Still, one thing remained constant — a mutual love for beautifully designed products, inspired spaces, and the sheer magic that happens when you combine the two.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson I’ve had to unlearn is my belief that I need clarity before taking action. I’ve learned that, often, clarity comes through action. This lesson has changed my mindset and has profoundly impacted my journey as an entrepreneur.
In the earlier stages of my career, I sometimes found myself stuck in a cycle of waiting for the perfect moment of clarity before taking action. I could envision my goals and dreams, but I struggled to move past the initial planning stage. The desire for everything to be perfectly clear before I proceeded often left me feeling stuck.
Then, one day, I had the fortune of meeting my mentor, Kara, who shared a simple yet surprisingly powerful analogy. She asked me, “When you go to a restaurant and order two different tacos, do you sit and contemplate which one you’ll like more before trying them?” The answer was, of course, no. You try one taco, then the other, and through that action, you gain clarity on which one you prefer.
Sometimes clarity comes through action, and sometimes action looks like small steps forward. I didn’t always need to have all the answers before making a decision or taking a step forward.
This change in perspective allowed me to shed the fear of uncertainty and perfectionism that had held me back. It’s what ultimately led us to discover our niche in an industry where we truly belonged.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ceracerahome.com
- Instagram: ceracerahome
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cera-cera