Are you Ready for the Corporate Market? Tips for Building a Corporate Client Base as a Small Business Owner

Many Balloon Business Owners start out by offering balloons for birthdays and parties. Over time, we develop our skills and grow in confidence, and now we want take that next step - the corporate market! 

This stage decor was created by Sue Bowler in collaboration with Ali Welsh of Ali Welsh Events for Christmas corporate event.
Each letter stood over 10' tall and was perfect for this DISCO theme party! The room was also filled with one hundred and thirty 3' Silver Confetti Balloons that represented Disco Balls! 

So what is a corporate client?

The term "corporate client" typically refers to a business or organisation that seeks and purchases goods or services from another business or organisation for the purpose of fulfilling their own business needs. It is easy to think that corporate clients are all huge corporations that typically wouldn't hire a balloon decorator for an event. However, this is untrue, as corporate clients come in all types and sizes and can operate in various industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, and more.

In the context of a small balloon decorating business, a corporate client might be a business that wants to decorate their office or host a corporate event, such as a product launch, trade show, or company party. Building relationships with corporate clients can be beneficial for a small business as they can provide regular and potentially large orders, as well as referrals to other businesses in their network.

My Journey into the Corporate World: When I first dipped my toe into the corporate decor world, my initial projects were designing seasonal window displays for a local jewellery store, and creating wedding displays for a bridal shop. For the latter, I collaborated with the owners and they promoted my services in exchange for the decor I created for their shop displays. This proved to be a successful arrangement, as I received regular bookings from brides. As my confidence and portfolio grew, I secured decorating contracts with the local council, designing for all their events and functions, and even worked for a local brewery who hosted regular events for their pub owners and landlords. My list of corporate clients continued to expand. However, I eventually stopped my decorating business to become an industry instructor. A few years on, an old ballooning friend who had started her own events company offered me many incredible opportunities to create decor for various events for her clients, and these fit perfectly into my teaching schedule. This fruitful partnership lasted for years and once again demonstrated the power of collaboration.

Here are some amazing examples of decor that was created for corporate events.

This stunning entrance arch was created by designers: Alexander Solomatin, CBA, Moscow, Russia, Dmitry Novikov, CBA, Moscow, Russia

This Car Showroom Decor was created by Chris Adamo, CBA of the Balloon Crew, Sydney, Australia.

These Striking Balloon Arches are by Dianna Glandon, CBA, of 
Above the Rest Event Designs,  
Knoxville, TN , USA.

Vodafone Store Decor was created by
Chris Adamo, The Balloon Crew, Sydney, Australia

So how can you find corporate clients to work with?

1. Attend networking events and trade shows to connect with potential clients - Start by searching for "Networking Events near here (your location)" on your preferred search engine. You will be surprised at how many organisations hold these events. The meetings can be held in person or remotely through virtual channels. Choose events that are most relevant to you. The cost is usually minimal, and it's an excellent opportunity to connect with other local businesses while participating in discussions on various topics.

2. Utilise social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, to showcase your work and connect with decision-makers in companies.  Fact - Linkedin is the most effective B2B marketing tool, it is a lot more powerful than Facebook and Instagram for reaching the people who matter!

If like me, you do not really use Linkedin, here are some tips for using LinkedIn to connect with other businesses:

• Optimise your profile: Before you start connecting with other businesses, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and professional. This will help establish your credibility and make others more likely to accept your connection request.
• Identify relevant businesses: Use LinkedIn's search function to find businesses that are relevant to your industry or niche. You can search for companies using keywords, industry, location, and other criteria.
• Personalise your connection request: When sending a connection request, make sure to personalise it and explain why you want to connect. This can help increase the likelihood of your request being accepted.
• Engage with their content: Once you've connected with other businesses, engage with their content by liking, commenting, and sharing. This can help establish a relationship and increase the chances of them engaging with your content in return.
• Offer value: If you want to establish a deeper connection with other businesses, offer them something of value. This could be sharing an article or resource that you think would be helpful, or offering to introduce them to someone in your network.
• Attend industry events: LinkedIn can also be a great tool for finding industry events. This can be a great way to meet other businesses in person and establish a deeper connection.

3. Offer special promotions or discounts to businesses to entice them to try your services. For example you could approach your local car dealership and recommend decor for their showroom for a seasonal event such as Valentine’s Day or Christmas, and you could give them an introductory discount for using your service. Fact - Always think outside of the box when it comes to ‘finding’ your leads, car dealers often use decor to create interest in their showrooms, think of what other businesses could use your decor to enhance their business and products! 

This car showroom St Patrick's Day Decor was created by
Colin & Jeannie Stewart of STEWART's Baskets & Balloons,
 in Ontario, Canada

This car showroom St Patrick's Day Decor was created by 
Colin & Jeannie Stewart of STEWART's Baskets & Balloons,
 in Ontario, Canada

4. Partner with event planners or other businesses in the event industry to expand your network. Building a good relationship with an Event Planner was probably my greatest tool when growing my corporate work. Event planners and other businesses won’t necessarily find you, you will need to find them! Search on Instagram and Linkedin, follow them, like and share their posts. It could be a local hotel or events venue, not necessarily a person, your aim is to make contact without being a stalker! 

5. Create a professional website that highlights your portfolio and services, and make sure it is optimised for search engines.

Here are some tips for creating a professional website that showcases your portfolio and services and is optimised for search engines:

• Choose a clean and modern design that reflects your style and brand.
• Use high-quality images and graphics to showcase your work.
• Clearly list your services and pricing.
• Include client testimonials to build trust and credibility.
• Optimise your website for search engines by using keywords that are relevant to your business and industry.
• Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
• Make it easy for potential clients to contact you through a contact form or clear call-to-action buttons.
• Regularly update your website with new content to keep it fresh and engaging.
• Integrate your social media profiles to increase your online presence.
• Consider hiring a professional web designer or developer to ensure that your website is of the highest quality.

6. Attend local business events and seminars to meet potential clients and learn about their needs.  - check out and join your local Chamber of Commerce.

7. Send out email newsletters to past clients and potential clients to keep them informed about your business and services. Make sure that you adhere to GDPR rules, you cannot just send out emails to past clients unless you have agreed to be ale to do this. This is generally done through a tick box system in your previous marketing with them.

8. Build relationships with local hotels and event venues to become their go-to balloon decorating business.

9. Collect testimonials and reviews from satisfied clients to use as social proof and to help build your credibility with potential clients - Don’t feel afraid to ask for a testimonial or review from a satisfied customer. If you have a Google profile for your business (Google My Business https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/business/) then you can send a direct link to your customer, making it easy for them to do there and then! 

https://www.google.com/business/

Remember to tailor your approach to each potential client, taking into consideration their specific needs, budget, and industry. With a little bit of effort and persistence, you can find and attract corporate clients for your small balloon decorating business. Develop good research skills, create a strong professional image and a good network, which is essential for growing your corporate market.

And finally...

• Growing a corporate client base can be a time-consuming process, unless you have strong connections from the beginning.
• Remember that every interaction counts, from the way you present yourself to how you communicate with customers.
• Taking steps in the right direction, no matter how small, can help you achieve your goal.

Good Luck! 

Happy ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me: @suebowler

What Stops us Growing our Balloon Business from Little Acorns to a Mighty Oaktree!

How many of you look at Instagram and balloon-related Facebook Groups and see pictures of large scale decor, and worry that your business will never be big enough to do anything like that? 

Corporate Decor by Colin Stewart, CBA, of Stewart's Baskets & Balloons
in Toronto, Canada.

What's stopping you? 

• Confidence
• Experience 
• Contacts

When you start out in any profession, the learning curve is inevitable, and balloon artistry is no exception. We need to understand the basic techniques and master them, we also need the opportunity to grow our skills through practice, and finally we need to grow our portfolio so that we can 'wow' our customers with our work! 

Confidence

There will always be others who have more confidence and appear to have the ability to wing it through life! However, for most of us, confidence grows with experience. 

Experience

Experience can be gained in a number of ways: 

• By attending hands-on training courses and ballooning events
• By offering yourself as a volunteer to work with other balloon professionals at their events.
• And of course, practice, practice and more practice! 

Last week I taught a group of students how to make a balloon wall using QuickLinks. The end result was fabulous, and they all agreed that learning how to make the wall first hand gave them the confidence to make it themselves and promote and sell them to their customers!  

Space theme Balloon Wall made by Sue Bowler & Students on her 
'Whats Hot Right Now' course.

 

Contacts

It is often quoted "it's all about the contacts!" But how do you get those contacts?

• Attend Business Networking Events: The first step in successful networking is to go to places where you can make connections. In the UK, BAPIA, a trade organisation for the Balloon & Party Industry, are offering BAPIA Fundays to their members and non-members, where balloon artists can meet up at regional events, and network with other members, wholesalers and manufacturers. 
• Get Social in your 'Off Hours.' Business networking doesn’t just happen between the hours of 8 and 5. Networking can happen any time and day. It just requires you to step outside your comfort zone and start talking to people. Strike up a conversation with people at the gym or talk to other parents at your child’s activities. You never know when you might meet someone who can be a useful source. The most successful networkers are those who look for opportunity every place they go!
• Be Able to Articulate Your Worth: How many times are you asked "what do you do for a living?" I can assure you this is a conversation that I have had on numerous occasions, especially on flights when travelling to events and training around the world! It would be so easy to simply say "I work with balloons." However, saying something like "I design and make decor for events and parties and create spectacular results!" - is a fabulous way to open up a conversation! 
• Always Follow Up. In order to establish rapport and build lasting relationships with other people, you need to look for reasons to keep the connection going. Making the contact is only half the battle; you also have to take the necessary steps to continue the relationship. Make sure you exchange contact information and try to find at least two to three opportunities each year to reconnect with the members of your network. 

Look for opportunities

If you are waiting for "that call" it will probably never happen! If you want new opportunities you will probably need to go out and find them yourself! Once you start to establish good contacts, it will definitely become easier. But you should always be looking for new opportunities! 

There are so many opportunities that you may have never even considered... Sporting events for example! 

• Find out from your local department of parks and recreation when and where local sporting events will be held. Visit with the person in charge of the event, and offer an arch or some columns, and maybe you could even offer them an introductory deal? This will give you the opportunity to get new pictures for your portfolio that you can use to promote this type of work on your website and on social media!
• Visit youth organisation websites and search for games and tournaments that will be held in your area.
• Advertise your business in school newsletters. Remind parents that you can create sport themed decor for parties or create sport theme deliveries to celebrate their kids' athletic accomplishments.
• Build relationships with schools to provide decor for their games, dances and other events.
• Create a flier that you can use to promote sport balloons and decor to Sports Bars, Pubs and clubs!
• React to big sporting events! Every year there are high profile sporting events. Take the opportunity to create displays that will attract sports fans. A column or an arch can really stands out, and you never know what it might lead to!
• Remember, sporting events have many visitors; you may just attract the attention of a CEO of a large corporate business?

Colin & Jeannie Stewart of Stewart's Baskets & Balloons are masters when it comes to creating decor for sporting events, I strongly recommend that you take a little peak at their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/STEWARTs-Baskets-Balloons-189142114442664 and be inspired! 

Sporting events are just the tip of the iceberg; think about all the other opportunities that you may not already be exploring! As we know, it can take many years to grow an acorn into an oak tree, but with a little hard work and determination, we can certainly start that growing process! 

Happy Ballooning!

Sue
www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

Personalising Balloons Using a Die-Cutting Machine: Part 2

Following on from part 1 of this series of blogs, I asked a few of our lovely industry professionals if they would kindly share a little of their experience working with their die-cutting machines.

"Personalising balloons has become an integral part of WOW Balloons. We would not be without our 'little Silhouette'.

They have become so popular, if you show anyone a personalised 3 foot column,  9 times out of 10 they will buy it! We often find that they will buy 2 so that they can be positioned at the entrance of the venue. It's certainly added another W to our 'WOW', so from my point of view, it was money well spent."

- Debbie O'Neill, Wow Balloons, Essex, UK

---

Dominic Cassidy of All Things Fun, County Durham offers these thoughts:

Pros 

The ability to say "yes" to our customers! Having the right balloon at the right time is pretty hard at times, however being able to customise with vinyl means we can do pretty much anything. Fast, create a simple design and cut within minutes. The up-sell, adding names and ages to balloons gives us a great opportunity to add extra value for the customer with extra profit for us. Unique Selling Point (USP) Gives your business that added extra that the large multiples do not do. Gives us another avenue to be creative. Consistency, Being able to make both eyes the same is one of life's simple pleasures! Additionally if your customer would like half a dozen of the same design… no problem!

Create a fantastic finale to any event with a balloon drop!

We all know that balloons make an event or celebration special and there is nothing quite as magical as balloons cascading over a dance floor or filling an arena at a concert!

RELI-A-DROP is a balloon drop net system created by Colin Stewart CBA of Stewart's Baskets and Balloons. 15 years ago, after a problematic and disappointing experience with a purchased drop net, Colin decided that if he wanted to be assured of a 100% success rate with his balloon drops then he should make his own. Colin's #1 criteria was to install a pre-check system into all of his nets to allow users to check that the net will open when the release line is pulled.

I recently met up with Colin whilst he was on a working tour of the UK and Ireland to talk about the RELI-A-DROP system in greater detail.





Below is a step-by-step video clip that will guide you through the steps to create a perfect balloon drop.

Slovenia Event 2013 - Tropical Gala Party Decor

I have just returned home from The Slovenia Event which was held in Therme Catez, Slovenia, I am sure that many of you have seen some great pictures already posted on Facebook!

The Slovenia Event 5th, 6th & 7th October 2013 was organised by Renata and Niko Fric from Magic d.o.o. Slovenia, with support from Nikolett Forray, Balloon World Hungary and an awesome team of staff and helpers!

A fantastic group of delegates from 17 countries attended the 3 days that was filled with great classes, competitions, parties and a 24 hour Jam room!

Slovenia Event 2013 Gala Party Decor

I wanted to write a blog that specifically related to the Gala Party, the amazing designs and decor was just truly magical, so inspiring and definitely worth sharing!

So before I post the pictures I would like to congratulate the instructors who work so very hard to create new and exciting designs to share with delegates at events such as this! This was a great opportunity for many of us to work with the new Qualatex Quick LInk balloons and see many different ways to work with it!

Classic Balloon Decor - A Balloon Decorators Building Blocks

Do you remember the first time you saw a Spiral Garland Column, Swag or a Balloon Arch and the wonderful way the colours wrapped around themselves and wondered how did they do that?

Air-Filled Entrance Arch - by Sue Bowler as featured in Sue's Balloon Decor 1 DVD

The effects of simple balloon garlands are truly magical, both visually and profitably too!

Classic Balloon Decor is the foundation of balloon decorating. Foundations can be found in the early defining work of a discipline, and balloon decorating started with balloon garland arches, swags, columns and 'string of pearl' (SOP) arches.

'Treb Heining is the man responsible for invented the balloon garland and who first popularized professional balloon decor in the late 1970s. His vision launched a national phenomenon, and his basic design became the cornerstone of Classic Balloon Decor.' 

2012 Qualatex Stand at the Spring Fair NEC Birmingham - The stands decor was brought 'to life' using Classic Balloon Decor, Using columns, garlands and arches the stand looked amazing and was visible from every part of the very large exhibition hall! 
The stand decor was designed & created by Jodie Norris CBA & Dee White CBA.

Classic Balloon Decor is the starting blocks for decor and almost all balloon artists/decorators start here! Learning how to inflate balloons to a specific size, tying a duplet, twisting balloons into clusters and the art of adding balloons to line or framework!

Once a decorator has these mastered they can move onto more challenging projects! 

Classic Balloon Decor can be used in so many ways and for so many different types of events, including weddings, corporate decor, shopping malls almost anywhere when balloons can be used on mass!

Elegant Pearl Arches using 3' printed Qualatex balloons by Colin Stewart CBA, Canada

Stunning garland swags created by Jose Luthman CBA, France

I regularly see amazing balloon work by both Colin and Jose posted on the Qualatex Facebook group, they both use classic balloon decor to the full and both have very successful balloon decorating businesses!

I asked two balloon professionals Colin Stewart and Colin Myles to describe their thoughts on Classic Balloon Decor...

"Classic Decor is the foundation of Balloon Art--- It is where we all started and where it all begins! Working in Decor we need to understand two very important things:

1. Proper Sizing and 2. Packing the balloons in a Garland. These 2 features are easy to see in Classic Decor as they both impact our work which shows in the Final Decor!
It is much easier to show what I just said when you see the lines in a Classic Balloon garland.

Classic BalloonART is my "Bread and Butter" after 22 years in the Balloon industry---- we use it just about everyday!" - Colin Stewart

 

Colin Myles - 'I believe classic balloon decor is the very foundation on which a balloon busines is built. There are so many derivatives, which can be applied, when you have mastered the basics. But of course basic classic balloon decor can look stunning on its own. In my opinion the greatest care should be taken when deciding to what size the balloons should be inflated. For example, if you have 50 metres of garland to make in a large auditorium then clusters of balloons sized to 4'' would not be appropriate.

Classic Balloon Decor’s simplicity, flexibility and natural ability to transform large spaces into celebrations make it suitable for a broad range of events and clients. It’s relatively simple designs offers a systematic approach to construction and installation, making it quicker than many decor alternative, and more cost effective for the client as well as more profitable for you!

There are many patterns that can be created within a garland, flowers, zigzags, arrows and of course spirals, that lead the eye in a certain direction!

Sculptures made from the column/garland technique are also very effective, this is simply working with clusters of different sizes and the clever positioning of colours that make these work so well! Simple balloon sculptures like these are great for theme events, quick and easy for you to make and very cost effective for the client too!

This is such a fun Christmas Tree, full of fun and perfect of Christmas parties! Design by David de Busto, Spain

3 air-filled columns make this great ' Freaky Frankie'.

What could be more fun than these simple but very effective balloon Palm Tree's! 

Learning the basic skills in any industry is so very important, balloon decor is no exception. Once we have a good understanding of Classic BalloonART (Colin Stewarts term, which I love), there are really no boundaries to what we can create from the humble round balloon.

Yes of course we can use non-round balloons to add finer detail and accent elements as well as Microfoil shapes to re-inforce a theme, maybe a parrot in a palm tree or frond shapes or a lovely smile face. The round balloon is the equivalent of paint to a painter or clay to a potter, and thanks to Qualatex, we have the 'Very Best Balloons' to work with!

To learn more about Classic Balloon Decor enrol in the QBN program, that will guide you through the many skills to help you to build a successful balloon business.

Happy Ballooning!

Sue 

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler.com

Note: Some of the quotes and information was taken from 'A Foundation for Balloon Decor', part of the QBN program.

Air-Filled Decor is the ONLY way to go!

Helium supply and the lack of it appears to be a decorators worst nightmare, or is it? Do we actually need helium to create great decor?

Crescent Moon Flowers by Stewarts Baskets and Balloons

When I first started to work on this blog, I wondered who I could ask to add their thoughts and opinions on this subject and immediately thought of Colin Stewart! 

I first 'met' Colin through the Qualatex Group Facebook page, and for those of you who are members of this page you will immediately recognise Colin (aka Balloons Sbb-reliadrop) for his awesome balloon work that he very generously & regularly posts on the groups page! Colin launched his 'Balloon Tour' last year and has just started 'Balloon Tour 2012'! I have added more information regarding Colin and his tour and the end of this very informative blog!

Colin Stewart of Stewarts Baskets & Balloons

"First, the last Helium tank I rented was for New Year's Eve 2011 .... I think that is the Biggest STATEment I can make"!!!!

AIR-FILLed DECOR is the ONLY way to go.

The first step is that we must design our work thinking that we don't want to use HELIUM... and therefore, the WORLD of AIR DECOR begins!! Once you accept that......... then HOW can you work without Helium... everyday... is the question!

Framing and Rigging become the answer to NO Helium.

Framing: Inexpensive and light weight are things I like to use: Aluminum Rod with a grade of 60/6* is the best for framing and I make my own WOOD bases and Poles at a cost of less than $5.00 US for a 16" x 16" Base and a Pole of 6' tall.

www.magmover.com - check out the MagMover website for your nearest supplier in the US and Canada for UK and Europe contact your nearest Qualatex Distributor.

Rigging: MagMover Pole and Magnets work well.... in addition to these I make my own VERY cost effective magnets that do not require us to get them back everytime... less than $0.35 US each!!! Now the weight must be light as well in order to use smaller magnets. Also, on T-bar ceilings use T-Bar clips, at a cost of less than $0.30 US

In addition to these simple TIPs, I have not been on a Power Lift in years. Maximum ladder is only a 10 foot and that is only if I must!!! Rigging is being creative. Customers will rent a Power lift for $1,000.00 at a time. I say PERFECT, add the $1,000.00 to the Decor, I don't need the Power Lift!!!! More money in my pocket!!!

Monofilament Line

We use Mono Line at 40lb Test 99.9 % of the time and Aircraft Cable when we are doing Large Scale Decor, medium decor we sometimes use #18 nylon line usually for safety reasons.

Also, we have a 5 Million Dollar Insurance Policy which is needed to work in most locations. Note: New Customers usually ask for a copy of the policy the day of the JOB!!! Be prepared!

(In the UK, BAPIA - the Balloon and Party Industry Alliance offer members full Public and Employee Liability Insurance as part of their annual membership fee along with many other benefits).

Now, Helium is still a tool we need but it is JUST one of the tools in your toolbox, not the only one and you CAN most times get away with NO HELIUM!!

Over 80% of my accounst require the Decor to last 2 plus months, so helium is not an answer and I have been designing that way for years.

I have done over 175 Grand Openings for WALMART. I started in the account years ago. All they wanted was an Archway at the entrance. So, that's what we did, but with the amount of traffic Walmart gets everyday, the entrance is the exit and the "Foot Print" of the Archway is in a HIGH Traffic Area being at the Entrance. So, I sold them on that and switched them to Swags, NO Helium... No BASES... NO POLES... Just 2 Magmover Click-Click Magnets and LOTS and LOTS more profit!!!! They are happy and so am I... A WIN-WIN..... the only way to SELL!!!

Centrepieces are the same. We just have to be creative. Design with NO HELIUM and watch your Customers love how your DECOR lasts soooooo much longer, while your Profits go up!!!

"The Suns"

The "Suns: 22" Smile Bubble", these are AIR-filled and the rigging was special, I used a CLick-Click magnet as the wood beams have a steel plate connecting them together. The rigging made this job possible! Now... Extra special was this event was upstairs and then moving downstairs for the evening, so I used the magnet as a HOLDER to install the suns on 40 lb. fishing line, then pulling the "SUN" up with the fishing line going through the magnet but then coming back down. I tied the fishing line to the rod for the drapes!!! The customer just had to un-tie the fishing line letting the suns down and then they re-installed them downstairs for the evening event. Once the evening came to an end they were able to be taken home with a VERY happy customer!!!

Balloon Garland Swag 

The "Swag". This is one of two swags for this Walmart - Using two large Click-Click magnets, one on each end of the Swag. The install was VERY Easy!!

LARGE SCULPTURE over 20' Tall. This sculpture was installed by Jeannie and I. We started with 12' straight aluminum rod at 9pm with NO Balloons inflated and he was installed before 8am with us never leaving the ground!!! You can see one Aircraft Cable coming from each side of his head!! We used a Pulley system and raised him enough to attach the next piece of him and then raised him again until we were finished!!! "Oliver" was the latest member of the Great Wolf Lodge.. a North American High End Resort for the family... A HUGE Indoor - Outdoor Water Park!!!

A little bit about our blog contributor...

Colin & Jeannie at the World Balloon Convention 2012

Colin Stewart, along with his wife Jeannie, started their business 21 years ago, in Tottenham, Ontario, Canada. Although it started out as STEWART’s Country Craft Shop, selling homemade crafts at craft shows and a local flea market, it rapidly evolved into a full service Professional Balloon Decorating company. It quickly changed direction and its name to STEWART’s Baskets & Balloons, (SBB). 

While starting the business, Colin continued his profession as a Computer Sales Rep for the second largest computer company in the world, Digital Equipment, earning the accolade of top sales rep in Canada!Eventually STEWART’s Baskets & Balloons demanded more time, making it necessary to leave Digital and operate SBB on a full time business. The high level sales training that Colin received at Digital and his natural ability to ‘sell ice to Eskimos’ would become the foundation of SBB’s success today. 

Due to the quick growth in the corporate decor side of the business, it was necessary to close the party store and concentrate on this area. Within 5 short years, SBB was providing large scale decor for major malls in Southern Ontario. This work, along with the impressive Portfolio it created, led to pictures being published in IMAGES and pictures along with articles published in Balloons & Parties Today magazine, as well as involvement in the Jubilee Balloon Arts Convention.

STEWART’s Baskets & Balloons was voted number 1 by attendees, many of whom participated in Colin’s classes there, two years in a row, winning their International Balloon Artist of the Year Award. This also provided Colin the opportunity to run Large Sculpture courses in both Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for a western Canada Balloon Convention, and Los Vegas, Atlanta, and Sacramento, for Balloons & Parties Today, Jubilee. SBB’s most recent accomplishment and one that we are extremely proud of was having our work published in the Qualatex catalogue worldwide. 

In order to expand and grow the decor business, SBB started to move into the Grocery Market space, providing seasonal decor everyday for the past 16 years across Ontario. 

Another important side of SBB is the manufacturing side, which produces, RELI-A-DROP, a balloon drop net system for the Canadian market. RELI-A-DROP is available through Pioneer Balloon Canada and comes in 4 popular drop sizes for 100, 200, 500, and 1000 balloons. It is Colin’s next goal to grow RELI-A-DROP into the global marketplace. 

In 2011, Colin launched ‘Balloon Tour 2011, a three day hands-on Balloon Art educational seminar. It made 4 very successful stops in Canada and 1 in Brooklyn, New York. He also volunteered his time at Balloonstitute in Detroit. As a result of the overwhelming success as well as numerous requests, Balloon Tour 2012 is now well underway. The first stop was in Brooklyn, NY, sponsored once again by J&R Wholesale Balloons Distributors and Pioneer Balloon Company, followed by 2 stops in Canada, in Toronto and Montreal, sponsored for the second year by SKS Novelty Co. Ltd., and Pioneer Balloon Canada.

The next location is June 12-14 in Boston, sponsored by Rainbow Balloons and Pioneer Balloon Company. Requests continue to pour in from people from all over the world. We are in the process of setting the next phase now. 

Balloon Tour 2012

STEWART’s Baskets & Balloons’ latest endeavour is the release of a 3 DVD set of step-by-step, picture-by-picture, called “The Balloon Cookbook, No Helium Required”. They will be available July 15, 2012, at a cost of $250.00 US plus shipping and handling for all 3 or $89.00 each plus shipping and handling. 

I would like thank Colin & Jeannie Stewart very much for sharing so much detailed information! It is very comforting to know that business's can thrive and grow without the use of helium on a regular basis. I know that this is just the start of many great blogs with ideas, suggestion, tips and hints on how to create great decor using only air-filled balloons!

If you have any ideas and suggestions on how you are working on a regular basis without helium and are happy to share these, please contact me sue@suebowler.com

Happy ballooning!

Sue

www.suebowler.com

*6061 is a precipitation hardening aluminium alloy, containing magnesium and silicon as its major alloying elements. Originally called "Alloy 61S" it was developed in 1935.^[1] It has good mechanical properties and exhibits good weldability. It is one of the most common alloys of aluminium for general purpose use.