Today we’d like to introduce you to Noel Ortega.
Noel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was working with The Ovid Group llc. as a graphic designer when the market crashed in 2008. 90% of our business was from a large developer and we where in charge of outfitting their model homes with info graphics, so overnight we saw a drastic decrease of work until there was none. At the time, my sister was working at a local bouncer house rental company that was not treating her very well, so she suggested we should start our own. That’s when our party rental business began, with a couple of small bounce houses that we got from our dad in El Paso, a pickup truck that I purchased with a bank loan and a lot of self-promoting. Using the skills, I had learned working as a graphic designer/ sign maker I hit the floor running. We DIYed everything! Slowly we started to get busy and busier and with a little help from my dad and the bank we added a handful of different units, enough to keep us super busy! After a few years and a kid, I knew I would never go back to working for anyone.
My sister was more interested on just doing it on the weekends for the extra money, so she eventually got burnt out. Like any other business we have always had problems finding good people that care for the safety of our customers as much as we do. So my wife and I still deliver most of the equipment ourselves to ensure the level of safety and quality of service. And our customers notice, some have been with us since the beginning. We have been there for their kid’s 5th birthday and graduation! It’s crazy, in some cases the same kids that used our bounce houses 12 years ago are now renting for their kids!
We have slowly added water slides, obstacles courses, photo booths, tables and chairs, event tents, margarita machines, kegerators, lighting and other miscellaneous items. We plan on adding more items and growing with our city. We do hire 1-2 people during or busy months and are currently looking for responsible and caring people to completely take over the deliveries so we have more time to spend with our kids on the weekends.
Great, 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?
No at all, it’s been the hardest, most challenging job I have ever had!
We started in 2008 and we our daughter was born in 2009. We work from home, so we had to juggle work, baby and our business. I don’t know how many times I had to take my daughter with me to drop off or pick up equipment.
People not showing up to work and having to do the job myself or with very little help.
Getting injured on the job and having to work through it.
Working 30+ hours a weekend every weekend.
Working in the brutal Texas sun!
Banks not lending you money. Having to put up your truck as collateral for any loan.
The list goes on…
Please tell us about Crazy Casa Party Rentals.
We’re literally a mom and pop business. It’s just my wife and I and occasionally temporary help, including family members. We rent out party equipment, anything from bounce house to event tents.
We are definitely known for our bounce houses and water slides but we offer all kinds of equipment.
We are most proud of how far we have come and how long we have have been in business.
We still handle every single rental like it’s our only rental, and we’ve been told that we are the nicest easiest people to work with.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up on the El Paso/Juarez border my childhood was anything but normal. My life story could be a baseline for a great film, if anybody’s interested, ha ha!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crazycasa.co
- Phone: 817-597-8264
- Email: casadecrazy.co@gmail.com
- Instagram: @crazycasa.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crazycasa/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CrazyCasa
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