I am very excited to introduce my next two contributors Bram Parola from Belgium and Jill Shortreed from South Carolina, USA. We're going to start with Bram Parola, Bram's competition experience was very different from our other contributors, his adventure did not take place in the competition room, in fact he had not planned to compete at WBC until he entered the Jam Room!
Many of us have experienced helium shortages before, and although it might seem to be majorly problematic, there are always solutions and alternative decor ideas with air-filled balloons that we can offer to our customers. But before we look at alternative decor ideas, we should first try to understand the type of helium that is generally used within the balloon industry and why helium is in short supply. Especially because this might help when speaking with customers.
Just to clarify, the 8% helium used by balloons includes weather balloons too, of which there are hundreds released twice a day world-wide.
This is an excerpt from USA Today - 10th May 2019
"A big reason for the shortage is that about 75% of all the helium comes from just three places: Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, ExxonMobil in Wyoming and the National Helium Reserve in Texas, according to gas-trade publication Gasworld.com.
In Texas, the reserves are being depleted, while at the same time overall demand for the gas has been growing."
In the U.K., a statement was released from one of the top helium suppliers, which highlighted the differences in the various types of helium, as well as the future of helium.
"It's important to be aware that there is a distinction between pure, liquid and impure, gaseous helium. Gas companies prioritise supplies of pure, liquid helium for critical medical uses e.g. MRI scanners in hospitals, ensuring that they can remain fully operational.
Helium for balloons is a different product - it is impure and gaseous and produced as a by-product of supplying liquid helium for the MRI market - a market which makes up around forty percent of the helium business in the U.K. Impure, gaseous helium cannot be used directly in medical MRI scanners or in other applications that use super-conducting magnets. Impure helium can be recovered by the customers and re-liquified if the customer has the necessary plant on site, and if not, it can still be recovered and reprocessed in the balloon market. Historically, recovery has only been viable for large users of helium, but new opportunities are constantly being reviewed and implemented with customers to help them conserve and reuse their helium.
For the future, there is still plenty of helium on our planet, with investments being made to bring various new sources on-stream in the coming years. The locations and environments of these new sources will mean the market prices for helium is expected to continue to rise, but making these investments will mean that helium will continue to be available fo many years to come. Rising prices in the market will also drive an increase in investment in the means by which customers can recover more of their own helium."
"Medical Helium is not used to inflate balloons. The helium used to inflate balloons is not pure enough for medical use. It is a by-product gathered during the production of medical grade helium. Instead of wasting this resource, it is collected and recycled. The sale of balloon gas offsets the cost of medical helium. According to an Australian Helium Gas supplier… The transportation of Liquid Helium from an ISO into a storage flask (Dewar) is a very meticulous process. Due to liquid helium’s sensitivity to warmer temperatures, the majority of the liquid helium boils off in the transfer process. Instead of losing this helium, the boil off is captured in a large balloon. This lower grade helium is then recycled and compressed into smaller storage cylinders which becomes part of the balloon gas supply. If this boil off were not captured and recycled, a huge amount of helium would be lost and wasted in the process. This recycled helium is use for weather balloons, scientific purposes and balloon gas. Reductions in demand can also be experienced due to increased recycling and increasingly efficient use of helium. The helium industry reports that non-essential market segments like the balloon industry sector are experiencing shortage of supply and absorbing large price increases due to the fact that essential markets receive their supply first. The shortage is due to a number of factors that include global economic forces, political issues, rationing and unscheduled maintenance on a large helium facility. Due to these fluctuations of supply and demand, the balloon industry is decreasing its reliance on helium by increasing our use of air-filled designs. Shortage and price increases provide incentives to reduce helium consumption and the industry is evolving accordingly. We are already reducing our helium consumption by stopping balloon releases, this is environmentally and economically responsible."
While we often read in the press that party balloons should be banned to save helium reserves, in reality, if we are using balloon gas, we are using a product that has already been used for medical purposes, and we are merely using a recovered product that is no longer suitable for medical or other specialist purposes.
We may never knowing the true and accurate reason for the shortage or why it's currently so difficult to obtain. Dan Flynn, COO of Pioneer Worldwide shared his findings;
“There are mixed signals from the major helium suppliers as to the expected timeframe before the market tightness is over. Most estimates are the supply will be restricted throughout this year, though availability should increase in 2020.”
So rather than getting upset about this problem, we need to embrace it and find good alternative solutions of which there are many. Have you seen the latest on-line edition of Images Magazine? To remedy this current shortage, the entire issue features only air-filled designs and decor ideas! Click HERE for a direct link.
Here is one of the fabulous new designs by Sam Jossie, CBA, Pioneer® Balloon Company
If you use the search facility in the Balloon Decor Inspiration gallery and set the search to Air-Filled designs, you get over 600 results!
Who wouldn't love this wonderful entrance decor, designed and created by Luiz Carlos da Costa Silva, CBA, of Cenário Balões, São Paulo, Brazil.
For more inspiring ideas check out some of my older blogposts that are packed with air-filled decor designs!
I would love to hear how you are coping with the helium shortage and what alternatives you are using! Happy ballooning! Sue www.suebowler.com #suebowler
In Part 1. of 'How can I make my Balloon Business Successful and Fail-Proof' post we look at why someone might start their own balloon company and why not all balloon businesses succeed. To read this post click HERE.
In part 2. we look at the steps that you need to take that will definitely help you to get off to a good start.
1. How to run a business?
It is important to do your research before starting your business. You need to be excited and passionate about your new impending journey.
Write a Business Plan. A business plan is a written document that describes your business. It covers objectives, strategies, sales, marketing and financial forecasts.
A business plan helps you to:
clarify your business idea
spot potential problems
set out your goals
measure your progress
Register your business name, but make sure that you choose the name of your business wisely. This is one of the most important things that you will do. There are so many things that you will need to do when setting up a new business, but without a business name it will be impossible! You need a business name to:
Open a business bank account
Invoice customers
Write terms & conditions
Set up a website and social media business accounts
Order business cards
Open trade accounts
In the world of social media and SEO (search engine optimisation), choosing a name that people are likely to search for is important, as this will give you a much greater chance of appearing in search results. So start by thinking about what your customers are likely to be searching for. Obviously, having the word balloon somewhere in your business name is important and if you can include your location too, that would be a huge bonus!
Insurance Cover - You may not consider that having insurance cover is important but all businesses should have it, including home based businesses. There are a number of different insurances that a business should have:
Public & Products liability – which insures your business against third party claims for personal injury or property damage.
Professional Indemnity – covers your professional advice.
Employer's liability – provides cover for your employees (this is legally required) and If you are operating your business from a shop or store you will also require
Building and Contents insurance.
Inform HMRC or your government revenues and customs department - In the UK you need to register with the UK government (HMRC) to tell them that you’re self-employed. Check to see what your legal requirements are in your country.
Find an Accountant or Bookkeeper - It might be advisable to find an accountant who will tell you what you will need to do to ensure that you fulfil your tax obligations.
Comply with data laws - It’s not just big companies that need to know about General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR. Small businesses also have a legal responsibility to keep personal data safe and provide a clear policy on how that data will be used and why. www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation
Employing Staff - If you are employing staff there are so many other legal requirements by which you will need to abide. We strongly recommend that you look into all of those too! www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people
2. Funding and Finance
How much money do you need to start a business? You might not need much of an initial investment if you’re starting small. Things that you will need to consider:
Courses and training - learning the fundamental skills is definitely a great way to kick-start your business. Future courses will help you to develop new skills, techniques and learn industry tips and hints.
Specialist equipment – make sure you budget for any equipment or tools, balloon professionals use helium, electric balloon inflators and many other specialist tools.
Products – if you’re setting up a shop or selling your own creations, you will need to get your stock together... and this will be an on-going investment.
Once you have identified the costs involved, you should know how you’re going to fund your project. Will you use savings? Or will you ask for help with your new business start-up costs (for example, loans from friends, family, or a bank)?
Keep in mind you might be able to find grants for new businesses to help lighten the financial burden. The benefit of a small business grant rather than a loan is that you don’t usually have to pay the money back.
Be aware that it can take your business two to three years to reach profitability!
3. Marketing and Publicity
Create a Google My Business page to help get you noticed
Do competitor research – competitor analysis helps you understand the market, set your prices, and find a way to stand out.
Build a social media presence – social media is a great way to showcase your brand’s personality and tone of voice, connect with customers, and even sell your products with tools like Facebook Shops and Instagram.
Create a website with SEO – optimise your website for search engines so people can find your business and understand the products or service you offer
Send emails and newsletters – a simple and cost-effective way to keep in touch with your customers and boost sales.
Use flyers and print marketing – a tangible way to reach potential customers
Network at industry events – get to know your industry and make connections at virtual or in-person events
4. Research and Market knowledge
Market research is the process of gathering and analysing information about customer groups, competitors, the balloon industry and the general business environment. Whether a company is small or large, market research plays a vital role in decisions about what products or services to offer and how to sell them. As a small business owner, gathering market information is an ongoing process and a high priority. This will give greater confidence in the decisions you makes knowing the information is based on solid data rather than guesswork or hunches.
Assess the feasibility of a venture - does the market place need what you are offering?
Determine what customers really want - don't assume that your customers want what you think they want, do some research.
Monitor your competitors - study their advertisements, visit their websites, ask business associates about them or even visit their businesses. You should also be aware of new competitors planning to enter the market.
Identifying Opportunities - strive for continual growth and always be on the lookout for emerging opportunities, such as new products or services you could offer.
Spotting Potential Trouble Ahead - Small businesses are affected by the performance and direction of the local and national economy.
To conclude, no business is fail-proof, but learning the basics in how to start a business will definitely help you to get off to a good start. Understand who your target market is: you may want to specialise in a particular style of balloon artistry -decor versus deliveries for example, and this will have an impact on your marketing and publicity. Be aware that breaking into the corporate market takes time, great marketing and to be honest a pinch of good luck!
Here is a little more advice that I pick up from a couple of balloon professionals
Consider 'employing' a mentor in your early days, you will have so many questions and as much as you can ask these on various Facebook groups, you will probably get many different responses and still won't be any the wiser And if you don't pay them, they really aren't on the hook to help. They won't really care.
Build a strong local network quicker. I AM only 3 years in and was always friendly to a couple of local artistS, but in the last 12 - 18 months a group of 9/10 of us have formed an online chat and it’s been a GODSEND. Comparing techniques, borrowing materials, passing on customers, moans about clients; we don’t see each other as competition but as a support system. I wished I’d been part of something like this earlier on, as it’s really helpful.
If you are new to your ballooning journey, I wish you every success, and hopefully you can take some of the advice from this post to help you on your way!
2018started with what can only be described as a revolutionary new latex balloon - Qualatex® Chrome™ Balloons! A latex balloon unlike any other with a rich, shiny metallic finish that looks simply stunning!
Over the past year I have seen some fabulous designs and decor created using Chrome balloons. There are so many to choose from, but here are a few of my favourites!
Natasha Nordin, CBA of the London Balloon Boutique
Natasha Nordin, CBA, of the London Balloon Boutique, London, U.K. used 11" Chrome Gold balloons to create these fabulous balloon covered pillars. I love the precision and metallic ball-bearing effect that this decor creates.
Design by Spark's in Beirut, Lebanon.
I love this "Chrome" design by Sparks, in Beirut, Lebanon. Chrome balloons turn to "glass" when double-stuffed with a Jewel Tone balloon over the top! I re-named this balloon type as a Jewel-Chrome!
Design by Zoe Adam-Jones, Jaz Trading, Queensland, Australia.
Zoe Adam-Jones, CBA, of Jaz Trading in Queensland, Australia recently shared this beautiful organic style Chrome and greenery Christmas tree, which is absolutely stunning!
On the 24th January we saw the launch of the fabulous new on-line show Q Corner Live!Hosted by the very funny, witty, occasionally a little bit naughty but always sincere, Keith Stirman, CBA, and Dominic Cassidy, CBA. Over the past year, Keith and Dom have presented this interactive "EDU-TAINMENT" show that offers a wide variety of topics including Business and Marketing Tips, New Product Features, Question and Answer Sessions, Industry Interviews and lots more! If you have not already subscribed, click on the link to make sure that you never miss an episode! https://youtube.com/qcornershowand check back on some of their earlier shows too if you missed them the first time round!
San Diego - World Balloon Convention 2018!
Welcome Decor by Stuart Davies, CBA
From March 14-17, 2018 the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina was filled with nearly 900 ballooning delegates! Attendees travelled from far and wide from 52 different countries to enter competitions, attend many fabulous classes, and participate with building event decor as well as attend the grand events! Words cannot truly describe how fabulous this event is. It's not just a learning experience, it's probably the most energising and exciting ballooning opportunity that you will ever experience! If you don't believe me, just check out this fabulous mini documentary that follows the WBC journey of the Canadian "Twisted Team"!
Final Night Decor by Olga Baranova, CBA, and Olga Samoilova, CBA.
Design class with Luiz Carlos da Costa Silva, CBA.
The next World Balloon Convention will be held in Orlando, Florida - March 23-25 2021! You have plenty of time to save - try saving a small percentage from each of your 2019 balloon jobs towards the cost, you will be amazed at how quickly your savings will grow! Organic balloon decor still remains one of this year's top selling styles of balloon decor!
I had the opportunity to create this fabulous balloon and flower wall a few months ago for a corporate client. They loved it - and so did I! Not only was it organic, it featured beautiful shades of pastel coloured balloons which blended really well with the faux flowers. Pastel shades is another growing trend that I am sure that we will see much more of in 2019! Trending Balloons There have been some wonderful trends this year, some new, and others continue to grow from last year! What is your favourite?
Donut
Toucan
Llama
Mermaid
Flamingo
Unicorn
Balloons and the Environment This became one of the hottest topics in 2018 and something that all ballooning professionals need to be aware of. We have a number of different bodies fighting our corner and when I say fighting I really mean it! In Europe we have the European Balloon and Party Council (EBPC). And in the U.S. we have The Balloon Council (TBC). Both councils are represented by leading balloon and equipment manufacturers, gas companies and many other party related companies! Earlier this year, EBPC launched a new website - www.partysafe.eu - you will find a wealth of information related to guidance and product safety. Many of you will have heard of PEBA - the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance. PEBA is working tirelessly to represent the balloon industry. I really don't want to gloss by this topic, and will be writing a full up-date blog post in the new year. If you are unsure what EPBC, PEBA and The Balloon Council are doing to help support the balloon industry, I recommend that you check out each of their websites - I have added links to make it easy for you to find them.
And finally...
Images Magazine and Balloon Magic are going digital! From the new year, both Images Magazine and Balloon Magic will be available online and will be free! Here are a few facts!
The last print issue of Balloon Images is October/November/December 2018.
The last print issue of Balloon Magic is issue #93, which will be mailed in December 2018.
Starting in 2019, both publications will be hosted on qualatex.com.
All content will be free, but there will be exclusive content for QBN members in the Balloon Images issues.
The issues will feature valuable content for today’s digital age including: video tutorials, downloadable marketing materials, links to helpful content on other sites, and much more!
Both publications will be translated to languages currently supported on qualatex.com.
People living outside of the United States will no longer have to wait weeks or months to receive their issues because it will now be delivered to your email inbox.
Be sure to join the Qualatex email list and subscribe to the individual publication lists to receive an email as soon as the issues go live.
Qualatex will still produce a print publication that will be released annually. The first, to be called The Very Best of 2018, is planned to be available for purchase January 2019 for approximately $12 USD +shipping.
This is just a small collection of 2018 moments, I am sure that I have missed many! I am very excited to see what 2019 brings us! Happy Ballooning! Sue www.suebowler.com
#suebowler
We all know that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on overall health, jobs, businesses and the economy to name just a few. But being the ever-optimist, I personally have found a few positives during this truly unsettled and rollercoaster year.
I thought that this would be a great opportunity to ask a few of my ballooning friends from around the world if they could share one or two positive things that they have been able to bring to their business or business life as a result of the pandemic!
I will be sharing their stories over a couple of blog posts... Let's start our journey in Italy. Italy was the first European country to become overwhelmed by the pandemic and the first European country to go into a national lockdown!
"Let’s be honest here, the pandemic here in Italy, like in the rest of the world, hit us like a rock. And I am talking a mountain sized rock. We are invoicing about 10% of what we invoiced last year. Supply chain of Qualatex balloons has also been compromised because of the pandemic.
If there’s one thing that this pandemic taught me, it is that if you can’t adapt your business to a sudden change, you will not survive.
We started doing deliveries, embracing a totally new market for us. Also, we sat down and we decided to offer deliveries using only the balloons we had in stock (luckily we had huge inventory). That’s where creativity came to the rescue to fulfill every request.
We also started “not so virtual parties”. This is a virtual party with a balloon delivery to the home of the birthday child on the morning of the party to create the mood, a live director during the party and an edited video clip of the party delivered the following week to the birthday child to treasure the memories.
We requested and received special EU lost funding for completely redoing our website, to be ready when people will be vaccinated and will just want to party....
My new motto is to "never stop creating, even in dark times, light can be found in balloons."
Let's now travel to the other side of the world and ask Chris Adamo, CBA, of The Balloon Crew, Balloons Online, and BalloonPro.co in Sydney, Australia, what positives has he experienced during these difficult times?
"I would say that that a huge positive from this dreadful situation was the time to reflect and re-organise my business and business systems. Looking at the bricks and mortar retail shop we cleared out a huge amount of old stock, knocked down shelving and a giant old light box to make room for new hang cell walls and inviting more light to enter the our retail space. For weeks I felt so happy to work in such a clean and modern (comparatively!) environment. Next came our online store and website, replacing old images and content in the great spring clean of COVID 2020. We had a hard look at what products just didn't seem as profitable as we once thought: we ceased the hiring helium DIY tanks, changed our printing price structure, sold an old van and even updated our methods for the delivery of internal information such as systems and training. None of this would have been possible without two things: time and impetus to change, COVID provided both. We will come out of this leaner and more efficient than we started, and for that I am grateful.
On a personal note... to be honest, one of the most positive things has happened to my personal life, with the newly found time in the absence of the traditional business crazy hamster wheel! LOL.
I would like to share a video that Chris recently recorded with Greg Brown at BMTV where Chris shares some helpful and essential tips and tricks to improve your business' workflow! It is definitely worth watching!
Many of you will have 'met' Greg Brown as the presenter of BMTV, but Greg also wears another industry hat, as the Director of Total Party Ltd / Balloon Market / Signature Balloons based in Southampton, England. I asked Greg as a wholesaler to the balloon and party industry in the UK how the pandemic has affected his business and the positives he has seen:
"When COVID first hit we thought the worst, and expected sales to be 30% of what they are normally. We thought that weddings, celebrations, corporate events, summer fayres, etc being cancelled would destroy the industry. As we now know, our industry flourished as we were all able to adapt quickly. I think that is one of the great things of being an industry that is made up of mainly small businesses. We can pivot quickly. I think people learned to do new things from putting videos out there helping others to improving their own skills. We have all been forced to do things differently and, arguably, better.
From our point of view it has been a challenge and we have really not liked not being able to offer the service we are known for due to the combination of an increase in business and keeping everyone COVID safe. We truly appreciate everyone that has continued to buy from us. However we also have adapted with new shift patterns, new processes on the website, new processes in the warehouse, new ways of filming BMTV, and changes regarding who does what and when. We have also been able to look at new premises that we were looking at before COVID but bigger than we were initially considering. It is very exciting.
From the team point of view, I think it is the little things that have made a difference in a positive way:
We have taken on a lot more people including casual staff and it has been great to see people getting to know each other and forming new friendships. The ‘Teen Team’ as they are known have also brought a different energy to the warehouse.
The jokes our customers have started to put on their orders.
Moving the office upstairs and having a better view of outside – the office is brighter!
The extra calories burned climbing the stairs 30 times a day!
The is an appreciation for working in a company that has, thankfully, been doing well during the pandemic. People have not had to worry about redundancies."
One of Greg’s favourite sayings is “Think health, think safety”!
Here are some of the team sporting their new hi viz jackets to keep them safe when crossing the courtyard. #besafebeseen
Saying thank you is always very important, how cool are these thank you cards that Balloon Market send out with their orders!
It is amazing how resilient we have become over the past 10 months! Finding solutions, adapting, using new found time to update systems, websites and online offerings has been some of the most obvious and most important changes many companies have made to cope during these difficult months and probably most importantly remaining positive! I love Alberto's motto - "never stop creating, even in dark times light can be found in balloons."
A huge thank you to Alberto, Chris and Greg for giving us a little insight to a few of the positives that have come from such a turbulent year!
Was one your New Year's resolutions to up your game and give your balloon business a bit of a makeover? Though we are now in to February, it's definitely not too late to get started on this! So, how important is your branding? Branding is important not only because it is your first memorable impression with consumers but also because it allows your customers and clients to know what to expect from your company. Several areas should be used to develop a brand including advertising, customer service, promotional merchandise, reputation, and logo. Consistency is key to effective branding. In this quick Video Tutorial, Zoe Adams-Jones CBA from JAZ Trading shows you how to use the Branding Kit feature in Canva to help you achieve consistent branding.
I met Zoe three years ago when I attended the Australasian Balloon Convention (ABC) in Australia. At that time, Zoe was just starting her wholesale distribution business Jaz Trading. Over the past three years, Zoe has made her mark, whether it is through her continuous contributions to the balloon industry with her fabulous design skills, her generosity in sharing her extensive digital marketing knowledge, or working tirelessly to protect the balloon industry taking on the role of Director of PEBA - Pro Environment Balloon Alliance.
New Year’s Eve is such an important occasion. Expectations are high! Everyone wants it to be memorable and the "best night ever!" Venues charge top rates for people to attend a gala or party, and many charge customers to even visit a bar or club that would normally be free. So there is huge importance and responsibility on the event decorator to get it right!
Matthew Lewis, CBA, of No Ordinary Balloon Company in Coventry, United Kingdom, is very busy leading up to New Year’s Eve (NYE) and mainly offers special effects to his clients. I asked Matthew if he would share some of his top tips when planning his NYE campaign.
Outdoor Numbers by David Mahoney of Balloons Everyday, Carrollton, TX, U.S.A.
Making outdoor decor is not the easiest job. It can bring all sorts of challenges —rain, wind, dirt, heat, cold, plus many other potential obstacles. With a little care and planning, we can overcome most of these.
There have been a number of great articles written about this subject in Images magazine and on Balloon HQ. We also discussed outdoor decor as part of a Round Table session at the 2016 World Balloon Convention, with some great information and tips being shared amongst the group. I was particularly drawn to comments and advice given in an article featured some years ago on Balloon HQ by Wynn Bell, CBA. I first met Wynn and his lovely wife Lindy at International Balloon Arts Convention (IBAC) 1997. Their work was absolutely breathtaking, they subsequently went on to win a number of 1st place awards for their large sculpture entries at successive IBACs. Wynn and Lindy’s inspired designs and elegant decor are regularly featured in Images magazine, even though Wynn has since retired from the balloon industry. I also received some great advice from David Mahoney of Balloons Everyday, Carrollton, TX, U.S.A. David and his team regularly install decor outside in all weather!
I think it's safe to say, this current crisis is unlike anything that small business owners have faced in the recent past. Each day, it seems as though we just sit and wait for even more government announcements, hoping for more guidance and advice to get us through these confusing and difficult times. As we have all discovered, social distancing, while good for public health, is bad for small businesses. Many businesses have already closed their doors and those businesses that have managed to remain open, foot traffic has dropped significantly since the coronavirus outbreak, as more and more customers stay home and self-quarantine. As a result, every industry is looking for ways to hold on to their customers during the coronavirus lockdown. Here are some tips to keep your customers engaged from a distance: Communicate proactively with your customers
The situation is evolving rapidly, and no one is quite sure what news each day will bring. It is much easier for customers to empathise with businesses in crisis if said business is communicating with them properly. In the past few days I have received a number of emails and social media messages from local businesses including suppliers, pubs and restaurants, and my heart goes out to each one them. Many of them have been very inventive and are offering their services in a number of safe and responsible ways! I have found that because they have taken the time to communicate with me, I am making it my mission to try to support as many of them as I can during these turbulent times!
Keep contact with your customers and let your customers know if you’re closing your doors, changing your hours or any other steps you might be taking to keep your employees and work environment safe and clean. If your store is closing or closed, notify your customers on your social media channels, through email and on your website. If your store is staying open, describe the steps you are taking to reduce risk.
In addition to letting customers know what you are doing, give them a way to stay connected. Now is the time to step up your social media activity! Customers spending more time at home will still need to shop for things. Facilitate this need by creating direction to your online store, taking orders over social media, start a no contact pick-up and delivery service - but most importantly, ensure that you work within Government guidelines. Be prepared for more people to view your website than in previous months. Maybe it's time to make those ultra- important updates and give your website a little spring clean.
Keep communication lines open.
Now you have your customers attention, keep those invaluable communication lines open! Give regular updates of what you can offer, show designs that you have made or are making for other clients.
Ask your customers to share a testimonial or a photograph, or maybe just a few words on your Facebook page regarding the service that you are currently offering. I have seen some great stories and messages, and each one serves as a reminder of that business and what a great job they are doing to keep their customers happy and staying afloat during these extremely trying times!
Even if you have decided to temporarily cease trading you should not cease communication with your customers.
This is an extremely important time to keep your communication lines open and active. You may not be able to supply balloons at this time, but you can certainly continue to communicate. I am sure that you will have heard of #throwbackthursday (#TBT); this is a great way to share some of your past favourite jobs and decor. But instead of #TBT how about;
#mondayinspiration
#tuesdaytips
#wednesdayselfie
#fridayfavourites
I think you get the gist: every few days you can post something that will catch your customers attention in a way that will remind them that you are still there and will be back up and running as soon as you are able.
You don't need to be posting photographs every day, you could take this opportunity to create some fun and exciting posts using CANVA, a fabulous free design tool. If you are unsure how to use CANVA, I will add a link to a past blog post that shows you how!
This was a post that I created using CANVA for National Unicorn Day!
I am sure that many of you will be participating in the Q Corner Convention. The largest 100% FREE, virtual balloon convention in history! Starting Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3, 2020, 24 hours a day - 5 days. Starting at 12 am GMT, the convention will be hosted on the Q Corner YouTube channel. To subscribe to the channel click HERE
So what does this have to do with keeping in touch with your customers? This will be a great opportunity for you to let your customers know that though you cannot trade at this time, the opportunity to learn does not stop, and you are looking forward to sharing some of your newfound skills and design ideas with them soon! Maybe film yourself watching a class or strategically place your balloon pump and a few balloons near during one of the demonstration!
I took this photo when I re-created Jackie Ochitwa's Fairy design that I learned to make from her online tutorial
Take Care of yourself
Situations like this are stressful enough on their own, and managing a small business in the midst of the chaos can amplify that stress. Before you rush into action, if you are struggling with excessive stress and anxiety, look for some ways to alleviate that. I know that when you’re overwhelmed and concerned about your small business, it can seem like you don’t have time for things like self-care. But this situation is a marathon — not a sprint – and it’s important to take care of yourself throughout.
Please try to stay positive during these unprecedented and difficult times. The balloon world is a very caring community, if you need some words of support and encouragement please reach out to one of the Ballooning Facebook Groups such as the Qualatex Group.
