On this episode of the Rent It Out Podcast, Cal sits down with Nikki, who shares how she’s growing a tote rental business, not through ads or cold outreach, but through simple, consistent networking.

After years as a stay-at-home mom, Nikki found herself stepping into unfamiliar territory: meeting new people, attending events, and building connections from scratch. What started as a small effort to support their business quickly turned into a powerful customer acquisition strategy.

Instead of pitching or selling, Nikki focuses on building real relationships and those relationships are turning into rentals, referrals, and long-term opportunities.

If you’ve ever struggled with finding customers or felt uncomfortable selling, this episode will give you a practical, approachable path forward.

In this episode:

• How Nikki went from “knowing no one” to building a strong network
• Why networking works better than selling for service-based rentals
• The exact follow-up system she uses after meeting people
• How realtors are becoming a key referral source
• What to say (and not say) when talking about your business
• Why relationship-building beats hard sales every time
• How to get started networking, even if you’re uncomfortable

Resources Mentioned:

• Local networking groups and events
• Realtor partnerships
• Small Business Development Centers

Find Out More
Totes on Loan
Totes Rental Business Owners

This episode is different.

Instead of another success story, I’m sharing my own journey into the trailer rental business. And it’s still a work in progress.

From buying my first trailers to dealing with damage on day one, chasing “passive income,” and realizing I wasn’t marketing nearly enough… I break down what actually happened.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a rental side hustle, this is the honest version, not the highlight reel.

I cover:

• Why I got into trailer rentals in the first place
• The biggest mistake that cost me money
• What I misunderstood about “hands-off” income
• Why my business grew… then slowed down
• Marketing efforts that worked (and didn’t)
• Lessons from buying the wrong equipment
• What I would do differently if starting today
• The decision I’m facing: go all-in or get out

This isn’t a polished success story. It’s a real look at building something that hasn’t fully clicked yet and figuring out what comes next.

If you're in the middle of your own journey, this one’s for you.

What started as a single idea and about $3,000, turned into a fully booked rental business.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Amberlyn Richie built a photo booth side hustle from scratch while working a full-time job and raising a family.
After spotting a gap in her small-town market, she took action, landed her first event, and quickly found herself booked nearly every weekend.

We talk through how the business actually works—from 360 booths to selfie booths, digital vs print, and what it takes to run events without burning out. Amberlyn also shares what she’s learned about pricing, managing multiple bookings, and why staying in smaller markets can be a major advantage.

If you’re looking for a rental idea that works in real life—not just online—this episode will give you a clear starting point.

In This Episode:

• How she started with one 360 photo booth
• Getting fully booked through word of mouth
• 360 booths vs selfie booths (what’s the difference)
• Digital vs print rentals (and what customers actually want)
• Pricing, time minimums, and event structure
• Managing multiple rentals with a small team
• Lessons from early mistakes and upgrades
• Why small towns can be better than big cities

🛠️ Resources & Mentions:

• Canva (for templates and overlays)
• Photo booth event software platforms
• TikTok (for learning and marketing ideas)
• YouTube (learning setup and operations)

👤 Connect with Amberlyn:

• Website: Richie 360 Photo Booth Rentals | https://www.richie360photoboothrentals.com/
• Social: Richie Photo Booth Rentals (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)