Losing her job could have crushed her dreams. Instead, it became the spark that changed everything.
When Southern California events producer Lauren Tetef was laid off from her corporate marketing role in 2025, she decided not to rush into another office job. Instead, she took a bold gamble on a long-held dream — and invested nearly $24,000 of her own savings to transform a shuttered craft store into a vibrant community festival.
The result? Open House Creative Fest, a two-day celebration of creativity, crafts and local businesses set to take place on June 27 and 28 in Torrance, California.
From Pink Slip to Passion Project
Tetef had landed a corporate marketing job in March 2025, but the company, which relied heavily on imports, was hit hard by tariff policies introduced during the Trump administration. Just six months later, she was shown the door.
Rather than panic, Tetef saw an opportunity.
Using her years of experience in event production, she began building the festival she had always imagined. While relying on her severance package and her husband's income, she took on freelance clients through her company, Flourish Locally, and saved every dollar she earned.
