Top Tips when working with Helium-Filled Latex Balloons

Whether they are featured in an arrangement or tied to a single strand of ribbon, few things inspire more joy than a helium-filled latex balloon! To give your customers the most value, here are four essential tips on keeping your balloons—and profits—afloat.

1. Storage

The first step to ensure long float times for latex balloons is proper storage. Qualatex® latex balloons are 100% biodegradable, and so temperature and light have a major effect on the quality of latex balloons. Because of this it’s important to protect them from the elements until they need to be inflated. 

Many balloon stores use storage jars to contain and display latex balloons. 

 If using clear jars ensure that they are kept out of direct sunlight.

Avoid exposing your balloons to extreme heat and cold. Storing your uninflated balloons at moderate temperatures will maximise their lifespan. If stored properly, an uninflated latex balloon has a shelf life of approximately one year. Light also contributes to the degradation of latex balloons. Store your uninflated balloons in airtight, opaque containers for optimal protection. Not only does this protect your balloons against light, it allows you to clearly label and organise your product.

Sunlight will also cause your balloons to quickly lose their shine, so be sure to work away from windows when inflating latex balloons. Both heat and light contribute to the process of oxidation, which creates a cloudy appearance on the outside of latex balloons. While this is a natural step in the process of a balloon’s biodegradation, the effects of oxidation can be minimised by covering balloons with a plastic bag, especially if they will be exposed for a long period of time or if decor is done in advance. 

Latex balloons can also be protected with Balloon Shine™or Hi-Shine when they are applied to the exterior of an inflated balloon. Both of these products help prevent oxidation and add long-lasting sparkle to your decor. Balloon Shine is applied with a glove and wiped over the surface of the balloon, whereas Hi-Shine is applied using a spray. 

2. Inflate and Regulate

By inflating latex balloons correctly, you will maximise float times and provide customers with a more aesthetically pleasing product. When inflating a round latex balloon. It is important to fill it until a teardrop shape is achieved.

•Overinflating balloons adds stress and opens the pores of the latex so helium escapes faster. •Underinflating balloons reduces their float time because there is less helium to lift the balloon’s weight.

•The use of a sizing template, such as the Qualatex ProSizer Templates, is helpful for inflating balloons fully and uniformly. 

3. Be Wary of Weather

Proper storage and inflation are only half the battle. A standard 11" Qualatex latex balloo inflated with helium floats between 18 to 24 hours. However, even properly inflated balloons can have different flying times depending on weather and altitude. Heat causes helium to expand, and cold causes it to contract. Expect balloons to expand when moved from an air-conditioned room into a warmer environment. Likewise, helium-filled balloons may appear half-full and not float when moved into much cooler temperatures. When moving balloons from a cool environment to a warmer one, a general rule is to slightly underinflate the balloons. After moving them to warmer conditions, balloons will typically expand back to their ideal size. Air becomes lighter as elevation increases, so the amount of lift you can expect from helium-filled balloons will be reduced. Because of this, larger balloons are recommended when inflating for higher elevations. Conduct your own tests in different circumstances and altitudes to determine typical float times. 

4. Maximise Floating Time

So what is HI-FLOAT?

HI-FLOAT® balloon treatment is a solution of a plastic material dissolved in water. It forms a coating inside latex balloons that greatly reduces the helium or air loss. 

With ULTRA HI-FLOAT, latex balloons can be prepared a day ahead of time, and balloon bouquets will float for several days.

Helium-filled latex balloons float 25 times longer on average with ULTRA HI-FLOAT, and air-filled latex balloons maintain full size for over one month with ULTRA HI-FLOAT.

HI-FLOAT is very safe. It is non-toxic, non-irritating, noncorrosive, nonflammable and biodegradable. It is similar to the glue on the back of postage stamps.

Average Floating times with and without HI-FLOAT

Float Times                      Helium Only                 Helium and Hi-FLOAT

11” / 28 cm latex                    1 Day                                 1- 4 weeks

16” / 41 cm latex                    1 ½ Days                         3 - 7 weeks

36” / 90 cm latex                    3 - 5 Days                         6 - 20 weeks

It's easy to see why a professional decorator would use HI-Float in all their helium-filled latex balloons!

Follow these balloon care tips, and you will greatly increase the performance of your Qualatex balloons as well as your customers satisfaction!

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me @suebowler

What do you know about Communions? Here are some Creative Ideas and "Top Tips" for the Communion Season!

Anne Cahill-McGovern, created this beautiful
Communion centrepiece design using the
22" Elegant Greenery Deco Bubble with the
11" First Communion inside.

First Communion is seen as one of the holiest and most important occasions in a Roman Catholic's life. It is the first time that a person receives the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which is the eating of consecrated bread and drinking of consecrated wine.
When a child experiences their First Holy Communion, it’s a major moment for themselves as well as their families. Like their Baptism, the day of First Communion is one that is filled with family, friends, and feasting after the sacred event has taken place.

Girls typically are adorned to look like little brides, wearing white gowns and veils, while boys wear their Sunday best or new suits and ties bought for the occasion.

Communion season is fast approaching, and as someone who knows very little about this very special occasion, I would like to know more! I'm curious about how communion celebrations vary from country to country, as well as how important the communion season is for trade within the balloon industry? 

My Angel's First Communion

Simple yet elegant, this beautiful design is perfect to celebrate any first communion.

Luc Bertrand, CBA, wAw Balloons in Vichte, Belgium

These adorable 14" Angel Boy and Angel Girls make a great addition to a Communion Centrepiece or arrangement.

I got some different perspectives from industry professionals, Luc Bertrand, CBA of WAW Balloons, Belgium, Tania Torre, CBA of Balloon Express Shop, Terme Vigliatore, Italy, and Anne Cahill McGovern,CBA of Elegant Balloons, Pearl River, New York, USA. It is clear why this celebration is a very important time for some balloon companies.

How important is a child’s first communion in your country?

Luc 

"It is extremely important in the Flemish area but somehow a bit less in the French-speaking part of Belgium. Not only First Communion, but Confirmation would be as important. As for balloons, we will sell for both occasions; albeit that the demand might be different. Then there would be the non-Christians - they want to throw in a party for their kids as well and call it something that can be translated into 'spring-party'.

Tania 

"For us in Italy, it is the most important religious event after the christening."

Anne

 "Communions are very important here in the US. It is a short period - 6 weeks starting the week after Easter. Over the years it has gotten a little crazy - little girls get their hair and nails done, and a top of the range dress can cost in excess of $500.00!  While communions don't tend to have the biggest budgets, they are very important to us and we have done very well over the years marketing to this area."

Communion designs can be totally on-trend with these beautiful
18" Golden Cross and Greenery Microfoil balloons and paired with the
11" First Communion Cross.

Beautiful Table Arrangement by Anne Cahill-McGovern

Can you describe a 'typical' communion celebration?

Luc

"Obviously there will be a celebration in church. This should be the most important moment of the day, but parents see the little kids dress, the party afterwards and the impression they will leave as more important. We call these parties 'the little weddings'.

Nowadays some priests try to boycott the party by having the celebration in church at a time that makes it impossible to organize a full party afterwards.

The party could be at home, a table in a restaurant or renting a whole venue. It all depends on how many guests are invited.

Tania

"The religious ceremony is in church; the party is celebrated in a restaurant with relatives and closest friends."

Anne

"Some people have parties at home but all the venues in my area are completely booked out nearly every weekend during communion season, except maybe Memorial Day weekend which seems to be the slower weekend for communions."

Happy Communion Flower
First communion in any language is a big deal for any little girl! And what better way to show it than with flowers!
 Luc Bertrand, CBA, wAw Balloons in Vichte, Belgium

How important is the communion season for your business?

Luc 

"This is the moment with the biggest sales of the year. From early in the morning we inflate so many balloons that we can barely see the ceiling of the shop any more! We have recently installed three large corral nets to help us to manage the orders better "

Tania

"For us, it's the most important event after the marriage and eighteenth birthday, especially if we consider that it is concentrated in one month only." 

Anne 

"Communion Season has always been a very important time for our business. We sometimes have as many as 20-30 communions added onto our regular schedule (bar mitzvahs, birthdays etc.) We know it is a short period and try to take as many as possible to make as much money as possible since the summers tend to be slower for us."

Here are some top tips to make communion season a success for your business.

Give your service plenty of promotion.

• Start your marketing campaign early, as most parties will already be in the planning stages.
• Find and join local Facebook Groups and Town pages in which you can promote your business. Many of these have a specific day that they allow local businesses to advertise, so check with the group admins.
• Visit your local Catholic Churches, see if you can leave some printed literature with photographs of your work that could be offered to families, or maybe offer a special discount Remember CANVA is a fantastic tool for creating professional looking printed literature.

Keep your designs simple and easy to transport

• Many of the parties will be relatively simple affairs that will just require bunches of helium-filled balloons to decorate a room or hall. Keeping your designs simple will enable you to sell multiple arrangements with ease.
• Make sure that you have ready to go - "Cash and Carry" designs available on the day. 

Show what you want to sell

• It is always a good idea to have a selection of designs to offer to clients. This is a great way to test your market and establish what customers are prepared to spend. Take a good photograph of each design to give you the opportunity to promote them in a professional way.

Offer a variety of decor to allow for different budgets.

• Everyone is different, so we should ensure that we cater to the variety of tastes and trends. When you look a Pinterest and Instagram, you will see balloon decor can that varies from organic style decor to balloon bouquets. Some people still want a religious element to their child's event, whereas others have moved to more trending decor.

Use air-filled designs and Deco Bubbles

• Communion season is notoriously busy yet short. To maximise sales opportunities, make sure that you offer decor that can be prepared well in advance. 

A big thank you to Luc, Tania and Anne for their input and the invaluable tips!

Happy Ballooning!


Sue
www.suebowler.com
Follow me on Instagram @suebowler