Predicting Ballooning and Event Trends of 2022

To be honest, 2021 did not really turn out to be the year that we had all hoped for, or the one that we had anticipated that it would be. So, will 2022 finally be the year that we are all waiting for?

In preparation for life and business to resume to normal, I thought that it might be a good idea to look at the possible ballooning trends for this year! Let's face it, everyone is ready to party and celebrate anything and everything!

Bigger, Bolder, Better are the three words that I keep reading when looking at party trends for 2022.

Over the past two years, parties and celebrations have been limited to gathering in small groups, with reduced guest lists. This year will hopefully play host to bigger celebrations than ever before, and it will be all about making a big impact! 

Be bold with colour! Predictions show that party planners will be looking to inject feelings of optimism, empowerment and joy into their events through vibrant pinks, purples, oranges and blues, and as we know, a great deal of colour can be introduced into an event using balloons.

Big, Bold and Beautiful, 3rd Birthday Decor by Chris Adamo, CBA of Balloon Crew, Sydney, Australia

Outdoor Space and Tent Events

While some say bigger parties will resume, others are still erring on the side of caution. Outdoor and open marquees, tents and teepees will remain popular for many. Garden and outdoor space transformations are definitely a growing trend! 

Photograph Credit Northstar Balloons

Had we not been in lockdown two years ago, I am not really sure that I would have decorated our garden for our Granddaughter's birthday celebrations! It was so much fun to make her something special! 

Number 5 Frame by Sue Bowler

Decorating outdoor space offers many options, and being a balloon company shouldn't limit you to only offering balloons as decor!

• Decorate trees and bushes with bright ribbons and balloon garlands! 
• Lighting is key. To make sure the garden party continues seamlessly into the evening, prepare with plenty of outdoor lighting. Mix and match different types, from tea lights to lanterns for a pretty and luminous effect. Hanging lights around the garden will transform the outdoor space once the sunsets.
• Make the outdoor spaces feel as comfortable as being indoors. Lay rugs and throws on the ground and use layered cloths on the tables. Make sure that the seating is super comfy, with lots of cushions! 

Light Up Numbers and Letters

Something that I have seen being used more frequently over the past few years are light up numbers and letters. These give balloon companies an opportunity to create fabulous decor incorporating the large characters and numbers as a focal point within the decor. Claire Jackson created this stunning entrance décor.

Fabulous entrance decor by Claire Jackson of Airmagination Balloon Company 
in Farnham, England.

Number 50 decor by Claire Jackson of Airmagination Balloon Company 
in Farnham, England.

Decor by Chris Adamo and his Balloon Crew Team.
"We just loved how our organic balloon installation framed these #pride letters."

Neon Signs

Here’s a bright idea; light up the party with a neon sign. These are perfect for balloon backdrops and other decorative areas. A sign can be customised or go with an evergreen message (i.e. "Oh Baby!" for a baby shower). The options and price ranges are endless.

Designer name: Instagram User @balloonilicious
www.balloon-ilicious.co.uk

Balloon Mosaics© and Balloon Frames

Mosaic frames can be made or bought as a kit and easily assembled. They can be filled with both latex and or Microfoil balloons to suit many different occasions! I really love this Christmas 'JOY' design by Nikoloon! I love that each letter uses a different style and technique.

If you would like to learn more about Balloon Mosaics check out  https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/balloon-mosaic-frames-another.html

Over-the-Top Backdrops

How fabulous is this backdrop by the extremely creative Hello Pretty Events? To find out more about this stunning 1st birthday installation, check out this article in "Inspired by Us" https://www.inspiredbythis.com/grow/meaningful-moana-themed-first-birthday/

Davina's Boho Moana- By HPE Studio - Hello Pretty Events.

And speaking of themed parties, here is another fabulous example of a Moana Party by Cheeky Gorgeous Events and Kez's Face Paint in Wolverhampton, UK.

Design by Cheeky Gorgeous Events and Kez's Face Paint in Wolverhampton, UK.

Theme parties for children will never go out of fashion. Some of the top trending themes for 2022 are Under Water, Beach, the Woods, Forest or Garden, Safari or Zoo, Ranch, Farm or Barnyard, Carnival or Circus, Castle, and Space.

Here are a few more event trends that you may expect to see:

Pantone colour of the year - Very Peri

Inspired by the 2022 Pantone color of the year, this “Very Peri” color palette incorporates frosty Chrome hues and SuperAgate textures to bring the new multidimensional colour to life.

Blast from the Past

Throwback parties are always a hit!! One of the most popular usually is 80's theme! I was asked to create disco theme decor for a corporate event a few years ago - everyone loves a disco right?

Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA

Disco Decor by www.suebowler.com

And finally, a few less common themes that we may see;

• Break up or Divorce Party - celebrating the next chapter!
• 'Galentines' Day - Galentine’s Day is a magical holiday where your romantic relationship status is irrelevant. All that matters is spending time with your lady friends who simply make life better.
  
  
  

And finally, it looks like many balloon and event companies are now venturing into the world of prop hire! This includes the use of frames, light up numbers, easels, teepee's, and gazebos to name just a few. These add-on props are good for generating additional sales, and are environmentally friendly as they are re-usable and can really help to 'set the scene' at an event! 

If you know of any new trends that I have missed, I would love to hear from you! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

Oh Christmas Tree - Creative Balloon Tree Ideas for the Festive Season

There is nothing more iconic than a Christmas Tree! The tradition of bringing a tree indoors at Christmas time actually began in the 16th century. Today, however Christmas trees come in many forms, including those made from balloons! 

In this post I would like to share with you a selection of inspiring styles of 'balloon trees' that could be used as part of a display or as decor at an event! 

Let's start with a little bit, well actually a lot, of sparkle! What could be more spectacular than Chris Adamo's incredible gold confetti Christmas tree! Confetti-filled balloons are certainly a big hit with customers, and this tree looks simply F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! 

Design by Chris Adamo, CBA,

 of Balloons Online, Sydney, Australia.

For decorative air-filled confetti balloons:

• Inflate the balloon with a small amount of air to stretch open the balloon, and then let the air out. 
• Use the funnel to insert confetti inside the balloon or you can use a balloon stretching tool* to open up the neck of the balloon.
• Fill the balloon with air to the desired size and be sure to tie the balloon carefully afterward, ensuring that there is no confetti in the neck of the balloon.
• Check that the confetti is distributed across the balloon, you can use static to get the confetti to stick. If using metallic confetti, you can use Hi-Float as an adhesive inside the balloon before you add the confetti.

This organic Chrome Gold and Chrome Silver Christmas Tree is absolutely gorgeous and beautifully finished with greenery and berries!  
 Zoe Adam-Jones, CBA, of JAZ Trading,
Queensland, Australia

Balloon Mosaic Frame  by Sue Bowler, CBA in Henley On Thames, England

I really enjoyed making this mosaic tree design. The frame itself was so easy to assemble using a Nikoloon Frame kit. I used a combination of Chrome Gold, Chrome Copper and Chrome Rose Gold 7" and 11" balloons. I also added a few Metallic Gold 4", 9" and 18" Stars, plus one single 4" Red Star at the top! As a finishing touch, I created mini bubbles from the tips of Chrome Gold 260Q's. This tree lasted many weeks and looked absolutely fantastic! 

QuickLink Christmas Trees made by Sue Bowler

I made these QuickLink Christmas Trees for the entrance decor for a corporate Christmas party! When I made these, I was very new to working with QuickLinks.I was very grateful to Sean O'Kelly of BalloonDecor, VIC, Australia who shared his design recipe with me and the Very Best Balloon Blog! To learn how to create this tree, click HERE, or follow this link: https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-make-quick-link-christmas-tree.html

This Christmas tree entrance decor scene was created for a Qualatex Event in France, in 2017
by José Luthman CBA of Ballonrama in Mulhouse, France.

 

These fabulous Christmas Trees were made using partially inflated 260Q balloons, and clearly the effect was stunning! 

Here is another fabulous QuickLink Christmas Tree, designed and created by Glen LaValley, of Glen the Balloon Guy in Edmonton, Alberto, Canada. If you would like to learn how to make this design click HERE or follow this link: https://theverybestballoonblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-make-quick-link-christmas-tree.html

Designer name: Cam Woody, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Here are a few more inspiring ideas from #balloonchristmastree on Instagram

This first design by Rejoice Event Design is simply spectacular! I love all the fabulous twisted tree decorations! 

Stunning White and Chrome Gold Tree by
Rejoice Event Design, New Jersey, USA
www.rejoiceeventdesign.com

White Tree with Red and Chrome Silver accent details by
Little Balloon Box in Bromley, England
www.littleballoonbox.co.uk

This pastel Christmas tree is so elegant.
Design by
The Balloon Crew in Barrie, ON, Canada
https://theballoooncrew.wixsite.com/theballoooncrew-1

And finally, a fabulous collection of Christmas Trees by Dream Higher Events completes the display! 

Design by Dream Higher Events in West Malling, England
www.dreamhigher.co.uk

There are so many different ways to create a Christmas tree from balloons, some being quicker and easier to make than others! Looking at these beautiful designs has definitely inspired me to make a 2021 tree! 

For even more inspiration and ideas, I recommend that you check out #balloonchristmastree.

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

How Do You Build Your Corporate Client Base - by guest blogger Jill Shortreed, CBA, of Charleston Balloon Co.

Samsung - New Product Launch 
Decor by Chris Adamo of The Balloon Crew in Sydney, Australia

Today, I would like to re-share an highly informative article that was first featured in Balloon Images Magazine in July, August, September of 2016. Jill Shortreed, CBA, of Charleston Balloon Company in Charleston, SC, USA, shares some of her experiences in running a business, including how to build your corporate client base. I've compiled bits from this article which I hope will help you to boost your own business! 

Jill Shortreed

"If you want more work Monday through Friday, corporate clients are the perfect solution. To land them, you’ll need research skills, a strong professional image, and a good network.

LANDING CORPORATE CLIENTS

Identifying Corporate Clients First, what is a “corporate client”? 

Basically, it is any customer not celebrating a social event. It’s easy to think corporate clients are all huge corporations that wouldn’t hire a balloon decorator for an event. Actually, that’s not true. Corporate clients come in all types and sizes, from tech companies to car dealerships and everything in between. Any business can be your corporate client. All you have to do is ask. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be “No.”

So now that you know what a corporate client is, the next question is where to find them. Potential leads are everywhere and the sky’s the limit. 

If you think your work can add value to their event or business, that’s a lead. They’re not hard to find if you know where to look.

Mazda - Product Promotion 
Decor by Chris Adamo of The Balloon Crew in Sydney, Australia

Your local newspaper is the easiest place to start. It contains upcoming events, new business announcements, and local business ads. You can use these leads to ease into the corporate client market or as a backup when you start looking at other potential sources of revenue. 

Expo lists are what I refer to as the “jackpot.” They’re the next big step in your pursuit of corporate clients. Expo lists show you businesses that will be exhibiting at an event with the potential to interact with thousands of people. They have a serious need to make their booth or table stand out from the rest. You can do that for them. And once you’ve shown them your balloon decorating prowess, they’re more likely to become repeat customers. 

Vodafone - Christmas Product Promotion 
Decor by Chris Adamo of The Balloon Crew in Sydney, Australia

Government contracts are the best kept secret as a corporate client. If you make it onto an approved vendor list, you’ll most likely be the only event decorator, especially for balloons. The process to get on the approved vendor list involves contacting your local agency to attend training, getting a background check, filling out insurance permits, and submitting a business license.

As a balloon decorator, Balloon Arches are a big part of our everyday business. David Saker, CBA, of Balloon.co.uk, regularly sells multiple Garland Arches for sporting events such as this recent cycle race that was held at Windsor Racecourse in the U.K. David was commissioned to build fifteen Arches to mark the start and finishing line of the race. Each Arch was built using the AeröPole System, a fantastic system for creating air-filled Arches that still gives the free moving appearance of a helium-filled Arch, and is perfect for outdoor events!

Sports clubs post a list of upcoming local races and marathons. Depending on your area, races and marathons may be extremely popular. They can be an opportunity to create a unique experience for the client and build your outdoor design portfolio. 

Fabulous sports event balloon Arches by Davis Saker, CBA, of Balloons.co.uk

Large corporations hold seasonal parties and employee appreciation events. These events are usually annual so impress them once, and you’ve likely made a repeat customer.

This party decor was commissioned by a client for their staff and customers!
 Event Decor by Sue Bowler, CBA.

Networking is a fantastic way to find clients, both corporate and otherwise. 

You can network in person and online. But remember, you’re not selling balloons to people; you’re building a relationship with them. Simply put, people want to do business with people they know and trust. The benefit of having a good network comes when someone had a positive experience and recommends you to their friends or contacts.In order to network effectively, you’ll need a strong “elevator pitch.” Sometimes you’ll only have a few minutes to explain what you do and how it will benefit them to take advantage of your expertise. 

There are four crucial questions you need to ask yourself in order to construct a solid elevator pitch:

• Who is your target market?

• What is the problem you can solve for them?

• What can you provide for them that no one else can?

• What is the outcome for them if they use your company?

Be specific and state it in a way they will understand. Saying “I am a balloon decorator,” or “I am a CBA,” or “I decorate parties,” leads to more questions than it answers. 

A much stronger statement would be “I help non-profits who want cost-efficient and creative ways to decorate their events.” This makes it clear what you do, for whom, and how you can help them. 

Strengthening Your Brand 

Your brand image is your logo, business cards, promotional material, uniform, social media, website, etc. Your brand is your reputation and your business’s. Consistent branding leads to a strong presence and differentiates you from your competition. 

If you want to work with corporate clients, a strong brand is vital. This is especially true if you want to work with Fortune 500 companies—a professional image can make all the difference. You won’t meet most of these big corporate clients prior to their event, if at all. In today’s digital world, your website is especially important in creating a strong brand and presenting yourself to potential corporate clients. Corporate clients (and clients in general) visit your website to answer questions they may have about your business. That means it needs to look professional, convey what you do, showcase your work, give your contact information, and ultimately, make them want to work with you. Even if you can get potential corporate clients to your website and they like your work, your contact information can still make or break your chances of getting their business. Some key things to consider about your contact information include:

• Business name/tagline – Is it clearly understood who you are and what you do?
• Address – Even if your business is home-based, is it professional?
• Phone number – Do you have a dedicated phone line strictly for clients?
• Business hours – Can you be reached during working hours?
• Email – Is it professional or are you embarrassed to say it out loud?"


If you would like to learn more about branding your business check out this great post by Zoe Adam-Jones,

Creating Your Brand & Image - Digital Marketing with Zoe Adam- Jones CBA,

Working With Corporate Clients

Jill's best advice is not to wait for the phone to ring. "If you don’t go after what you want, you will never have it! That being said, corporate business is not without its challenges." 

Some things to prepare in advance when working with corporate clients:

• Certificate of Public Liability Insurance - Accidents happen. Corporate clients will likely want proof your business is insured in case anything goes wrong. If you are based in the UK, I recommend www.bapiaonine.com
• W-9 - In the US, if you will be entering into a business relationship with a corporate client as an "independent contractor," the law requires you to fill out a W-9 form for tax purposes.
• Other legal documents they may require - these could include items like confidentiality agreements. 
• Risk Assessment & Method Statement - these are becoming more commonplace in the UK. Risk assessment is a term used to describe the overall process or method where you: Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard identification). Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).

If you are unsure how to prepare a Risk Assessment or Method Statement, Click HERE 

• Proper ID - Make sure that you will be able to enter a building to set up for the event and teardown afterwards.
• Payment - Discuss your terms up front or you may need to wait up to 90 days for payment.
• Contracts - some corporate cannot sign contracts until you a reviewed by their legal department.

Whilst this may seem like a lot of hoops to jump through for one job, but there is an upside. Once you wow a corporate client, you will most likely stay on their preferred vendor list.

Remember: there is no guarantee when it comes to landing corporate clients. But with a strong brand, a good network, an eye for opportunity, a little hard work, and "The Very Best Balloons" you can get your phone ringing and put high-profit clients into your portfolio."

I often hear people asking how do they 'find' corporate clients or how difficult it is to break into this market! Jill's article is packed with some truly great advice and tips on how you can go about this. It is obviously easier to start small and locally, then once you have built a small portfolio and a little bit of confidence, you should be ready to try for some of the bigger clients! 

A huge thank you to Jill for all the great information and to Chris Adamo and David Saker for sharing some of their awesome balloon décor photos! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler.com

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring! Spring is in the Air, and Nature is Saying, 'Let's Party!'

I think I can speak for all of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere when I say, we are more than a bit grateful to see the spring flowers poking through the ground, getting ready to burst into magnificent colour! For me, it has felt like a very long winter, I suppose being predominantly in a state of lock down has not helped! However, it is extremely encouraging to see a few countries around the world who appear to be getting back to some sort of normality - it truly does feel like we are coming towards the end of a very long tunnel!

With Spring in mind, how gorgeous is this organic decor by Chris Adamo, I love the freshness of this beautiful colour palette! 

Fabulous Spring Decor by Chris Adamo of 
The Balloon Crew - Balloons.net.au,  
in Sydney, Australia

With that in mind, I thought it would be fitting to start looking at design ideas that reflect this magical time of year.

I love seeing the arrival of the bee's and butterflies, collecting up nectar from flowers and shrubs as they start to open. What better way to reflect this beautiful season than to create a selection of designs using the NEW Qualatex Bee range of balloons! 

How adorable is this 'Sweet as Honey" design by Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA.

This new 24"  "Sweet Bees & Daisies" Deco Bubble is adorably appealing, and can be used for many different occasions! 

 #: 15733

Here are some great message inspiration when personalising your Bubble Balloons -remember, your customers need a little help sometimes!  

Just Bee Awesome

Bee led by your Dreams! 

Bee Mine!

Sweet as can Bee...

This "Sweet Bee" is available in two sizes!
38" - #16376/16305
14" "Mini Sweet Bee" - #16212

This NEW 18" - "Mother's Day Bee's & Flowers" Microfoil balloons will be a definite winner this Mother's Day! I know that I am looking forward to working with it for a future post! 

#17539/17537

Compliment your design using these fabulous Spring colours! 

Caribbean Blue
Rose
Goldenrod

"Bee" ready for the 2021 Baby Boom! Have a range of new Mother-to-be, Baby Shower and Baby designs ideas ready to inspire your customers - In keeping with the Bee theme, this "Mother to Bee" - 20" Microfoil balloon will wow any new mummies! 

20" - "Mother to Bee" 
#16436/16434

The Pantone Colour of the Year for 2021 has been named as "Ultimate Gray and Illuminating", a soft grey tone and yellow. This colour combination of Grey and Yellow will be perfect to compliment the Bee range of balloons!

For even more super inspiration for Mother's Day, don't miss out on Federico Onida's upcoming webinar: 

Join Federico Onida, CBA on February 17th 2021 for the Mother's Day Gifts She'll Adore webinar! 💐

For more information and to register visit https://www.eventbrite.com/.../qualatex-online-education or click HERE.

The webinar will be broadcasted LIVE on Wednesday, February 17th for 2 hours (90-minute class followed by a 30-minute Q&A session) at 3pm GMT, check for your location time. It will be recorded, and the link to the on-demand video will be sent to you within 48hours of the live webinar. If you miss anything during the live webinar, you will be able to go back to it on your own time.

I don't know about you but I am always looking for inspiration for my social media posts, and lifestyle photographs are always ideal for attracting attention on a Facebook or Instagram post. Have you checked out the amazing FREE Social Media resources available on the Qualatex website recently? There are lots of exciting new posts and images available. Click HERE for a direct link. The great thing about many of the images is that you can easily add your own caption or message.

Check out the 2021 Qualatex  Spring & Summer Collection, click HERE for a direct link.

Make sure that you check out the 2020 Qualatex Everyday Essentials, it features the Bee range and much more! Click HERE for a direct link.

As you may have gathered, I am really excited that we are heading into this new season, it feels like a whole new energy, and renewed hope is on the horizon. We have many great events over the next few months including Easter and Mother's Day, with many great Qualatex balloons to work with! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

If Asked, Would You Be Able to Name Your Favourite Balloon Design?

A few weeks ago, I was asked to name what I consider as my favourite ever balloon design, something of my own creation. After nearly thirty years of being in the balloon industry, that question stumped me. So before I tell you what mine and a few of my ballooning friend's favourites designs are, I would like you to think about what yours would be, and why?

Naming your favourite design is a little bit like publicly saying who your favourite child is, and that is exactly the problem my fellow "balloonies" had when I asked them! 

Elephant Sculpture by Chris Adamo

Here's what Chris Adamo, CBA, of Balloons Online in Sydney, Australia said;

"OMG it is so hard to decide on a favourite design but this is the first one that I thought of.

It was made to the exact proportions of an adult male African Bull Elephant. I actually saved the working drawings I used for proportions.

Why is this my favourite? I spent a long time researching how other elephants designs had been made with balloons, but I couldn't find anything that was made using a texture that seemed appropriate. Depending on the texture you are looking for, quick links and twisted balloons sometimes looks a little messy and draws focus away from the overall project. What I endeavoured to achieve in this project was a finish that was smooth and consistent, and the duplet square pack method created a finish that allowed the audience to see beyond the balloons and for a moment in time be transformed to a vintage circus"

Elephant Sculpture by Chris Adamo, CBA

Chris will be building a large balloon sculpture as part of the sculpture competition at BACI 2020 in Milan in March. I am very excited to see what he builds - of course I will report back! 

Cam Woody, CBA, of Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, USA, is a little like me, in that she struggled to find her absolute favourite. So she chose 4 designs! 

Flashy Flamingo Design by Cam Woody

Flashy Flamingo

"I love this one because it has so much personality. My friends, who aren’t fond of balloons, couldn’t resist these flamingos. It’s not a complicated design. My favorite designs are usually the ones that are the most simple to make. These flamingos only require a minimal amount of twisting to create a character that draws people to it and makes them smile." 

 Baby Shower Decor

Baby Shower Decor by Cam Woody

"I chose this shot because of the way it makes me feel. There are a lot of different details in the scene that make it special. I like how light and airy it feels with the clouds and the hot air balloons. I like the rhythm that the different textured balloons add. The difference in the way the Chrome, Pearls and Standard colors reflect the light in the room makes the photo feel light it’s breathing. And one of my favorite details in the shot is the hot air balloon cupcakes. Again because they were so easy. I hadn’t seen anything like this before and it seems like it should have been so obvious. I used washi tape for the stripes on the 5” balloon and attached the balloon to cake pop sticks and added little bows."

Elegant Hearts Column 

Elegant Heart Column by Cam Woody

"I like this column for several different reasons. First, the balloons look so elegant! The Chromes mixed with the Rose Gold and White come together to make this design radiate luxury. I created a tack weave in the center part of the column with the 260Qs, a technique that I don’t use often, but I’m so pleased that I did for this piece. The elegance of the design justified the extra time that it took to add this detail."

Sparkling Unicorn Smiles

"This design featured some of our newer balloons, which I love. I made white the primary color to keep the piece light and airy. The sheer white ribbon also adds to the ethereal atmosphere. The whimsical Unicorn and Unicorn Horns along with the fun saying on the 18” foil delivery the message and color for the design. And I added a few paper flowers for the final details. The piece feels like something out of a fairy tale, which is exactly what I was trying to achieve."

My final guest for this blog post is Luc Bertrand, CBA of WaW Balloons in Vichte, Belgium. Luc's designs vary from large sculptures to small retail designs, so I was intrigued to see which of his designs he would consider to be his favourite and why.

"In spring 2011, Qualatex introduced the numbers shapes and the 18” foil smile faces in different colours. 
As I was teaching at the JBAN convention in Japan I was asked to showcase both new products. I was allocated two “demo” time slots of 15 minutes each to show one design including these. Subsequently, I traveled to Japan with a design for the numbers and a design for the smiles in mind. 
On the day of the demonstration, I was informed that the timetable has changed and that I now had only one 15 minutes time slot! 
Realising I could not show and properly explain my two designs in such a short time, I knew I had to come up with a new design. I decided to combine both, positioned the number on a base and topped the number with a smile face, gave the character two arms to create emotion and the “Happy Numbers” were born! 

Happy Number by Luc Bertrand

I started teaching the design worldwide and soon pictures started to pop up everywhere with my creation. A bit later, I start adding other faces on the numbers and now 'Happy Pigs', 'Angry Cows', 'Wondering Giraffes', Winning Lions', 'Waving Frogs', and many more soon appear.
Then I started to hear dazzling numbers when delegates told me how many "Happy Number" they sell a month, a week, a day! Gratitude is great but knowing how my design resulted in such huge sales for my colleagues worldwide will always be my biggest reward. 

Happy Numbers by Luc Bertrand

9 years later, they are still a top design. I was teaching abroad only yesterday. During the break a lady came over and showed me the picture of a happy number (not my picture) on her cell phone. Little did she know it was my original design. She then asked me kindly if I was able to explain “such design”.
Therefore, when you ask me what my favourite design is, I must go for the Happy Numbers.

• a simple concept

• easy to reproduce when knowing the right techniques.

• 2 arms giving the character all kind of expressions and emotions,

• a gift that must have made numerous of thousands happy.

• long lasting air filled design

• a definite money maker,

• a timeless design that will be alive and kicking for many years to come!

And now it's my turn! Like everyone else I really struggled with choosing my favourite design. I wavered between two solid options. Should it be my first place winner from many years ago at IBAC 13 that helped me to boost my International profile, not to mention my ballooning and teaching career?  On the other hand, should it be a design that has excited me the most more recently? I have chosen the latter, as I have always enjoyed and thrived to create something a little bit different, which is exactly what I did last year for a client for their Great Gatsby event in London. I knew that I wanted to create a column, but also add something unusual. After spending a little time researching the Gatsby Theme, watching the film and referencing Art Deco style, I made a simple sketch in my note pad. I then turned my sketch into a digital image that I was able to show my client. 

Gold Column Sculpture by Sue Bowler

On the right is my digital image with the final result (shown side-by-side), made from Gold Chrome balloons and complimented with 3' and Deco Bubble confetti-filled balloons! 

Whilst I was making these Gold Column Sculptures on-site at the venue, I could not believe the number of compliments that I received from the hotel staff, the event organisers and general passersby! It was so exciting to hear all the positive comments and exclamations of "we've never seen such beautiful balloons!" 
A week after the Gatsby event, I attended the Qualatex Event in Mexico and decided to share the design with the delegates. I made a few changes and added a few new elements - once again I was greeted with an overwhelming positive response. 

Since this event, I have used the same style of frame to make an elegant organic style wedding design. 

We are so used to strong vertical lines with balloons that by using soft curves often feels more natural, organic and playful. I have also found that creating a curving line rather than a straight adds volume, giving the appearance of a bigger or more voluminous design.

I have loved seeing the designs selected by Chris, Cam, and Luc. I truly admire their work and styles, and have really enjoyed compiling their testimonies and getting their perspectives.

Have you decided what your favourite design is? Considering this aspect is an important reason to acknowledge our personal success is it can help us continue to achieve. If we reflect back on what worked well and why, we can often repeat the process and hence continue to benefit repeatedly. 

Happy Ballooning!

Sue

www.suebowler.com

@suebowler