The Bright Balloon

Here's another bonus episode of what we've been learning about over in the Bright Balloon Book Club!

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Last month, we read Company of One by Paul Jarvis. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways!

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In this episode I'm sharing a list of things I constantly use and wholeheartedly recommend. Several of them were recommended to me by some friends at Balloon Boss Summit and have been enormously helpful in my balloon business!

First up, a paraffin wax hand spa and an anti-fatigue mat. I ordered these immediately upon recommendation from Diana, and they might not be in the need-to-have category, but wow, they are sure nice to have when you're inflating for hours on end. They're also great additions to your shop if you have employees who you want to keep comfortable and happy.

And on the practical end, let's talk rubber bands! I use two different sizes: #117a and #33 (thanks to Jenny for these recommendations!). The #117a size is pretty large and perfect for adding clusters into garlands. The #33 size is more of a "regular" size rubber band, but can still stretch over 16' balloons. I probably go through two boxes a month of each of these sizes!

Something I've splurged on is the Gimble. It stabilizes your phone while you're recording video and comes with a tripod, joystick controller and app. Which means you can get some awesome time lapse videos, horizontal panning across your entire installation and video effects.

Next up are a couple of exceptions to my own rule... tiny self-sealing foil balloons (here and here). I've used these in baby showers, birthday parties, etc. and really appreciate the time they can save me compared to heat-sealing balloons while installing on site.

Framework! I've gotten away from worrying about having the strongest, sturdiest framework possible, and have been experimenting with different options. I feel like I'm narrowing in on what works best and these chiara frames are so portable and inexpensive that I'm able to have multiple out at once.

This next item is something I discovered the hard way that I needed: replacement light sockets. I recently upgraded my inventory to include marquee light-up numbers and got in a bit of a pinch when a string of them went out one day. Thankfully, they're so easy to replace and now I'm better prepared for the next time it happens.

I'm also loving these shelf dividers to keep my balloon inventory tidy and really easily accessible. They're actually meant for closets and are clear, vertical dividers that I've stuck into my IKEA cubbies in order to utilize the whole space. I've been really surprised at how well they're holding up, too!

Finally, this business card plus rack card combo holder. This came in so handy when I started running my Grab and Go Garlands through the local grocery stores because it helps me have multiple materials on display at once. It holds my business card and garland instruction card.

I hope you find a couple of things in this list that will help your comfort, speed or ordering process, too! And listen to the end because I'm giving some details of what's ahead for the podcast and book club!

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Nicolle of POParazzi Balloons is based out of New York, and she has been in business for more than 12 years, so I loved talking with a veteran about not only her celebrity decor jobs, but also competition, growth and continuous learning.

In this episode we chat about:

• staff and roles
• how she started to get the big, celebrity jobs (plus some name drops!)
• when to do traditional vs. organic decor... and when to mix them
• installations in the city
• customer relationships and marketing
• competition
• education

Specifically, she mentions that event planners were a huge reason she was able to break into providing balloon decor for celebrities. She shares with us how she approaches these installations and what kind of limitations can sometimes be in place with celebrity decor jobs.

When we talk about business growth, we talk about existing vs. new customer relationships, communication style & preferences, marketing and minimums. I loved her take on making sure an installation is right for you, but still being open to accept the smaller jobs that help you remember the joy you're bringing to people with balloons.

Her view on competition... is that it's not a competition! She loves meeting new people who enjoy doing balloons just as much as her... and what a great attitude to have! Learn more and connect with her at https://www.poparazziballoons.com/about.

Lastly, Nicolle lets us know what kind of education she received to jump start her business and the types of things she does to stay up to date with new techniques, tactics and process improvements.

I had such a nice time meeting and talking with Nicolle - I'm sure you'll love hearing from her, too!

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Whether you're preparing for a vacation, going to a convention... or even hosting the Big Balloon Build, it's a good idea to plan for the time away from your business. Not only to be able to participate in the event, but to actually be able to enjoy it!

In this episode I'm sharing some of the ways that I prepare to be out of the office and away from my business for an extended period.

First, I make a point to protect my time before and after events. The minute I sign up for a convention or book a trip, I take a look at the days around that event and block off some time to get prepared or settled back in.

In fact, I got some accidental down time after last year's Balloon Boss Summit due to weather, and it turned out to be one of the best ways for me to digest all that I had learned during the convention!

Another thing I like to do before I leave is to make sure my shop is in order. It feels so much better to come back to an organized shop or home than it does to come back to a mess. In the same vein, I love to plan my outfits to support the things I'm doing while I'm away. I take care of all the laundry I can ahead of time so that I have what I need when I'm gone and when I come back.

When it comes to customer communication, I always like to warn my customers that my communication will be slow while I'm away. Normally, I take pride in being able to respond quickly, but because I know I won't be able to maintain that speed while I'm gone I want to tell my customers why.

Here are the ways that I let my customers know:

• I add a banner on my website with some details
• I update my auto-response in 17hats to let them know what to expect
• I send an email newsletter

I've specifically decided against:

• adding an away message in my email
• adding an away message on social platforms

The next thing I do is to schedule social media... sometimes. This just depends on where I'm going when I'm away. For instance, I'll be scheduling social media for the podcast while I'm busy hosting The Big Balloon Build, but as Wisconsin Balloon Decor, I'll be much better off posting content live and as it's happening.

Another thing I do before I'm away is to forecast my orders for the couple of weeks following my event. I've found this to be better than having to settle back in, figure out what inventory is needed and then hope that I still have time to get what I need to fulfill the jobs ahead.

Finally, despite the fact that I give customers notice about my slow response time, I will still monitor my email for the leads that are too good to pass up. To be able to get messages back out to these leads quickly, I have email templates ready in 17hats, and I also save some pre-written messages in my phone's notes section.

Even if the message doesn't follow my usual booking process, I love having a way to let these people know that they can count on me for their request.

So there you have it! The things I do before I'm away from my business. Is there anything that you would add?

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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Balloon Suite

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Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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Jeff has been on the show before, but previously representing his umbrella company, Asset Lab. And some of us remember Balloon Suite from years past... well Jeff and his team have taken it under their wing, and I am so delighted to have him as a huge supporter of the show and our balloon community.

In this episode we talk about how his team can help balloon business owners move past doing business via only referral networks or social media profiles, and establish their business with a website and marketing that brings brand new leads in.

When you listen in you'll hear the wealth of experience Jeff and his team have working in our industry. Not just with websites, but SEO, ads and more. And although my tendency is to be more frugal and DIY as much as I can, I've noticed more and more over time that working with contractors like Jeff who already know the industry can make things happen so much faster.

We also talk about Grab and Go Garlands and how his team is able to incorporate scheduling platforms like 17hats within their Balloon Suite website templates. But if you aren't currently using a CRM, their e-commerce plan can make it happen, too!

Finally, Jeff gives us some great tips for our home pages, which kind of blew my mind!

• since social media has trained us to endlessly scroll, our home pages can be set up the same way
• address your target markets, in order of priority, as you make your way down the page
• have a call to action for those who make it all the way down to your website footer
• don't be afraid to narrow in on exactly the type of customer you want to work with

If you're ready to get serious with your marketing strategy, get in touch with Balloon Suite to see how they can help!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

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Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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I've had a day job for as long as I've been doing balloons, but as of now... I'm officially self-employed! After 10 years at my former employer I realized it was time to resign. It was never even something that was a goal of mine, but as things got busier with balloons and this podcast, my day job quickly became the thing that I enjoyed the least.

Some of the things that helped me decide it was time to leave were:

• the book club books
• the realization that the benefits weren't as good as it seemed
• practicing some thoughts about what full-time entrepreneurship is actually like

Through the books and many conversations, I realized that what I had been holding onto as the "safer" choice (my day job) was actually just the lazy choice. It became clear that I was "quiet quitting" for some time and it didn't feel good or fair to not show up as my best self every day.

After some encouragement from my husband, once the idea of leaving was out there I couldn't stop thinking about it. Puzzle pieces started to come together for me and within a week of putting an end date on the calendar, I moved that end date up by three months!

This is not to say that it didn't involve some hurdles. I had to get myself past the overwhelm of looking for private insurance. But thanks to the interview with Hayley (of Pop! Balloon Bar & Party) I knew I could start with a consultant to help me through the process.

Once I had a quote it seems like everything just magically got into place for me. And I knew that if I let myself think about it for too long I would find a reason to stay, so I put in my resignation that same afternoon.

Some other more practical things I had done that helped me make this huge life change possible were:

• Saving a year of income in the bank
• Using nearly all my balloon sales of the past several years to eliminate our debt
• Getting the details about what departure from my day job would actually look like
• Having conversations with financial professionals about what it means for taxes, retirement, etc.

In the month between having given my notice and actually leaving, I was expecting to feel some panic and regret… and while some nervousness did sink in, never have I felt regret.

Here are some of the things I've reminded myself of in order to avoid those feelings:

• My earning potential is far greater with balloons than at my job
• It's OK to finally splurge on a few business expenses I've always wanted, rather than suddenly hoard money
• Working for a company doesn't actually mean more security; I could be laid off at any moment
• If I run out of money, I can always go get another job
• Life is short!

I've also taken some time to write down a ton of thoughts I've had since I put in my resignation, and share them (unedited) in this episode!

From the pressure that came, to vacations, to time with my daughter... I share a ton of what I've been feeling since my notice. I hope my experience helps motivate or comfort anyone who is going through similar things!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Suite

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Ep. 74. Self-Employment | Hayley from Pop! Balloon Bar & Party

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Here's another bonus episode of what we've been learning about over in the Bright Balloon Book Club!

Join here!

Last month, we read Get Different by Mike Michalowicz. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways!

Thanks to our sponsors!

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I've had my eye on Elizabeth's designs for so long and when I saw that her husband Adam left his full-time job to work in their business, Extra Betty, I knew I wanted to bring them on the show!

Here's an overview of what we talked about!

Their business story: from laid off, to consistent growth in two years, to Elizabeth staying at her full-time job, Adam leaving his and the complex emotions that causes.

The decision to go all-in: we discovered our very similar thoughts about how the idea of "safety" in work has changed over time. How being open to the idea that there is a better way of living has changed our lives.

The roles they play (in the business and family): who does the creative, the tech, the production and the customer service... and also how they support each other when the other is unsure how to fulfill a customer's vision.

Their workspace: how they decided to move the workspace out of their home and where they landed. We also talk about how the space works in terms of storage and production versus retail, and how they grew their way up to having their van. (Plus, how Adam is now able to fulfill his dream of bicycling to work!)

Their social media and resources: their entertaining reels that are more than just the latest trend, plus some awesome tutorials they've created. Follow them @extrabetty and use the link below to find it all!

This interview was so fun and I'm thrilled to have made these new friends! Thanks, Elizabeth & Adam!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Suite

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

Extra Betty Tutorials

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It can be really hard to keep up with social media! Not only that, but I think nothing can derail your confidence faster than scrolling on Instagram.

Yet, social media does give us an opportunity to market our business for free. So I'm always trying to find ways to feel better about my approach to it.

I first heard the phrase "posting with purpose" at Balloon Boss Summit and it's been my focus for social media since. Any time I'm unsure of what to post or say, I come back to this phrase and feel like it gives me control.

I now look at a new post simply as a task to do before I go about the rest of my day. It takes discipline, and means that I'm less engaged with other accounts right now, but I've found it's better than avoiding social media altogether or getting sucked in for hours.

Another shift I've had is going from "what should I post?" to "why am I posting?". For example, winter is pretty slow for sales here in Wisconsin so I want people to start thinking ahead to graduation season and booking me for that.

This means I'm posting less of the elaborate, custom designs and more of the standard columns, party poles, etc. that are more aligned with graduation parties.

Not only am I putting more emphasis on the why, but also the where. Thinking about your target audience can really help to inform where your posts should land. I've even taken up posting to LinkedIn when I know I've got a big corporate event coming up!

This leads me right into my next point. I really don't think it's useful to try to move your followers from one platform to another. If you're going to move them anywhere, send them to your email list! You're in way more control with your email list than any social platform out there.

I also suggest keeping questions of other balloon artists in direct messages or groups. Since all comments are public, it's important to remember that customers can see it all, and that doesn't exactly look good for either balloon artist to have those conversations in front of them.

And we couldn't talk about posting with purpose without a few practical tips, too! Using a scheduler for your social media naturally sets you up to post with purpose because it involves some planning.

Some shy away from schedulers because of the ever-changing algorithms, but I've decided not to concern myself with that right now because I'd rather schedule something than forget to post anything at all!

Finally, remember to post what you want to sell! It seems self explanatory, but I'm constantly guilty of posting items that I don't actually enjoy selling.

I've started to take pictures along the way so that I have examples of what are essentially "basic" and "deluxe" versions of the same job. Then I'm able to showcase pieces of that install without attracting more requests for elaborate setups.

I hope these thoughts help you land on a social media strategy that doesn't leave you feeling overwhelmed!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Suite

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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Having gone to New York City for New Year's Eve recently, my mind was kind of blown thinking about running a balloon business in a city that has that much traffic and congestion! So Jam of Garden Place Balloons (in Queens) comes on the show to tell us about some of the ways working in a big city have impacted decisions he's made in his business.

We talk about:

• how he outsources some of the physical labor, and is implementing automation to help him as a solopreneur
• how he needs to schedule his decor jobs if they're in the heart of the city
• the creation of and relationships built through The Balloon Ball (collaboration with Dolly & Eddie of @delloons, Magali of @mpballoonsdecor, Nicolle of @poparazziballoons, Shanay of @balloonsbysb, Jazzmine of @theballoonriver and Jessie of @mommywithscissors)
• the journey towards getting his shop just the way he wants and needs it
• how he worked his way up to get such huge, elaborate installations
• the difference between working directly with customers vs. event planners
• how he utilizes his website to display his work and attract the right people

While we were chatting I was browsing his website and was totally mesmerized by some of his work! This interview was a long time coming and even if you don't do business in a large city I know you will pick up some awesome tips to implement in your balloon business.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

Balloon Suite

BalloonCoach.com & Balloon Boss Mastermind

Balloon Ball on Instagram @nycbb2023

Garden Place Balloons @gardenplaceballoons

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