The Wonders of Balloon Arches for Event Design

Arches are a fantastic way to create a certain vibe or ambiance by drawing the eye and introducing colour to an event. They are particularly ideal for outdoor occasions such as sporting events, grand openings, and as indicators to signal where an event is taking place. Indoors, they are frequently used as entrance decor, intending to greet guests and setting the tone for the function. At themed parties, arches make a big splash and usually look great for backdrops and photo opportunities to create memorable moments.

Organic Style Balloon Arch by Anne McGovern, CBA of Elegant Balloons in  Pearl River, New York, USA.

Before beginning a balloon arch project, it is important to determine which style of arch to create. There are two main styles of arch when working with latex balloons: Classic and Organic. 

Classic Balloon Arch by Zoe Adam-Jones, CBA of JAZ Trading, Gold Coast. Australia

Classic Balloon Décor is typically the starting point for most decorators and balloon artists. Classic style balloon Arches are constructed using balloons that have been inflated and sized to a specific dimension These balloons are then added to an arch frame or line to create the arch. 

Classic balloon arches are a popular choice for corporate events due to their versatility and ability to suit a variety of themes and colour schemes. They are a cost-effective way to create a statement piece that are used to highlight an entrance, stage, or photo backdrop. Balloon Arches can be customised to match a company's branding and logo colours, creating a cohesive look and feel throughout the event. They are also a great way to add visual interest to a space without taking up too much floor space. Additionally, balloon arches are easy to set up and take down, making them a convenient option for event planners and organisers.

Fabulous Race Arches by Dave Saker, Balloon.co.uk

Organic décor embodies the beauty of nature through balloon styling. When different sizes of balloons are placed strategically throughout a design, an elegant and cohesive look is achieved, setting the mood for any event space.

It is important to note that organic décor isn't simply a matter of using a variety of different sized balloons. Rather, it requires intentional sizing and arrangement of balloons to create a natural flow while adhering to the principles and elements of design. This ensures that the design maintains rhythm, balance, and harmony. 

An organic balloon arch is the ideal decorative addition for weddings, birthdays, and other festive events. These arches are soft and whimsical in appearance, and they add a touch of charm to any setting. One thing is for sure, organic balloon arches create a stunning backdrop for photographs and are a popular choice for social media posts.

Organic Balloon Arch by Sarah Courtney, Belle Balloons, Melbourne, Australia

Typically, an Arch is freestanding, meaning it can be strategically placed for maximum impact. For a freestanding Arch, heavy base plates and an Arch form are necessary to secure the balloons, whether it's a Classic or Organic Arch.

A lot of balloon companies often design their own Arch frames utilising metal or plastic conduit, while the bases are made from materials like steel, concrete, or other dense substances. This process requires technical expertise to create an Arch that is user-friendly. For indoor Arches, lighter materials can be used, but safety must always be prioritised. Be mindful that in the event of an Arch collapsing and causing damage or injury, you are accountable for any harm it may have caused.

The Aeröpole System®. 

The Aeröpole system was specifically designed for the balloon professional to help them achieve the perfect Arch. The system is flexible, it will perform (move) outside in the same way a helium filled arch would,  and it is not ridged like an arch that is built on a conduit frame.

What Makes the AeroPole System Stand Out?

• The AeroPole System uses lightweight, flexible poles made of composite fiberglass to create both outdoor and indoor Arches and Columns without the need for helium.
• Different sizes can be achieved by adding or removing poles, which are so flexible that they bend dramatically in strong winds without breaking.
• The AeroPole System is the only product that can achieve this level of performance in the market.
• The base plates of the AeroPole System are 24" squared, weigh 28 pounds each, have raised feet, and a powder-coated finish that gives them a clean and professional look.
• Each base plate has a center hole for the 6" steel pin to attach, and they are stackable for outdoor jobs on windy days.
• The combination of the unique base plates and poles allows you to create various sizes and shapes of Arches and Columns ranging from 5' to 15' tall.
• This system is quick and easy to set up, and is well worth the price. By using an AeroPole System to make a 35' arch, you can save on helium costs in just 2-3 uses.

Black & Gold Embellished Balloon Arch by Avital & Nir Shechter, CBA of Balonir, Israel.

White and Coloured Embellished Balloon Arch by
Avital & Nir Shechter, CBA of Balonir, Israel.

AS a final touch enhance the look and value of your arches by adding extra details.

Mastering the basic principles of creating arches is just the beginning. Elevate your arch designs to new heights by incorporating extra details. These additional features not only enhance the appearance of your arches but also increase their perceived value to potential customers.

If you are looking to design your own special balloon Arch, whether Classic or organic style, check out this fabulous design tool from Balloonpro.co

A must have for any balloon professional, this digital design tool gives you everything you need to create and calculate balloon décor, giving picture perfect digital renders to quote and market your next sale!

This awesome tool will help you to design: Organic Balloon Décor, Arches, Columns, Duplet Square Pack, Alternate Size Pack, Linking Walls, Volume Calculators, and so much more. 

You can test out this tool for 7 days FREE! https://balloonpro.co/

To conclude:

• Balloon arches are a festive and fun way to add color and excitement to any event.
• They are perfect for creating a photo backdrop or highlighting a special area of your event space.
• Balloon arches can be customised to match your event theme or colour scheme.
• They are great for creating a grand entrance, framing a stage or dance floor, or adding visual interest to a plain wall.
• Balloon arches can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes, from simple single arches to more complex designs featuring multiple arches and layers.
• They are a cost-effective way to add a big impact to your event decor.
• Balloon arches are perfect for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, corporate events, and more.

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

Setting The Scene with Fabulous Balloon Arches.

Design by David Saker, CBA.

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!

Arches are such a fabulous way to set the scene, bringing attention and colour to an event. When used outdoors, they work fabulously well for sporting events, the opening of new stores, and to indicate where an event is happening! Indoors, they are often used for entrance decor, welcoming and greeting guests as they arrive at their function. For theme events and parties, they can create a big statement and are often used as backdrops and photo opportunities.

The great thing about Arches is that we can make them in so many different ways. Here are some great examples of balloon Arches that have been "embellished" — which is to be made more interesting by adding extra decorative detail, which is something that I love to do with my Arch designs.

"Flower Embellished Arch."
Design by Sue Bowler, CBA.

This Arch is very elegant, and perfect for formal black tie events. The pattern created by the placement of the red latex balloons creates a wavy, asymmetrical line that shows perfect rhythm and motion within the design. The use of the Qualatex^® Taper balloon flowers adds a whole new dimension to this Arch using Microfoil^®  balloons and shape, as there is a huge contrast between the roundness of the latex balloons versus the pointedness of the Tapers.

"Colourful Candy Suprise."
Designed by Cam Woody, CBA.

When I first saw this Arch it was love at first sight, and I could not wait to have the opportunity to make one myself! Making an Arch solely out of Microfoil balloons is challenging. Firstly, you need to step out of your comfort zone of the formal placing and sizing of latex balloons, much like the organic style decor we see much of today, but there is also the technical issue of securing the balloons to the frame. 

"Game-Winning Goal."

This is another version of an all Microfoil balloon Arch! Once again, this design has a huge visual impact by using a range of Stars 36", 20", and 9" Stars and the 36", 18" and 9" Soccer Ball round.

Mickey Mouse Polka Dot Arch
Designed by Cam Woody, CBA.

Who could not adore this fabulous Mickey Mouse-inspired Arch! Cam has used one of my favourite latex balloons, 11" Polka Dots to add fun and excitement to this awesome Arch! I expect you're wondering how the 3' balloon is so neatly placed in the centre of the Arch? A little bit of balloon magic, of course! 

Part 2. Sport is officially everywhere giving balloon professionals some great decor opportunities!

As a nation we are surrounded by sport, sport related activities, sporting events and global sporting occasions. 

In part 2 of this blog we continue to look at ballooning opportunities at sporting events. If you missed part 1 click HERE.

Balloon professional David Saker of Balloon.co.uk shares his experiences and some great tips.

David Saker - www.balloon.co.uk

We've worked on the World Badminton finals at the NIA for the past 4 years. Usually they go for a floating balloon arch which is walked on and off after each final.

World Badminton Final - Arch by David Saker

Part 1. Sport is officially everywhere giving balloon professionals some great decor opportunities!

As a nation we are surrounded by sport, sport related activities, sporting events and global sporting occasions. 

I asked industry professional's David Taylor and David Saker to share their personal experiences working on large sporting events. 

David Taylor - Mad Balloons, Sydney, Australia.

What could be more impressive than a 17m Arch greeting supporters as they arrive at the sports stadium!

Our first big arch was for the season opener on 15 Feb. We also did one for the A-League (soccer/football) Grand Final.  It was ordered by FFA and they wanted both teams colours in it.  

If any of the blog readers can get in touch with the World Cup organisers and present this idea to them, there is some serious dollars to be made.  Having both teams colours as team fans approach the ground is a huge plus.  

Make sure you build your arches tough though because if the wind gets up, you will want to hang onto your hats.  I have been making this type of arch for three years now and have only had one blown to pieces on an extremely windy day in September 2013. 

I use Qualatex 16” helium filled balloons in the centre, as I want maximum lift for the duration of the event.  I usually have to leave 90 minutes before gates open. Then the game starts 3 hours later – more if there is a supporters promotion on.  By the time I return to collect the arch it is usually 5+ hours since installation, and the elements can have a big impact of the ability of the arch to support itself.

My arches are 17 metres in length and just between me and you, so they are a great earner.  

Anyway,  I hope that the images and the info helps you.  Go Wallabies!!

A Little about David Taylor.

David has been successfully operating MAD Balloons in Sydney, Australia for more than 20 years, and has built the reputation as one of Sydney's best corporate balloon decor providers. With his innovative designs and a host of loyal clients, David's enthusiasm and passion for balloons has grown and maintained his company success. 

Coming soon! Part 2 of this Sporting Events blog features David Saker's experience working on the World Badminton finals and race start arches.

Happy Ballooning!

Sue

www.suebowler.com