Meet Nicole Eveler of Pickle & Pear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Eveler.

Hi Nicole, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I was a very imaginative kid, always creating things. I tried out a lot of fine arts, but for some reason, inspiration didn’t hit. I remember the first time I decided I wanted to work for myself was in 7th grade. From then on, I learned of the challenges of requesting work for family vacations and knew that I wanted freedom with my schedule.

I attended Olathe Northwest, where I participated in the 21st-century program, e-communications (mostly because my older brother did it). The program featured 4 categories: video production, web design, graphic design, and animation. They all excited me, but I pursued the graphic design path with little thought. What I learned about design in high school was how to use the software. In college, I fell in love with design, but not at first. I enrolled at JCCC for the graphic design program and made it a point to select fine arts classes for my electives. I still needed to sell on graphic design. After 3 semesters of studio classes and working full-time, I was put on academic probation. I couldn’t keep up with the demand. I knew a break from school was a good idea, and since I wanted to work for myself, I knew I didn’t need a degree. And not even go back.

I worked various jobs, mainly in the service industry, while doing a little freelance. I had my son, Jensen, and was frustrated with the work hours I had to be away from him. My coworkers spoke of homework and studying for tests, and I became jealous. I was ready to return, get the design skills, and start the apparel business I had dreamed of. I reenrolled at JCCC. It had been 4 years since I left. I was still on academic probation and had to retake classes to replace the F. The first two semesters back, I consisted of retakes, which slowed down my enthusiasm. I pulled through, and each semester, I became increasingly excited about design, marketing, and business. I dove in, ready to soak up all the knowledge I could. I listened to podcasts every day on my drive to school. I found professional designers that I admired and surrounded myself with good design.

My perspective of design had changed entirely. I was obsessed with letter forms, color palettes, and pattern making. Instead of pursuing my apparel brand, I wanted to start a design studio! I wanted to design for other brands, not just myself. The strategy was my top strength. Now that I understood design was about strategy, it made sense why fine arts wasn’t a good fit for me. With a design degree, I was ready to take on the world.

I needed more experience freelancing, so I was nervous about landing work. I entertained working at several design agencies, but it didn’t work out. I was reaffirmed starting my own business was what I was supposed to do. My first few clients came quickly. I had a few referrals immediately, which helped my confidence. I started Teufel Studios and began to make it official. I made a website, ordered business cards, formed my LLC, opened a business bank account, and signed up for all the business training I could! Then, the COVID quarantine happened. I lost my clients; however, this time allowed me to work on my business. Thanks to the massive boom of virtual networking, I got even more plugged in. I made business friends, and things started to click.

I was grateful that I got to take my son to school every day, even when things weren’t going well; that was one thing I could have gratitude for. As a single parent, being available for my family was why I started my business, so I wanted to keep those boundaries. My business slowly evolved as I tapped more into my design style and discovered what projects I enjoyed the most. We focused on Brand Identity, Web Design, Content Creation, and, most importantly, Brand Experience.

Even as a solo business owner, you can’t do it alone. It’s essential to have a variety of coaches and support systems for different areas of your business and life. As I pursued growing stronger in my faith, I trusted to be led to further serve my purpose. After getting married this year, I knew it was time to rebrand my own business. With a new last name, I needed a new business name: Pickle & Pear. This new rebrand process has allowed me to be in the dreamiest state I’ve ever been in. The potential feels limitless! The rebranding will enable us to reflect on how we can outwardly express our identity quickly and beautifully. It also allows us to consider what we want to change about how we run the business, implementing new procedures and boundaries.

Pickle & Pear is about having the aesthetic upgrade your brand deserves. I want business owners to feel the part, which often requires looking at the part. We tend to be misrepresented by our image or message without realizing it. Through my journey, I’ve met so many incredible and talented people. The world doesn’t see it that way. The endless scroll filters bog us down, and the “there’s always something better” temptation. I’m on a mission to work with passionate people, one beautiful brand at a time.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. Single mom not much family in KC to help watch him, going back to school to finish my degree. Bad business associates, projects, and clients that needed to be a better fit. Not having someone to ask for help (or they weren’t the right person to give advice), investing time and money on the wrong things. Self-doubt, overthinking things. I only knew my passion much later than I would have liked. Everything takes so much longer than you think it will, lol. I was hiring the wrong people and letting others direct my business (in the wrong direction).

We’ve been impressed with Pickle & Pear, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart? What should we know?
A boutique design and branding firm in Overland Park, we work with businesses ready to elevate their reputation and be the go-to in their industry.

What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for?
Brand design, Web design, Brand experience

What sets you apart from others?
We’re here for the ambitious, soul-aligned entrepreneurs that want more and a better “business lifestyle.” We work with clients intimately to hone in on a strategic solution for their business goals.

What are you most proud of brand-wise?
Life can be a joyful journey. I love surrounding myself with items in my home that bring me joy. I want more brands to feel this way. Why not have something super cute or fancy, or stylish? I want to disrupt the mundane. Our brand is boldly going where most tip-toe. We push our clients to try something different and be proud to stand in their newfound identity.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
When it comes to aesthetics, working with a design firm is a must. Unlike marketing agencies, we keep the high-quality design as the highest priority. It often goes overlooked. We understand we’re not the right for everyone, but for those who want to have a dreamy brand with a staple look and feel, we’re the right one for the job! Design can be the difference between standing out and getting passed by. Brand experience is the key to capturing the audience’s attention and turning them into raving fans. Consumers like brands that they have a great experience with. Let’s do more of that! It requires new ways to meet the needs and capture the consumer’s attention.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I remember spending hours and hours in Microsoft Paint. I didn’t have access to any other creative software or know any existed. I used to make all sorts of things. My dad would even let me print full color so I could hang them in my room. I remember how frustrating it was that I needed more features like layers or duplicates. I would have to “undo” 100 times to return my design to a different stage. Adobe Creative Suite is a blessing! I can’t believe all of the new features they continue to add. My 7-year-old self would have been blown away at the potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: pickleandpearkc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickleandpearkc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickleandpearkc

Image Credits
ITZEL SANCHEZ https://www.instagram.com/itzelphoto.co/ (3 photos of me with plain background) Adri Guyer https://www.instagram.com/adriguyer/ (3 photos of me: one on computer, one with iPad, one with notebook)