A clever flight attendant has discovered a side hustle that’s netting her a staggering $28,000 per month. No, it’s not selling in-flight snacks at a premium—she’s got a much more charming gig going on!
Karin Capellan, the avian superhero in question, finds herself transformed into a party planner extraordinaire, thanks to her venture, K & J Party Rentals. She claims the most heartwarming aspect of this escapade is the way her clients gradually morph into a second family. Great, just what we need—more relatives to deal with during the holidays.
After 13 years soaring through the friendly skies with JetBlue, this 38-year-old decided that her weekends should be reserved for more than just Netflix and existential dread. So, when COVID-19 grounded flights and left everyone reeling, she thought, “Why not profit from the world’s misery?” And thus, her entrepreneurial spirit took flight.
Since kicking off her side hustle in 2020, Capellan’s business has raked in a jaw-dropping $159,000. Ahh, nothing screams “success” like capitalizing on a global pandemic while simultaneously sidestepping the question of moral integrity!
The Rollercoaster Ride of Auctions
During the initial phases, Capellan took a trip to an auction with modest intentions—waving goodbye to her life savings of about $1,000. One auction later, she walked out empty-handed, humorously lamenting how everyone seemed to have more cash to burn on chairs than she did. Because, naturally, who wouldn’t spend their rainy-day fund on plastic seating?
After some financial humiliation, she found a struggling party rental company practically giving away chairs. “$5 each? Okay, I’ll offer a penny less,” she quipped, and promptly snagged herself 100 chairs. She embraced her inner capitalist and listed those gems on Facebook Marketplace, proving that one man’s trash is another woman’s rental empire.
Balloons: The Icing on the Cake
Once her chair empire commenced, the creative juices began to flow. Capellan observed that while delivering tables, someone had the audacity to request decorations. “Why not throw in some balloons?” she pondered, quickly forgetting that physics didn’t approve. So, she crammed her cart with balloons from Amazon, woefully undercharging for what should’ve been a lofty balloon budget. Spoiler alert: the balloon artistry was more attractive than the price tag.
Work Hard, Part Harder
As for the workload? Expect a healthy dose of irony. Pregnant with the reality that weekends would now forever revolve around parties, Capellan chuckled as she prepared for a “super slow month” earning $900, only to skyrocket to $12,000 in peak season. Define “slow”—a normal person might call it a mini-vacation, apparently!
However, her month-to-month earnings are nothing short of comedic relief when you consider her overhead costs of $2,500. Yes, it costs money to rent the space for inflatable circus acts and ensure that the ‘Family Fun 2023’ doesn’t collapse due to a rogue gust of wind. Forget the airlines; she’s basically managing a circus!
The Ultimate Balancing Act
Despite the strains of running a party rental fiesta while juggling the skies, she’s adamant about remaining a flight attendant. “Who wouldn’t love the flight benefits?” she grins, clearly sidestepping the drama of living life like a high-flying accountant.
To those eyeing the side hustle world with envy, Capellan advises against choosing a path just because someone else is on it. “It has to resonate with you,” she emphasizes, as if suggesting people should only do what they love—imagine that! The portrayal makes one wonder if balloon artistry might just be the next yoga class.
Ultimately, for Capellan, the most rewarding aspect isn’t just the paycheck; it’s the ability to share in others’ milestones. From weddings to first birthdays, she’s been the puppet master pulling the strings behind moments (and sometimes literally—the balloons don’t inflate themselves). But, be warned: you might have to forgo family dinners—what’s a little sacrifice for a booming side hustle?
Now, if only we could find a way to capitalize on this whole “adulting” thing without losing a weekend in the process!
