I had the pleasure of meeting Karen Gordon, VP, Growth of Goodshuffle and knew I had to introduce her and her company to you. They are making the event rental industry easier and more accessible for customers, starting in the DC market. They connect you with rental companies for everything you can imagine from moon bounces to vintage furniture to table linens. Here’s Karen to tell you more:
How did you get started with Goodshuffle?
I met Goodshuffle co-founders, Andrew Garcia and Erik Dreyer, last October. They told me about their vision to completely modernize the event rentals industry and I was blown away. Having worked in both the tech and the events worlds, I loved the idea of fusing the two. I also knew how important but complicated event rentals were, and simplifying them seemed simply brilliant.
What’s your favorite part of what you do?
I love knowing that we’re reducing headaches surrounding very important events. We make it so much easier to come up with ideas, compare prices, and make payments online. By eliminating the typical back and forth with quote after quote, we make it a seamless process for both the renter and the rental company.
What’s your pop color–that something special that makes you, you?
We’re a small team, but with a very broad mix of skills. We have tech, creative, events, and business expertise. Our common tie is that we’re all problem solvers. Even when someone calls us about something we don’t normally do, we usually try to help them find a solution.
What’s your favorite moment of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
I love seeing both kids who are proud of themselves and their proud parents. At a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, you have a kid who completed something they’ve studied hard for, upheld a family tradition, and is becoming an adult in their religion. On the lighter side, they’re also throwing their first big event for all their loved ones! Between them and their family members, you see a lot of proud faces on that day.
What questions should parents ask someone in your field?
We try to take away a lot of guess work in rentals. We have a tent calculator to know what size you need and a tablecloth calculator that shows exactly how your linens will look on any table. A lot of times people go with their gut, but I always think it’s safest to use the tools we provide and feel comfortable asking and double-checking before you end up with the wrong size or wrong item all together!
