The HERstory of JetSet Betty…. See what I did there?

I have been a flight attendant for the better part of my adult life. I started when I was barely 21 years old. The first airline I worked for was small and poorly run. As such it went out of business within 3 years. I got a job with another airline about a year later and I have been keeping the skies friendly ever since, which amounts to 20 years now! Wow! Time really does “fly”. You can groan, it’s okay, I did.

My roller bag has destination patches all over the side. I wanted it to look like one of those old steamer trunks. My hope was that people wouldn’t get it confused with their own black-roller-bag-with-wheels-and-a-handle and mistakenly take it…. It would also stand out at the baggage carousel or lined up with all the other crew bags in front of the hotel. Win/win. After about the five hundredth time someone commented on how cool my bag was with all the patches, I decided to start making merit badges/patches for flight attendants.

In 2008, armed with 14 years of stewardess experience and a ridiculously talented designer/computer literate husband, we came up with Peanut Proficiency, I Survived Barbie Boot Camp, Serving Drinks Saving Lives, Deadhead Diva, Cockpit Queen and Stew U. I then thought it would be cool to represent your base as we are always so curious to know where someone is based. Why? I don’t know. We had a lot of fun getting creative while designing patches based on their city codes.

From there we came up with some button designs flight attendants could wear on their aprons while doing service. These were definitely tongue in cheek fun items to have. My first event was an airline party in Las Vegas and it was an absolute riot watching people’s faces as they read the buttons. This by far is my favorite part, seeing the hysterical responses to a product I make!

Stickers were a natural progression of almost all of the patch designs, in theory so pilots could put them on their brain bags. After that came t-shirts and clutches, then magnets. So now we offer 34 patch designs, 12 magnets, 29 buttons, 4 different options for clutches as well as 33 stickers and 5 shirt designs in male and female!

How it works is…. my husband does all the pretty designs on the computer per my request and I do all the heavy lifting! Meaning making, marketing, selling, and distributing the product. More on that in the Product Information sheet. I couldn’t do it without him or rather I could but that would mean getting over my fear of technology and going to school for years and years….. I am almost positive he wouldn’t do it without me. So we keep our day jobs, have time for family and enjoy each other in the process!

12 Comments

    • Hmmmm. The long and the short of it is…. maybe. You see the problem is, I like to do everything myself. Quality control issues, fair wage issues, etc. I don’t mind not paying myself! I love this company and work for free A LOT! In fact, I make everything myself except for the stickers (made in Denver) and the patches. There are three options: I have tried to find an embroiderer in the US but it is just not cost effective. I would have to raise my prices to cover the cost dramatically. Option 2 is to buy an embroidery machine, which would be $8-10,000. At the rate in which the patches sell….. I would have that paid off in about 45 years! Option 3 is to have them made in China in bulk. SIGH. That is not an easy decision for me. Actually there is a fourth option and I am working on it but it is not my main focus right now.

      So… yeah…. maybe.
      Tara

  2. Hello Tara,
    My name is Alyssa Grant and I have a product that is perfect for Flight Attendants and would be a great addition to your website. I make a Travel Laundry Bag to put your dirties in when you are away from home. They are odor-, water- and mildew- resistant. Please take a look at my website and, if you are interested, give me a call. I would truly like to work with you.
    My friend Darren Ane told me about your products and your site…it is fantastic!

    Warmly,
    Alyssa Grant
    TLC – Travel Laundry Company
    tlc.alyssagrant@yahoo.com

    • Thanks Alyssa, I will check it out. I love it when people come up with something new and useful. Do you make them yourself?

  4. Bonjour Betty,
    I finally found you! :) yay!
    A year ago I saw on a carry on an embroidered badge of this red lady serving drinks saving lives.
    My very best friend is a flight attendant and I’ve been looking to buy her one!
    Her birthday is now passed but it’s never to late to do well :)
    I’m wondering if you still sell this embroidered badge.
    Please let me know, and I’ll keep looking on the product you have on your website!

    Merci

    Isabelle

  6. Dear Betty,

    Hello there, great blog. I have flown all over the world and admire the
    patience that you and other attendants show. I know your primary role is one of safety so I know how much safer we are with you on the flight.

    I happened upon your blog while looking for ways to improve the flight
    for you and your fellow attendants. I eventually will get through all
    your blog postings, but it would be great if there were links on your
    main page that gave a list of do’s and don’ts to aid me and others
    to be more cognizant of what we can do to make your flight better.

    Thanks for you work on the blog,

    Best regards,

    Douglas Lane

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