The Bright Balloon

Jenny is the owner of Three Sparrows Balloon Studio in Ontario and has an interesting business model that I wanted to hear more about! Her balloon studio is actually a subdivision of The Fete Studio, which she owns 50/50 with her business partner Mel.

They came into the business with different strengths and interests, and continue to operate using those same strengths to this day. Jenny tells us all about:

• why she went for a business partner instead of hiring someone
• the details of their business setup
• how having a business partner reminds her of the whole purpose of her business
• the built-in time benefits of having a business partner
• their physical workspace setup
• how they handle the money
• the markets they participate in that bring in sales and inspiration

We also spent some time chatting about how we each use 17hats as our CRM and how it helps us with our sales processes and communications (internally and externally).

We talk about our journeys that got us to be balloon business owners, some eye-opening moments we had along the way and events like Balloon Boss Summit that make being a balloon business owner so fun, humbling and incredibly rewarding.

And if you're following the happenings of the Big Balloon Build I'm hosting, you might already know that Jenny is playing a major role in the build! From concept to creation, she's putting in so much time for this build and I'm so grateful. We hope to connect for another interview after it's finished, too!

It was so great to have her on the show, and I hope that if you've been considering a business partner, the experiences and knowledge she's shared will help you figure out your next step!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Havin' A Party Wholesale Flange (save 5% with code BRIGHT) & Teachable Moment

Balloon Suite

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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 Do Less by Kate Northrup. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways and a huge life update!

Thanks to our sponsors!

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

Balloon Suite

Some of the phrases that we hear over and over again in business can actually be pretty damaging to our business, our mindset and our self esteem. This episode is going to debunk these phrases in order to help you stand your ground and build your business in a way that works for you!

Phrase #1: "The customer is always right".

I feel like I've heard this one since childhood! But it totally strips away the fact that you've developed an expertise for your craft and your industry. If you think about this type of phrase being used in other industries outside of customer service, it would simply never fly!

In fact, many times our customers admit that they are a bit clueless as to what to order and how to put together their decor. These are my favorite types of customers because it allows me to show them how impactful balloons can be for their event.

Phrase #2: "Under promise and over deliver".

This one can really get you into trouble, and here's why:

• it means you're undercharging
• it forces you to over deliver for that customer time and time again

I'm a true believer that just doing exactly what you said you were going to do will still put you above a lot of the competition.

Phrase #3: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks".

I think we all know by now that if you don't keep up with the trends (and even the technology) of the industry, you're going to lose business quickly. Sometimes it's beneficial to stick to what works, but sometimes it's flat out resistance to moving forward.

I do, at times, feel myself turning into an "old dog" in certain areas of my business, but I'm committed to keeping my eyes and ears open to the different ways of doing things. I encourage you to do the same!

Phrase #4: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Yikes. I think this one is really unhealthy! And yes, I'm calling out our social feeds. There's just no reason to fill our feeds and our days with pictures of things that bother us. I can't find anything beneficial about it.

How about we just keep our friends close and care less about our enemies?

Phrase #5: "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life".

So this one is a yes and no from me... I get where it's coming from, but there are still, and always will be, hard days in business.

I'm here to try and normalize the idea that we all go through times when we aren't quite sure if we've made the best decisions. If we're doing something wrong because we're not happy every minute of every day while running our businesses.

I can almost promise you that by sharing your hard times with people who understand, you'll bounce back so much faster than you ever could by yourself!

Phrase #6: "You are not your ideal client".

This one might not be a popular opinion. I spent so long in the mindset that I wasn't my own ideal client. But after learning about money archetypes from Denise Duffield-Thomas, and areas of innovation from Mike Michalowicz, I've changed my ways.

I've identified that I'm all about convenience and I'm doing all I can to attract customers that feel the same way. In fact, I think there is an advantage to knowing that you are your ideal client. It's given me a lot of clarity for how to do things in my business.

Phrase #7: "A rising tide floats all boats".

So this one basically suggests that as the industry grows, it's better for everybody. I do think it's true, but I also think it's different from the idea that "we're all in this together".

The reality is that we're all still running businesses. I may have put myself in the position of being an industry educator who is transparent and open, but that definitely doesn't mean that all businesses are the same. They are simply focused on their own business... and that's ok!

I hope we can all remember that yes, the more good balloon art that is out there will help us all, and if we can commit to keeping the competition healthy we can all grow our businesses in the way that feels best for each of us!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

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

Balloon Suite

Ep. 92 Free ways to over serve

Ep. 105 Money Archetypes

Ep. 107 What are your money sabotages?

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I know data tracking sounds boring and overwhelming (and it can be if you let it), but there are ways to collect and use data without feeling like you're going in circles! In this episode I'm sharing with you how I'm collecting my data, what I use it for and how to keep it simple.

And let me just start by saying that if you're running your business through Instagram DMs, unfortunately you're going to have a really hard time gathering data. That's why I can't recommend a CRM like 17hats enough! Whenever you're ready to access your data, it's there waiting for you in several different reports.

What kind of data I'm focusing on

Something I'm super focused on tracking this year is my highest-paying clients, otherwise known as my big pumpkins if you're familiar with The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz. This group of 10 or so people can make up a huge chunk of your sales and deserve to be catered to!

And anyone can find this data for their business. I really hope you take a few minutes today to identify these clients and get them on your radar in time to earn their repeat business!

Another big eye-opener for me in terms of data was finding out what my top-selling item was. After you've done a huge job it can be easy to assume that all that custom decor would be your number one sales product when in fact, you might have a product that is purchased so consistently it rises to the top of the list without you really noticing. And what a huge bonus if it's one of your most profitable products, too!

What I'm doing with my data

Now that I know what's selling best, I'm pushing that item even more! I'm making it super easy to find on my website, I'm posting more pictures of it and I'm making sure to recommend it over and over again.

Sure, sometimes we can get sick of making the same thing all of the time, but if it's what's supporting and driving your business... why stop?

Another way to collect data

Tags are another great way to help you collect, categorize and sort your data. I love tagging my projects with the type of event it is. This helps me know what kind of clients I'm attracting and again, helps me narrow in and push those events even more.

I also love tagging my customers with where they're coming from, specifically repeat clients. I'll then know to look back through their previous projects and remember what kinds of decor I've done for them in the past.

Finally, I use tags on my products! I categorize between pickup, delivery and install orders. Doing this helped me make an easy, informed decision on the party poles we all started creating during the pandemic.

There are so many ways and reasons to tag your people and products... they can help you track anything you want to keep an eye on. I like to think of it as creating my own custom data!

Monthly data to track

Now I'm not much for setting monthly sales or leads goals in my business, but I've realized I want to have access to these numbers so that my future self can be comforted by the data as my business ebbs and flows. And it really can be as easy as keeping anecdotal notes on your phone, too.

Lastly, I'm also going to be keeping tabs on my email marketing data. I actually really love reviewing this data because I can use it to experiment with how my emails look. It helps me figure out what kind of language and link placement converts to the most clicks. And with a provider like Mailchimp, you don't even have to do any digging to get this data... hooray!

By the way, if you're stepping up your email marketing game along with me, I strongly suggest you make sure your unsubscribe notifications are off. Because even if you had a bunch of people click to learn more about the special you've emailed, sometimes it's just that one unsubscribe that can set you back for the whole day.

To summarize, I can't encourage you enough to start tracking something in your business today. But if you find yourself completely frozen in terms of where to look and what to do, you can also join me in getting done-for-you data in the Stats Membership from Let Nicole Help!

So let's hear it! What are you wanting to track this year?!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats | Boot Camp

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

Balloon Suite

Let Nicole Help Stats Membership

Email Marketing for a Year | Canva Bundle

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The Bright Balloon on YouTube

Social media kind of stole the hearts of business owners and left email marketing behind for a while. But now, with less and less of our social followers even seeing our posts, and businesses just disappearing into the night after being hacked, I'm all in on email marketing again this year.

In this episode I'll share the why, the how and the what about email marketing... the ripple effect it creates, a formula for growing your list and specific ideas for content.

The why:

If done consistently, email marketing will build your know, like and trust factor.

Our jobs as balloon artists is to help our customers create memories... and I consider email marketing as an extension of that. Whatever we can serve up to our customers that is in that same vein will build you so much authority.

I think of it as the ability to hand-deliver a letter to someone whose already told me they like what I do and offer. (Meanwhile, on social media, it can feel like screaming into the void and just hoping someone notices me.)

The how:

There are so many email marketing platforms out there, and a lot of them allow thousands of contacts for free. I've got a couple of platform recommendations along with the specific features I've loved in the episode.

You can also experience the process of list-building as a consumer with my free resource below, 50 Ideas for Email Marketing. Look at the process objectively to see how it works, plus use the freemium to grow your own list!

The what:

I'll be building my emails in a newsletter format, with a few blocks: a balloon content block; a personal update block; a community-building block; a block with info on a major ongoing project of mine (which is currently The Big Balloon Build); and then finally a block for promotions.

I've also created a bundle of Canva templates with those balloon content blocks that will help you get started on your email marketing journey!

Oh, and don't worry, I'm not suggesting this becomes more on your plate. I'll share with you where I'm dialing back in order to be successful with this.

So, here's to having control over our messaging and becoming community-building authorities in our areas... are you joining me?!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Email Marketing for a Year | Canva Bundle

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

Balloon Suite

17hats CRM

Support the show / join the book club

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

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Elizabeth's balloon business is in Arizona and she specializes in offering custom colors for her clients. She shares with us the story of how her decor business started and the two major reasons why she took on the technique of double-stuffing (which has now become a helpful subscription for other balloon pros!).

The two major reasons she double-stuffs is to:

- preserve the design in extreme heat

- create custom colors for her clients

She tell us about the very specific color she was looking to create and how that brought her to the idea for her subscription business. Things like this subscription are exactly what I'm aiming for this year... documented steps to help my processes run smoothly over and over again!

The subscription gives you access to a library of over 100 custom colors, and new colors will be released every month. She even matches them to Pantone colors, which her corporate clients especially love because she can match their branding exactly!

We also went on to chat about tying these double-stuffed balloons, her Teachable Moments demonstration, whether balloon size or brand impacts the custom colors, what color gives the most unexpected colors when double-stuffed... and she also gives us an awesome solution for maroon!

It was clear right away that her and I have areas of innovation (as covered in The Pumpkin Plan). You've heard me say multiple times that mine is without a doubt, convenience. Elizabeth's, on the other hand, is quality, and providing that customized client experience.

We have a great conversation about how that impacts our marketing, our processes and our communication with our clients.

I left this interview going from a non-double-stuffer to someone who is now open to incorporating it when it makes sense. A couple of her color creations are undeniably helpful!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Custom Color Recipe Book

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

Balloon Suite

Ep. 95 Double-stuffed balloons | Joette from BalloonCoach.com

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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 through The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways!

Thanks to our sponsors!

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

Balloon Suite

Before I get into the details of how I'm outsourcing my Grab & Go Garlands, let me take you through a brief history of my progression with Grab & Gos:

- started the service last year with inspiration from Ali of Charming Garlands

- established a pickup spot that felt more appropriate than at my home

- generated about $12k of additional revenue in 2022 because of the Grab & Gos!

- created a Grab and Go Bundle with Ali to help you start your own Grab & Go process

- have now completely outsourced the creation and handing off of the garlands

I decided to outsource my garlands for a few reasons:

- many customers did not come at their scheduled pickup time

- my shop was always so full of weekend decor by my Thursday pickup day

- I honestly just got a bit tired of making them!

The inspiration to outsource them came from a few places:

- an interview with Joe of Havin' a Party, where we talked about pop-up balloon bars

- a bit of luck selling a Grab & Go to a local grocery store owner

- knowing my "area of innovation", thanks to The Pumpkin Plan

Here's what I love about this setup that benefits me, my customers and the store:

- I'm able to provide a much larger pickup window for my customers

- I don't have to deal with late / early customers

- my customers are also able to grab other party necessities while picking up their garland

- the store has generously made a space for me to advertise the garlands

- I'm still able to take payment online and upfront through online scheduling in 17hats

- the only time I touch the balloons is to move them from my shop to the grocery store

- I write the grocery store a check at the end of the month to give them their portion of the sales

- other grocery stores want in on the action because they can't get helium

Listen in to hear how I pitched the idea, the details of our agreement, how this could solve your pickup problem if you're home-based and more juicy details about how this process is going!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Balloon Suite

BalloonCoach.com & Balloon Boss Mastermind

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

Grab and Go Garland Bundle

50% off annual 17hats subscription

Let Nicole Help 17hats setup service

Ep. 89 The Balloon Bar | Joe from Havin' a Party

Ep. 108 Why I stopped inflating balloons

Ep. 83 All about Grab & Go Garlands

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This episode is all about positive reflection on 2022! My wins, your wins and our collective win-wins! I've absolutely LOVED reading your comments on Instagram and am so inspired and grateful to you all for sharing.

Some wins from 2022 that I'm so excited about:

• The book club, and specifically The Pumpkin Plan
• Hiring bookkeepers and an inflator
• Learning and growing from interviews, plus a bucket list interview with Treb

Some wins & specifically helpful resources you've all shared:

• Inspiration from Treb!
• Not undervaluing our work & not trying to be everything to everyone
• Ep. 72 - None of your business
• Ep. 89 - The Balloon Bar | Joe from Havin' a Party Wholesale
• Getting organized physically & with workflows
• The Pumpkin Plan & Money Archetypes
• Why to put pricing on your website
• SEO, tracking leads, saying no, limiting what you do for charities and making a plan

Your AWESOME goals:

Financial - Charging without fear, making a range from $10k to $200k, having one big $1500 job per month, getting expenses in order / managing cash flow

Marketing - Building a website (so many of you!), getting more corporate clients, launching an online store, getting into the wedding market

Life - Working smarter and not harder, expanding by empowering & assisting other balloon artists, finding balance between business & parenting, attending Summit, making people happy!

Assets - Getting a new space and a new van

Systems - Utilizing more of 17hats and getting on top of admin

If you haven't found a moment to make your 2023 goals yet, I can't encourage it enough! I'm a huge believer that writing them down and keeping them visible is half the battle to reaching your goals... and I've got some tricks for that in this episode.

In closing for 2022, thanks so, so much to our sponsors for their unwavering support of The Bright Balloon Podcast. And thank YOU as a listener! I've loved growing along with you and can't wait to take on 2023 with you!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Balloon Suite

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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

The Bright Balloon Business Planner

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In this episode, I'll share with you some of my favorite gift ideas for your clients, your employees, other vendors you work well with... and yourself! I've even got some no-cost gift ideas to share, and acceptable ways to repurpose balloons as gifts in your community.

My favorite types of gifts are always small, consumable things that don't put much pressure on myself or the recipient, because I just don't think anybody needs any more things in their life.

I hope you'll find a few helpful ideas if you got a little behind in your gift-giving this year like I did!

Gift ideas for your clients

• edible arrangements
• homemade or locally made sweets
• locally made candles
• gift cards (combined with balloons!)
• hand-written cards

Gifts for employees

• apparel
• cash or gift cards
• homemade or locally made sweets
• custom acrylic name keychains
• upgrades to their workspace
• symbolic upgrades

Gifts for yourself

• an upgraded inflator
• balloon gear
• education

No-cost gifts

• leaving a Google review for other vendors
• share local businesses on social

Gifts for teachers and schools

• repurposing holiday decor in the community

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Bright Balloon Courses

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

Balloon Suite

BalloonCoach.com & Mastermind

The Creative Heart Studio Name Charms

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@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube