Today we’d like to introduce you to Karin Capellan.
Karin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My entrepreneurship began in the peek of the coronavirus pandemic June 2020. I am a flight attendant by trade and many of my flights were being cancelled daily. This time was difficult for everyone and the inconstancies of day to day life made it difficult to think about the future. It was at this time I attended an auction for a rental company that was shutting its doors after over 20yrs in business. At this auction I quickly discovered how successful this industry really is and how demand was quickly on the rise due to venues and locations of gatherings being limited. Unfortunately I left that auction unable to purchase any items because the price for these items exceeded what I was able to spend at the time.
Once I got home I started doing some research and came across another company who was also selling off their inventory and closing its doors due to the pandemic. I was able to purchase 100 chairs and eventually some tables then immediately began advertising “party rentals” on local social media outlets and neighborhood applications.
Fast forward to July I began creating balloon decor for friends and family and eventually added this service to our list of offerings.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This decision has been tough, probably the toughest in my career. I’ve always enjoyed having side gigs and staying busy, but creating my own schedule while keeping clients happy and engaged along with working my flight schedule was a challenge. With so many competitors popping up and DIYers thanks to social media, plus the fact that we’re up against larger companies with more resources and the ability to offer lower prices, it’s been tough to stay positive all the time. But hey, our clients are loyal, and we’ve got a strong online presence. Plus, we’ve made it past the 4-year mark, so we’re hopeful to stay in business for the long haul.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I’m a balloon artist who runs a company that provides party rentals and luxury balloon decor. What makes me different is my passion for customer service. I started working at 14 as counter staff at my local pizzeria and have been in the industry ever since. From the pizzeria to the local diner, and even the airline industry, I’ve learned a lot.
One of my proudest moments in my career was becoming a certified balloon artist. It might not seem like much to some, but to me, it was a big deal. I decided to go through with the process, even though I didn’t fully understand it at the time. I found out that there was a long waiting list, and the next available spot wouldn’t be for a few months. I also learned that there was no guarantee that there would be space for me to take the hands-on exam, since the waiting list was so long.
The process for becoming a Certified Balloon Artist through Qualatex involved passing four written exams, creating four balloon displays using only their products, and attaching a job cost form for each. I also had to take a practical exam, which I had to fly down to Orlando, Florida, to complete. Needless to say, I passed all the exams, including the practical, and became a CBA in July 2022. Unfortunately, the company Qualatex officially shut its doors in 2024.
Like anything else, creating a brand is like growing a separate entity of yourself. When it comes to balloon decor and providing services for people’s most important moments, whether it’s celebrations or sad gatherings, you become a part of them. Your company is there and will be remembered long after you’re gone through photographs and memories.
Trying to put together events on a whim is tough, no matter how far in advance you plan it. It’s stressful, and I take pride in taking the stress off our clients by treating each event as if it were my own.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We are located in West Babylon Long Island and provide balloon decor and party rentals all throughout the Island. We have ventured off into New York City and New Jersey but we rent to only service Long Island and have made a large presence for ourselves right here on the island.
We are constantly giving back to our community from offering school discounts to accepting donations for balloon decor we hand deliver our senior citizens at local facilities.
We are constantly updating our website with ways to donate to our local community I’ll make sure to link it below.
Www.Kjpartyrentals.Net
Pricing:
- Balloon arches $350+
- Balloon Columns $125+
- Grab and Go Balloon Decor $150+
- Arch wall + balloon decor $375+
- Chair and table rentals $2-$15
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Kjpartyrentals.Net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k_jrentals?igsh=a29heDdjczUxNzhk&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B5RBwSzXU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-capellan-823a862a5?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/k_jrentals?s=11
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/Z61DyeSt75
- Other: https://pin.it/51BnhDioP