Q Corner Convention Additional Class Information from Balloon Coach - Joette Giardina, CBA.

Since the Q Corner Convention, a number of the featured instructors have very kindly shared additional information to further supplement their classes, including photographs, class notes and materials lists. To make it easier for everyone to find for future reference, I have documented these, along with their class video, in a series of blog posts that I will publish over the next few weeks.

Joette Giardina, CBA, Balloon Coach, from Lakeland, Florida, USA.

Class Title: Marketing with Balloons

"I was delighted when Susan Dhillon reached out to me and asked me to be a part of the QCorner online convention. It was so rewarding to see the comments come in from around the world of everyone watching the training. The topic of Marketing with balloons is more powerful than ever. I find many times as balloon businesses, we get focused on creating something new and over the top, comparing ourselves to other balloon artists from around the world, and we forget about the power of classic decor and how we can market daily with our balloons.I appreciate all the wonderful messages I got after my class and wanted to share a few extra tips to help you market in the "new normal". These are things that I have done in the weeks since Q-corner convention, during stay at home orders. Your Partner in Success."
Joette Giardina, CBA
Mentor. Motivator. Speaker.
Grow your Thriving Balloon Business

Here are the course notes that coincide with Joette's class, or for a downloadable PDF click HERE

If you missed Joette's class, just click on the video below! This video starts from the beginning of her class.





Here are some additional notes that Joette has prepared, that focus on Marketing with Balloons during Social Distancing!

Thank you Joette for sharing your knowledge and all the additional resources! I hope that everyone is enjoying all the opportunities to learn from so many industry experts! 

Happy Ballooning!

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me on Instagram @suebowler

2013 was it a good year for the balloon industry?

It is when the year is coming to a close we look back and consider how it was for us and our business's?

With many countries in recession and others in the very early stages of recovery, it is always hard to feel optimistic during these periods, however, it has also been proven that in recession people party harder, birthdays and celebrations are still extremely important and although they may not always be on a grand scale they certainly are still looking for balloons and decor to brighten up their events!

Superstition has also played a big role this year with many wedding couples opting not to get married in 2013, some business's have seen their wedding sales drop by more than 30%! 

Helium shortages has also been very challenging, but I believe that many balloon business's have adapted really well, dug deep and found great air-filled solutions, a trend that I believe will grow and grow.

To get a better overview of how 2013 has been for balloon business's around the world, I asked a few of our Qualatex Facebook Group members to help me, I will be posting their responses over the next few days.

I would like to start with Joette's Giardina of Party People Celebration Company.

Party People Celebration Company is a family run business based in Lakeland Florida. Joette  started creating balloon decor for friends, church groups and family in 2000. In December 2003, she expanded her business and became the new owner of Party People Celebration Co., a Special Event and Balloon Decorating Company.

In August 2008 Joette became a Certified Balloon Artist, an internationally recognized certification through Qualatex.

Joette Giardina, Owner Party People Celebration Company

Lakeland, Florida

    PartyPeopleCelebrationCo.com

Joette & Brian Giardina

Benefits of Business Cards as a Marketing Tool - Update

After publishing yesterdays blog 'Benefits of Business Cards as a Marketing Tool', I have received some great business cards and comments from you! There are some truly great suggestions and idea's.

I have learned so much about business cards in the past few days and how very important they are as a business marketing tool. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the contributors to this article.

David Taylor from New South Wales, Australia, says "Just wanted to add my two cents if that is OK.

1) also make sure that you have a decent quality, thick cardstock for your card. It is more expensive, but again, it adds to the professional image of your business.

2) like you I do not have any balloons on my business card. I have squares."

  

Aaron here from Singapore.

From you blog, I decides to share my name card with fellowmate ...

 

All namecard are design by myself as I want my name card to be out stand from other balloon decorator/twister/retailers...

I want a namecard that with just a simple glimpse it know what we are dealing...I them to see lots of things and know that we are in balloon business.

Colorful name card is one of the condition to capture my customers' attention...

Secondly, pictures shows a thousand words and it tell them what we are dealing.. well you get what I am saying after you see my name card...

In my name card I also states what services we are dealing so people get the idea and know who and what to look for when they going thru your name card..

name card stock is important too.. my name card is 300gsm and its think with offset printing compare to digital print and I make use all the space i have on the name card to

tell my client what I am selling...

Quality of namecard is important as it shows your status of your profession...

Aaron Chee

Creative Art Designer / Trainer

Qualatex - C.B.A

(Certified Balloon Artist)

Balloon Artist, Entertainer,

Matthew Lewis, Coventry, UK. has 2 company names offering specific services and has different business cards that clearly defines each business. This allows him to target specific markets and customers.

Hey Sue

I'm enjoying your blog -

Attached is my business card,  thought I would share -- my logo works great on my vehicles, T-shirts and banners too.

Readability is 'sooo' important...and when I go to conventions I'm 'sooo' surprised when people are still printing their own on the perforated cardstock....thanks for sharing the info you do on your blog!  That was one of the keys I hit on in Class at FLOAT last year, was letting people know when you go to Market and Network you want to have professional looking cards...

Joette Giardina, Certified Balloon Artist

Creating Memorable Celebrations http://www.partypeoplecelebrationco.com

Recent events http://www.partypeoplecc.blogspot.com 

Jolanda & Tibor - Party Bord, Netherlands,

Hi Sue,

Read you blog about presenting yourself to clients, a.o. with the

'right' business card.

Attached our business cards (of both Tibor and myself). This is a design of a few years back. As our business is not only

ballondecoration (also inflatables, bouncy castles, party goods etc.) We had to come up with a design that represents 'party', and when people think of 'party', they think about balloons and (in Holland)

flagbanners, right?

The orange flagbanners in our design are very recognizeable because of

their rigid shape. The diagonal flagbanners also 'protect' our website photo's against copying (of course clients compare prices. This way our logo is in the picture :) ).

At the bottom of the attached card is in text what we do: inflatables

- flagbanners - balloons - Helium - bouncy castles - light & sound.

We are planning to design new cards, just with balloons. Our business

is shifting towards balloon decoration (instead of inflatables, as

there are more and more rental companies rising). Also the balloon

business is where we can excel and specialize ourselves, plus: many

location managers and catering companies are not interested in

inflatables and other rental stuff.

Nina Dee's of 'Deesigns Balloon Creations' CA, USA says "Being also in graphics, I esp liked your comments on DIY business cards: a personal sore spot with me & the folks in this industry! So thanks.

Attached is a copy of my balloon business card that I am quite happy with. It relies on the marketing tenet that people like to do business with people they know, hence my photo. If they don't know me to start with, they will after looking at this a few times. And it shows a plethora of balloons which supplies plenty of color. I also use my signature font which brands all my marketing materials, and has plenty of white space so is comfortable to look at. It is printed on heavy weight gloss stock so feels substantial to the touch. 

Denisse Sanchez - Deco Inn, Puebla, shares her great business card... I love pink!

Thank you again everyone for your input, I am truly inspired by the diverse range of business cards shown here, I look forward to seeing some great business cards when I meet you at future events!

Happy Ballooning!

Sue 

www.sue Bowler.com