Meet Teresa Vilaseca | Business Owner

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

Hi Teresa, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I had never considered making jewelry or owning a jewelry business (or selling anything online), but in December of 2014, my cat, Chloe, passed away. She had been such a huge part of my life for 15 years, and I wanted a piece of jewelry that I could wear every day to remember her. When I started searching for it, I couldn’t find what I was looking for: something minimalist in style but that also reflected the joy she brought to my life. Everything I found was either not my style or very somber. I remembered the idea that if you can’t find something in the market that you’re looking for, then you might have an idea for a business. So, I taught myself how to make jewelry and how to metal stamp jewelry. I made a bracelet for myself and, in 2017, started selling them online, and named my business Chloe’s House, in honor of Chloe.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I don’t really consider myself only one thing. I’m both a business owner and a creative. I’m a jewelry maker and a writer. Whenever people ask me what I do, I have a hard time answering, and I think that’s been one of the biggest challenges for me. It’s taken a long time for me to realize I don’t need to have one answer or be one thing. I can one day decide to make jewelry, take the time to learn about it, and open a business, while also writing creatively or as a freelancer for other businesses. I think that’s one of the most exciting things about the ecommerce world: You don’t have to decide to have only one career or do one thing. You can explore different avenues, sometimes simultaneously. They don’t all work out, but they don’t all have to work out. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to just keep pursuing the things that excite you and bring you joy. It’s why I started Chloe’s House and it’s a big part of the brand. Chloe’s House is all about honoring those who have brought joy and continue to bring joy to your life, whether it’s your beloved pet or your best friend.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many great places to eat and drink in Los Angeles that it’s hard to choose. Some of my favorite restaurants are in the Arts District in downtown. I always know I’ll get a great Middle Eastern meal at Bavel, along with some great cocktails. For handmade pasta, I like The Factory Kitchen. For drinks, I like hanging out in my neighborhood, Highland Park. The Hermosillo is the place to go for a beer on the patio on a sunny LA day. When I’d rather chill with a glass of wine, I head to Holcomb for the friendly service and variety of wines. For activities, the hike from Griffith Park up to the Griffith Observatory is the best way to get in some nature and a great view of Los Angeles. And whenever I have a friend from out of town, I always take them to The Magic Castle. It’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else and people or always amazed that they didn’t know about it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There wouldn’t be a Chloe’s House without Chloe, and I’m always inspired by the lovable pets and pet owners in my life, but I have to give the shoutout to my husband. As both a business owner and a writer, I’m constantly coming up with ideas, some of them better than others, and he always encourages me to pursue them, even when I get frustrated by obstacles.

Website: https://chloeshouseshop.com/

Instagram: @chloeshouseshop

Facebook: facebook.com/chloeshouseshop