Senior Grace Davis recently started a business called Grace’s Balloon Animals that caters to the communities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Durham.
The creation of Davis’s side hustle was inspired by an invitation from French teacher Christen Campbell to make balloon animals at a birthday party.
“Mrs. Campbell asked me if I was interested in ballooning, and I said yes,” Davis said. “She hooked me up with this party for kids, and I made balloon animals for them.”
Davis’ talent for ballooning started around age seven after she was given a balloon animal at a parade.
“I brought it home, and I messed around with it for weeks,” Davis said. “I learned how to make a bunch of animals from that one.”
Davis specializes in balloon animals and partners with either her sister Madison Davis or her friend Amandine Lambert for help with face painting.
Davis invited Lambert to help with face painting since the pair had a common incentive to make money for a trip abroad.
“Grace and I were talking about things we could do to make money since we plan on taking the CIEE summer trip to Paris this year,” Lambert said. “She brought [her business] up, and we planned to drive around the following weekend [to find customers].”
Davis and Lambert have already worked at a couple events and are planning to attract more customers as word spreads.
Spanish teacher Maite Lamberri has had Davis as a student and has allowed the young entrepreneur to practice making balloon animals in her classroom.
Lamberri believes it is beneficial for students to test the waters of entrepreneurship through side hustles like Davis’s.
“I think it is positive that our students show initiative and are not afraid to try something new,” Lamberri said.
Davis plans to continue ballooning for as long as possible, allowing her to make money and express herself creatively.
“It’s just like a one-stop shop for all the fun,” Davis said.
