Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Pangilinan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my rental company called “Paradise Shack” in the midst of the most uncertain times- during COVID. Most people call it “quarantine business,” but I really think this was meant to be. I have always enjoyed styling, decorating, planning, and hosting events. Growing up, I would host get-togethers and parties just so I could decorate and style my parent’s home. My friends often referred to our house as the “party house.” I loved the idea of how celebrations bring fun times, great memories, and people together. Before the pandemic, I had just changed my major to nursing and attended National University. I was struggling with school and really tried to believe that being in the medical field was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, however, that quickly changed.
After finishing my pre-requisites, I decided to take a short break before applying into the nursing program. One day, something inspired me to start selling thrifted and preloved items, which consisted of boho and vintage home decor and large furniture. I opened up a small shop called “Wickeredmoments” on Instagram. The shop was doing so well I had to cut down on work hours to allow more time and dedication for the shop. After a couple of months of reselling, I spontaneously decided to open a small rental shop that would also specialize in boho and vintage decor, but mainly vintage peacock chairs for special occasions such as baby showers, birthdays, bridal showers, photoshoots, graduations, etc. There was no hesitation in starting our business during a pandemic where large gatherings were no longer acceptable because drive-by celebrations became the new norm! Paradise Shack was able to take part in many drive-by events and intimate celebrations. Within months of opening, we received great response and interest from the community and had already booked a handful of clients. This was the moment I knew I wanted to pursue this journey and be a part of the industry.
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?
Starting a business is not always easy, but the end result always makes everything worthwhile. Overall, our journey has been great! There have been a few hiccups, but nothing we couldn’t fix. We believe our struggles are what makes us stronger and helps us provide better services for our clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Paradise Shack?
Paradise Shack is a small rental shop that specializes in peacock chairs, boho, and vintage rentals. We are located in San Diego and offer our business to other locations outside of San Diego County. We believe in sustainability; our rental items are special in a way that they are secondhand and preloved pieces. Majority of our peacock chairs are vintage and handmade, all acquired from estate sales and come from different parts of the world. All other items are either thrifted or purchased through secondhand businesses around San Diego. As a small rental shop, we are happy to provide affordable services to our customers. Our company offers delivery services, rentals, styling, decorating, and picnic set-ups. For more information and inquiries, please email paradiseshackrentals@gmail.com and follow @paradise.shack on Instagram to keep up with our journey!
Contact Info:
- Email: paradiseshackrentals@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paradise.shack/
Image Credits
Katrina Diaz Thaxton
