caitlyn mendoza of Los Angeles, California on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with caitlyn mendoza and have shared our conversation below.

caitlyn, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I think one thing that’s often misunderstood about balloon and backdrop setups is the overall cost. There have been many times when I’ve shared a quote with potential customers, and they’re surprised by the total. I always do my best to work within people’s budgets, but it can be difficult to explain why these setups cost what they do. Most people don’t realize how much time and effort goes into preparing a single backdrop—it can take hours, days, or even weeks. From ordering the right balloon colors, decals, and props to assembling everything in advance or even renting a U-Haul, there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes. I always strive to go above and beyond for my clients, but sometimes it reaches a point where the customer decides not to move forward, and I’m left having spent hours creating mockups and adjustments to fit their budget.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Caitlyn Mendoza, and I run a balloon business called Cady Creates. There are so many amazing balloon companies out there, and I’ve been lucky enough to become friends with several other talented balloon artists. But one thing that truly sets me apart is how much time I take to really listen to what my customers want. From the moment someone reaches out about a potential booking, I ask a lot of questions—not to be annoying, but to understand exactly what they’re looking for and what the total cost will be. I always try to put myself in my customer’s shoes and make sure I provide an accurate, all-in quote up front, because I know how important it is to stay within budget.

I started my business in 2022 and I feel like I’ve truly grown as a balloon artist, with doing more than just garlands now, but also expanding to solid backdrops, decals, and cut out props to fit themes!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I’d say my boyfriend, family, and best friends saw me clearly before I did. I’ve always been the DIY person in my circle — the one who loves creating, organizing, and bringing ideas to life — but I never imagined I’d turn that passion into something beyond a hobby. I was always the one stepping in to help set up for parties or put things together just for fun. When I finally decided to start Cady Creates, everyone around me wasn’t surprised at all. They were so supportive and told me this was exactly what I was meant to be doing.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Honestly? Almost every time I have a project! I spend the entire week prepping, especially those intense 24–48 hours before the event. Then I’ll be halfway through putting balloons on the backdrop, look at it, and think, I hate it. It doesn’t look good. Why can’t my garlands look like the ones other artists post online? But then I remind myself that my client hired me because they love my work. I take a deep breath, trust the process, and keep going. But once I finish and step back and see the final result, I feel proud of what I’ve created and grateful that I didn’t give up.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
In my industry, I’d say yes — the public version of me is very much the real me. Most of my clients find me through word of mouth, Facebook Marketplace, or Instagram, so I share a lot of my work online. What I post truly reflects what I create and how I work. I’m a very visual person, and I want my clients to clearly see my style and know exactly what to expect when they book with me. Everything I share is a genuine representation of what I love doing.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace once I’ve completely finished a project — when everything’s set up, my tools are packed back into the car, and I can take a step back to really look at what I’ve created. It’s that calm moment after all the planning and stress where I can finally appreciate how it all came together. It’s even better when the client comes out and genuinely loves it — that reaction always makes the long hours feel worth it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cadycreates/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlynmendoza/

Image Credits
Credit due to Caitlyn Mendoza (Founder, Cady Creates)