💀👻🎃 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓻 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽... 𝓗𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰! 🎃👻💀

You might think that I am a little early with the Halloween vibes, but being prepared for the next big occasion or holiday is paramount to a business's success!

Many of the usual traditions of Halloween were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic! With restrictions being lifted in many countries, for some of us, it will be business as usual for lots of us. There is no better time to start marketing than now!

The one thing that we can all do, with or without restrictions is to promote different options for customers wishing to decorate their homes. 

Balloon Wreaths - great for both indoor and outdoor decor

A wreath always says "WELCOME" no matter the occasion. In modern times, Christmas and holiday wreaths represent the festivity of the holidays; a welcoming sign to adorn a doorway in the spirit of the season.

Here are a few examples of creative balloon wreaths.

Just Hangin' With the Gang!

A design that’s both cute and creepy!

Designer name: Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Boo-Y!

This Halloween wreath is versatile and adorable!

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

Baubles, Balloons and Spiders
Designer name: Sue Bowler, CBA, Balloon Art by Sue Bowler, 
Henley On Thames, Oxon, England

Fabulous Halloween Door Decor that are not wreaths

Of course, there are many other creative alternatives to decorating a door other than wreaths. These door sign displays are a spook-tacular spectacle!

A Little Bit of "Boo!"

Welcome your guests with this charmingly spooky door display.

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

Happy Halloweenie!

"Who let the dogs out?!"

Designer name: Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Go Big or Gourd Home

Smiling Jacks welcome your Halloween guests with this door display.

Let's Get noticed!

Here are some fun Halloween marketing ideas.

• Dress up your store. You don't have to sell costumes to deck out your store for Halloween. If you don't have a shop or store, your website and social media pages are your 'store window'
• Update your website to get in the spirit. Don't forget to "dress up" your social media presence, too!
• Halloween-ize your products and the text in your posts!
• Offer specials or deals - try offering early bird deals!

How about changing your Facebook banner? Changing your banner to reflect the next season or holiday is a great way to get noticed! Qualatex has some really fun banners, some like this one are animated, great for catching attention! Here is a direct link to the banners - https://pioneerballooncompany.widencollective.com/c/b6ulvwws

Social Media Ready-Prepared Posts! 

Finding inspiration to create fun and effective social media posts is sometimes challenging! If you are in need of a kick-start, Qualatex has some excellent pre-prepared posts that are ready to go, or you can edit them to add in your own message and company details. I recommend using CANVA to create your own edits; it's free and super easy to use! Click HERE to see all the available posts - free to use, just simply download!

As we know, all social media posts require a good hashtag or two to make them even more effective! 

TOP 10 HALLOWEEN HASHTAGS

Best halloween hashtags popular on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr:

#halloween - 63%

#spooky - 5%

#horror - 5%

#october - 4%

#art - 3%

#halloweencostume - 3%

#halloweenmakeup - 3%

#pumpkin - 3%

#spookyseason - 3%

#happyhalloween - 3%

So, this is just the start of the Halloween season, so we have weeks to prepare ourselves and make it our best Halloween yet! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

It's Almost Halloween - Here are Some Last Minute, Fun Ideas that You Can Share With Your Customers

Promoting balloons and balloon decor may seem to be the obvious choice of content for your social media page. But when it comes to engaging with your followers, it is important to share a variety of different posts to keep your audience interested and entertained by the things that you are sharing with them.

With only a few days to Halloween, this would be the perfect time to post a daily Halloween idea/suggestion, or a fun Halloween related quote or jokes.

Here are some ideas plus a little text that you can use along with your posts! 

"Children love to cook! This is the perfect opportunity to create some fabulous Halloween cakes and cookies - cooking with kids can be fun and enjoyable for both the children and adults. Your children will get the joy of creating fun bakes and the pleasure of eating them too, all while you create lasting memories that your children may treasure forever."

"We know how much children love to play games, so why not organise some fun Halloween themed activities!"

"Get your children crafting and having fun - create crafting stations where they can let their imaginations run wild"

" Don't forget to decorate your homes, both inside and out and create lots of excitement for all the children (and adults) in your neighbourhood"

"Halloween is definitely not cancelled this year, but it 

will be a little bit different - let's make it memorable for all the right reasons!"

Wishing you all a safe & happy Halloween! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

🎃 Will ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟 be Cancelled in 2020?

 

There has been much talk in the press regarding whether or not Halloween or other favourite activities such as Trick or Treating and Halloween parties and events, will be cancelled. All this discussion is due to the current pandemic, and the fear of not being able to do this safely.

But just because we need to remain socially distanced this year doesn't mean Halloween is cancelled — it just means we need to consider creative and safe Halloween ideas.

As balloon professionals, I think we can definitely create some Halloween fun with exciting ballooning and gift ideas. 

So what can we offer? After a little research, I discovered a relatively new idea called Ghosting, or Boo-ing, and thought it could be an exciting new Halloween opportunity that we could promote and market to our customers. For those of you who are new to this tradition, I have added an explanation below.

18" Emoticon Ghost
#58153

Ghosting a.k.a Boo-ing? 

Ghosting is a popular Halloween tradition in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and several other countries.

Depending on your location, this relatively new custom may be called "Ghosting," or "Boo-ing", but the concept is the same. Ghosting is a fun way to spread the Halloween spirit amongst friends and neighbours - Covid safely! 

Ghosting can begin any time in October, but the first or second week of the month is usually the best, as it allows sufficient time for the entire neighborhood to be "ghosted". Typically, you will need to "ghost" two people or families. You can do this with the following items:

- Two Halloween goodie bags/boxes, or 18" Stuffing Balloons filled with treats!
- Two pictures of a ghost with a "We've been Boo-ed" sign.

- Two letters stating that "you've been ghosted (or booed)" with simple how-to instructions to carry on the tradition.

After you have assembled your treats, the 'We've Been Booed' notices and "You've Been Booed" letters, you should deliver them after dark to your target families by dropping one on each porch, ringing the doorbell, and run. Do not get caught as you want to remain anonymous. Also Children delivering the packages should always be accompanied by an adult.

Letter and Instructions

You can compose your own letter, along with quick instructions, or add an elaborate Halloween poem. Whatever you decide, try to make the instructions clear. Two more families will need to be ghosted (or booed) within two days in the same manner in which you've been ghosted.

Along with the "scare" kit, leave a ghost or "boo" that can be left on the door. This will "mark" the recipient, allowing others to know that they have already been hit. Below is an example you can use, with the poem and instructions combined:

Poem

"You've Been Ghosted!

Late last night, we left you a treat. The tradition is fun, one we hope you'll repeat.

Take the ghost and pin it on your door, to let others know, you need ghosted no more.

Now it's your duty to pass on the surprise, to two more families, we must advise.

Gather some treats and deliver them soon, within two nights, under the light of the moon.

Include a ghost with each package you give, along with this poem for the tradition to live."

Goodie Bags/Boxes or Balloons 

Offering ready-made, pre-bagged, Halloween Gift Bags or Boxes with an added balloon spider and balloons is the perfect 'Ghosting' or 'Booing' treat and will be an appealing alternative to your customers! As part of the package, supply the "You've been Booed" notice and poem to pass the fun on.

Hat Boxes or Gift bags can be filled with:

11" Spooky Design

• Qualatex Printed Halloween latex balloons that can be inflated by the family for home decoration
• Glow-sticks and Glow- necklaces
• Halloween Stickers
• Pumpkin Carving Kit
• Halloween Sweets - please read below if you are adding sweets or candy to your gift bags or balloons
• Qualatex Balloon Dog Skeleton balloon
• And many other Halloween merchandise items.

14" Air-Filled Balloon Dog Skeleton
#14978

Here is a very informative and helpful article from Sonia Payne of Balloon Biz Academy regarding selling sweets and treats, even if they are pre-bought and prepackaged - I have also attached a link for further reading.

If you are thinking of adding sweets to your balloon designs, you MUST READ THIS FIRST!

Regulations around the storage and handling of food items including sweets (candy) vary depending on where you are in the world, but most countries have stringent regulations to prevent outbreaks of food poisoning.

Here in the UK, the laws are VERY strict, even if you are using pre-bought and pre-packaged sweets. You are still required to register with your local authority, and there are rules you need to follow regarding labelling, packaging and storage of sweets.

Thinking of Adding Sweets, and Drinks To Your Balloon Designs – Make Sure You Read This First!

Another great idea for Halloween - Doorstep Decor

Doorstep decor is a great way to show neighbours and passerby that Halloween is still being celebrated this year! Similar to Yard or Garden Art, why not offer balloon designs for outside?

These Golden Skull Balloon Columns make the perfect Doorstep Decor 

Remember that balloons react to cold weather, even air-filled foil balloons will shrink a little in the cold, so make sure that you prepare the balloons in a cooler rather than warmer environment. And if it is windy, make sure that the decor is very well secured so that it cannot fall over or blow away.

How about making a "Fangfully Frightful!" Balloon Tree with hanging "Glitzy & Glam Bats"

Designed and made by Cam Woody, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA

Don't forget to take advantage of these charming Happy Halloween Social Media Qualatex Lifestyle Images - available to download from Qualatex Marketing Materials  on the Qualatex website. These appealing lifestyle images are ideal for your marketing campaigns and great for Instagram and Facebook posts! 

This is the perfect time to get started with your Halloween promotions and marketing. Remember, if you are adding sweets and candies to your designs this year, ensure that you have followed all the regulations required to do this - check out Sonia's blog post link above.

This year Halloween might be more challenging than previous years, but it is our challenge as balloon professionals and small business owners to find a feasible solution and ensure that Halloween is definitely NOT cancelled! 

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me on Instagram @suebowler