WHO WE ARE

Eric Paddock is the friendly face behind Love Is Blinds. He assists home and business owners as they choose from a range of beautiful window coverings. He then installs them himself, ensuring quality through the entire process.

Customers rely on Eric for excellence.

Eric comes from a tight-knit family. His parents, Mark and Linda taught him, along with siblings Vaughn and Abby, the values of personal independence and hard work.

His extended family was a significant influence on him as well. Eric grew up observing and admiring his uncle, Andy Waeckerle, who founded Love Is Blinds in June of 2003.

Andy’s business showed Eric that customer care and superior craftsmanship could go hand-in-hand, inspiring Eric to search for a way to do something similar with his life.

He attended Lindenwood University, earning a degree in Business Administration and Management. His father was the Director of Facilities at an automated microbiology company, bioMerieux. After college, Eric went to work alongside his dad as their Warehouse Supervisor.

Soon after going to work for bioMerieux, however, Eric’s talent for business and smart systems earned him a position as the company’s Quality Engineer.

Different from a Quality Assurance role, Quality Engineers are concerned with creating systems and procedures that ensure things are done correctly, no matter the stage in the process. It’s a detail-oriented career, and Eric had a knack for it.

After a combined eleven and a half years as a Quality Engineer, Eric became the Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs at Handi-Craft Company, makers of Dr. Brown’s Baby Bottles.

A family-oriented business, he felt at home from day one. Hired to build a quality system from the ground up, Eric’s position took him all around the world, from Western Europe to as far east as China and Japan.

But Eric wanted to spend more time with his wife Shannon and their children (they have two sons and one daughter). To travel less, he became the Global Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs for Eurofins Bioanalytical Services. Managing teams both in St. Charles, MO, and Oxford, England, he grew personally and professionally. Later, he served as their Director of Bioanalytical Operations.

But when Eric discovered he could become part of his Uncle Andy’s business, he saw an opportunity to apply all of his gifts. Selling and installing window coverings would allow him to use his hands, connect with others, and ensure quality work from beginning to end.

Acquiring Love Is Blinds was the perfect next step.

Now, as the company’s owner, he’s passionate about helping customers find beautiful window coverings. He then installs them with the same desire for excellence that’s served him his entire life.

Bringing his personal and professional expertise to serve home and business owners throughout the St. Louis area, Eric partners with Andy, together carrying on this family tradition.