Who's your Balloon Industry Hero? Part 1

Heroes and inspirers! Part 1

Whether a hero or an inspirer, I would suggest that most of us can name at least one person who has given us the urge to do what we do today, In fact, I would like you now to stop reading for just one moment, and consider who might be your ‘hero’ and why? Can you think who it is?

If you would like to be part of this blog why not add your hero at the end by simply using the comment section, I would love to hear who your hero is and why...

Decor Fusion Tour March 2013 - Thank you Australia!

Deco Fusion Tour 

 Sydney Wednesday 6th - Perth Sunday 10th - Brisbane Wednesday 13th & Melbourne Sunday 17th March 2013.

Wow, after months of preparing and planning, my trip to Australia has already happened and I am now back in the UK preparing for my next trip away!


Visiting Australia always leaves me filled with great memories and this trip was no exception!

Firstly, I would like to start by thanking the awesome Qualatex Australia Team, who worked so hard to make the tour possible! Bruce & Rachelle Fraser and the very lovely Karli Hose, who work very hard to prepared everything to make my life so much easier:)

 The super organised Kari Hose - Qualatex Australia

Babies Babies Babies!

Whether a new baby or a baby shower, there are many opportunities to create exciting balloon decor and designs for this very special event! 

Rachel Ellen Baby Boy Stroller - 50253

Design based on a Rachel Ellen balloon by Sue Bowler CBA.

Did you know that the custom of buying gifts for new parents goes back as far as the Ancient Egyptians and Romans!

The purpose of a baby shower is to ‘shower’ the mother-to-be with advice, support and gifts and is usually hosted by family or close friends.

Marketing on a Shoestring - Part 2 Targeting Opportunities

Targeting Opportunities

In my last shoestring marketing ideas article (Part 1) we looked at how to create flyers with tear off vouchers offering a free balloon or incentive with a first order! This is a great way to get customers either through your store door or to call your business. 

We can make the flyers target specific by creating posters for big seasonal dates such as Valentines and Mother’s day or we can make them more general and target certain groups such as people with babies & young children. How you design your posters and where you leave them will be the key to your success! It has been suggested that gyms and sports clubs are a great place to find new customers, milestone birthdays and wedding designs could be how you approach this market? Remember, your marketing efforts may also lead to bigger and greater enquires, so it would not hurt to state that you offer a full decorating service too! 

Use your flyers wisely and show a few key designs that will appeal to the market that your are targeting! 

Do not be afraid to add prices to the designs that you are showing, lets face it, would you ever go to a restaurant or a shop that does not show any prices? It is an automatic reaction, if there are no prices shown, it must mean that it is too expensive or that we cannot afford it!

Now it’s time to look at some other marketing ideas!

Ninja Turtles Down Under... awesome balloon sculptures!

Last week I arrived in Sydney, Australia for the start of my Deco Fusion Tour with Qualatex Australia! 

I was not the only person busy working with Qualatex balloons, Matt Falloon and a group of talented artists were busy building 'Ninja Turtles' at Darling Harbour.

I asked Matt if he would tell me a little bit about his amazing project...

The Turtles:

The Ninja Turtles came about because of another balloon twister friend of mine being unable to take a job of this level due to full time work. He graciously passed it on to me.

I tapped into the loose network that had been set up in Sydney of balloon artists, Face painters, clowns, magicians, and some who are all of the above, and asked them to be involved.

I had a great response! I ended up with a team of about thirteen twisters, all of varying skill levels, from all over Sydney and the Central coast, all of which had volunteered with no thought of payment. (There was a modest payment allocated in a very tight budget).

Sweet trends... this years pretty pastel colours!

Spring is about to burst through for many of us in the northern hemisphere... and I think that we have all had enough of the snow and cold cold days!

On opening my monthly (women's) magazine I was excited to see such a stunning collection of fashion ideas for the Spring that reminded me of 'sugared almonds', a beautiful array of pretty pastel shades!

So, I flicked open my NEW Qualatex catalogue and selected the balloons colours that reflected the same stunning shades! And look at how beautifully they blend together! 

NEW Caribbean Blue

Pearl Mint Green

Pearl Peach

Ivory

Pearl Lemon Chiffon

Pearl Pink

Pearl Lavender

Shoestring Marketing - Tear Off Fliers

Over the next few weeks, I thought that it would be good to look at some different marketing ideas on a 'shoestring'! Rather than create one long blog, I have decided to post each idea in bite size pieces, so that you can take each one and see if they will work for you and your business!

Tear- Off Fliers

Here's a great but simple marketing idea, create your own 'Tear-off Flyer'.

 Let's looks at the pro's...

• You can target your advertising campaign. The flier that I have created as an example could be taken to play groups, school nurseries, libraries, or community halls and church groups where play groups meet and hopefully all with a noticeboard! All you need to do is some research as it's your local market that you are targeting!