🎃 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

International Balloon Month Features Balloon Artist - Zahraa Jawad, CBA

September marks the start of International Balloon Month, so I felt that this would be a great time to feature a few of our very talented Certified Balloon Artists (CBA's) from around the world!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Zahraa Jawad, CBA, of Forever Balloons Boutique in Beirut, Lebanon. 

I first met Zahraa at MEBAC - the Middle East Balloon Art Convention 2018 in Beirut and then again one month later at the Qualatex Balloon School in Dubai. I have always admired her style, her choice of colours and of course her meticulous attention to detail! I hope that you enjoy viewing her ballooning journey as much as I have! 

Zahraa Jawad, CBA, of Forever Balloons Boutique in Beirut, Lebanon.

Firstly, thank you to Zahraa for taking the time to talk to me and sharing her story...

How did you discover balloons?

In 2005, during college I started a part-time job with an event planner who did balloon decoration service at his shop. I was responsible for the balloon decoration part. With no clue about this business, I had a few days of training and then I picked up the basics quickly and started working, and I loved it so much! The shop had different brands that they used, Qualatex was one of them. When I saw the sapphire blue color, I knew that this brand is different, and then I started to understand the difference in qualities and how it gives different results in designs.

I only had this job for one year, then I finished my study and started a new Job within my major (Business Management and Marketing).

Let's Flamingle by Zahraa Jawad

What attracted you into running your own balloon business?

Years later, after gaining business experience, my sister, who had studied the same major and had a great experience too in marketing, and I thought that it’s about time to run our own business. We had many ideas first, and balloon business was one of the ideas that we were excited about, even though I hadn't had any practice with balloons ever since 2005. 

After evaluating all options, we thought that balloon business will be a new and unique idea to introduce in our market area, which back then was not introduced as a professional art for all occasions, it was more like a basic concept and only presented as sections within party shops. We also love arts in general, so we said that running a business that we are passionate about and happy to be doing is the best option to go for. 

Forever Balloon Boutique - Beirut, Lebanon

Can you tell me a little bit about your business?

Our business is Forever Balloons Boutique. We specialize mainly in creating deliverable and easy to transport designs, columns and table pieces for all occasions, and famous for our baby born designs.

Our shop is the first in our area to present balloons as a professional art for all occasions using only the best quality of balloons. We started in 2014 with a small shop and a little capital, and the word of mouth with the social media helped us to get better known. Everyone was talking about our balloons designs and the quality of the balloons we use, the special colors, the wide variety of foils, and how long they last! A few months later, we started to attend the workshops and classes held by Qualatex and from there we were committed to learning more and becoming professional at what we do. Thus, we got our CBA as we moved to a new and better location and larger shop where we installed our QBB (Qualatex Balloon Boutique). Now our shop is considered to be one of the top balloon shops in the country, the top one in our area and we are blessed to have a very good customer base talking to everyone about our art and sharing with us their continuous celebrations ever since they started with us.

What has been your greatest challenge?

Our greatest challenge was starting the business in an area which is not familiar with balloons as art and luxury, but considered as a cheap item to have it for kids, baby births and sometimes birthdays but not really for adults. Party shops that had balloons sections introduced the cheapest quality, with low prices, but for sure with unprofessional finishing and performance from which where we picked up our starting point for success. We were brave to introduce only the top quality with professional finish which is compared to other shops much more expensive, but most of the customers valued and admired our work and more people wanted to add balloons to their occasions. 

Another challenge we faced, as the balloons became more popular for occasions, the main wholesalers for low-quality items which operate exactly in our area introduced low-quality balloons with wide range of colors and foils so that decorators will have more room to compete, and even end customers were able to buy the balloons and check shops for inflating or decorating! We committed to our principle in introducing only the best quality, it was challenging for a while, but with time the low-quality was no longer a big competition for us.

At this time, Lebanon is facing a severe economic crisis that has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lebanese currency has lost more than 80% of its value since October 2019. Our main challenge now is that our balloons and supplies bills that paid in dollars are making the cost of each piece too high compared to what it used to be, leading to a very high selling price if based on our standard Job Cost Form.

Earth Plane - By Zahraa Jawad

How has your business coped during Covid-19 

When the lockdown started in our country, we contacted our customers and announced through our social media that we will be operating taking online orders and covering as much areas as possible to deliver. Most important, we showed customers that we are taking all safety measures during the process of creating the balloons till delivering it. We also kept posting on our pages, especially photos of customers with balloons celebrating during quarantine, this encouraged more people to get balloons for their occasions too. We mainly addressed the balloons to be the best gift for the person who lost the chance to have a big celebration, not encouraging any kind of gathering and parties. 

Mother’s Day was just around the corner, which is usually our busiest time of the year. We didn’t want to miss on it so we introduced easy to deliver, new, and affordable designs. By delivering the balloon to the mom’s door step with all safety measures taken, we had the best number of selling of all Mother’s Day before. After we re-opened our shop, we continued to push online sales, better delivery service, and took all safety measures at our shop so people felt safe shopping at our space. 

Covid-19 cost us the Baby Born occasion, which is our main income for the shop, as hospitals are not allowing balloons anymore, and since gatherings are not happening at the parents’ houses, so balloons were 90% skipped. However, I wouldn’t say that Covid-19 caused a great harm for our business because we are mainly specialized in delivery bouquets and medium to big designs, not in huge setups and big decors, so basically, we didn’t lose big parties’ contracts as we weren’t decorating these in the first place. Although we lost a huge part of the baby born celebration, birthdays celebration took its place to be the best-selling celebration at the moment at our shop. 

Mother's Day Decor by - By Zahraa Jawad

 

What advise would you give to a beginner?

Invest in learning and use only the best quality regardless of any market you will be operating in. 

Work based on a JOB COST FORM, a business is not successful without profits regardless the number of jobs or great art you do.

Be unique in what you introduce, don’t try to be someone else. 

 

Zahraa with her sister and business partner Hawraa

What qualities are important for someone to be successful in the balloon industry?

For someone to be successful in the balloon industry, they should be passionate about it. This art requires patience, hard work and love. All these should be associated with education and lots of practice, as this is the way to become a professional. A decorator who loves to work with balloons may have it as a hobby, but only a professional can be successful in this industry.

Love is in the Air - Design by Zahraa Jawad

What is your favourite design/decor that you have made?

We have many favorite designs. The Flying Hot Air Balloon is one of them, and the Baby on Moon & Cloud, also the Deco-Bubble-Table design that’s for all occasions.

 

Hot Air Balloon and Cloud Centrepiece by Zahraa Jawad

Baby Twinkle by Zahraa Jawad

What is your favourite Qualatex balloon?

The Birthday Gold & Rose Gold Ombrè 18’’ foil, Elegant Roses and Butterflies Deco-Bubble, The new Rainbow-Cloud Super Shape. We can’t pick one 😊

18" Birthday Gold & Rose Gold Ombre Microfoil Balloons
#12279

24" Deco-Bubble - Elegant Roses & Butterflies
#29718

 

32" Rainbow
#97538

I always enjoy seeing Zahraa's beautiful designs! Her attention to detail makes her designs prominent, and it is easy to see that she gives each of her designs the patience and love that they deserve. Recent catastrophic events in Lebanon has obviously caused disruption to business, but identifying new market opportunities and offering on-line sales has proved successful during these difficult months! I have really enjoyed learning more about this very talented lady!

Thank you Zahraa, and wishing you and Hawraa continued success for the future! 

Happy ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me on Instagram @suebowler

How to Create Spiral Balloon Columns - with Step-By-Step Instructional Video

Spiral Columns made with modelling balloons such as 260Q and 160Q have always been a favourite of mine. They are quick to make, always look elegant, and are a great way to decorate a pole when creating a design that uses a pole and base structure. As with all techniques, they need to be practiced to ensure that you get perfect results every time! 

Design 1. Single, one colour Spiral - This beautiful column made with all shades of green was designed and created by Eve Antonello, CBA, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA.

Shimmering Emerald Stars - Design by Eve Antonello.

Design 2. Single, double or multi-coloured spiral column. Still working with four balloons, using two or more colours brings a whole new look to this style of design! - These colourful 'Fashionable Fish' centrepiece was the crowning glory at this summer party, and brought an explosion of colour into a huge and very plain marquee tent.

Fabulous Fish Centrepieces by Sue Bowler, CBA.

3. Double Spiral Column using Eight Balloons. This design takes this technique to the next level, and is a fabulous example of Candy Strip style decor! By simply changing the colours, we can completely change the look and easily execute the effect that we want to create.

Christmas Candy Swirl Arch by
Sue Bowler, CBA.

4. Double Spiral Column with Precision Bubbles. How lovely does this effect look as a finishing touch on this baby design column! Because you're working with eight modelling balloons, and you are introducing Precision Bubbles, this technique is a little bit trickier than the others shown above, but definitely worth the extra effort! 

It's A  Girl - Baby & Moon Column by Sue Bowler, CBA.

To learn how to create this style of décor check out the video below! 

Here are some more inspiring design ideas using this technique! This video explains step-by-step how to create each of the styles of columns shown above.

Lion Tamer Pedestal

Place two of these Columns at the event entrance, or use them to draw attention to other focal areas at a circus-themed party.

Designer name: Sue Bowler, CBA, Balloon Art by Sue Bowler, Oxfordshire, UK

Got Treats?

So cute it’s scary!

Designer name: Sam Jossie, CBA, Pioneer® Balloon Company

It’s All So Magical!

The perfect decor accent for the princess on her special day!

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

Come Close Valentine!

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

If you have always wanted to know how to create this style of décor, or maybe have struggled to get the perfect, tight spirals, I hope that this post has helped!

Happy Ballooning! 

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me on Instagram @suebowler

🎀 𝐵𝒶𝒷𝒾𝑒𝓈, 𝐵𝒶𝒷𝒾𝑒𝓈, 𝐵𝒶𝒷𝒾𝑒𝓈 🎀 - Beautiful Baby Balloon Decor

September brings many exciting new things: the start of Autumn, longer nights and cooler days, schools and colleges starting their new academic year, and, perhaps most special of all, one of the most popular months for having a baby! Statistically, there are more babies born in September than any other month... mostly in northern hemisphere countries! 

With that in mind, there is no better time to start a '𝐵𝒶𝒷𝓎 𝑀𝑜𝓃𝓉𝒽' marketing campaign and use this month to promote a range of adorable baby balloon decor for Baby Showers and New Baby arrivals on websites and social media channels!  

Recently, Cam Woody, CBA, and Eve Antonella, CBA, shared some super cute baby designs on Tuesday's Happy Hour With Cam And Eve, a weekly 'LIVE' show that can be viewed at 1pm CST every Tuesday on Mr Q's Facebook Page

To learn how to make these delightful designs by Cam & Eve check out the video!

 🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

Need a little more inspiration? Here are some more fabulous designs to excite you and your customers! 

Wrapped Baby Boy - Marvin Ohmstedt, CBA, Ballons-Bremen.de, Bremen, Germany.

Celebrate a new bundle of joy with this cute gift design from Marvin Ohmstedt, CBA. Featuring the stylish Baby Boy Blue Stripes Microfoil® in both 18" (#88001) and 9" (#88489), and new 7" Chrome® Gold latex (#85111), this fully air-filled design will underscore any new baby celebration perfectly.

Did you know that, QBN members & CBA's can download instruction sheets for many of the designs featured on Qualatex.com - to download this design click HERE

                                                                  🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

If you are looking to make an eye-catching window display, how about making one of these beautiful Baby Moon designs! I first made this design for a window display for Pioneer Europe at the Spring Fair 2018. This proved to be an exceptionally,   popular design with visitors to the show. I loved working with this fabulous colour combination of Pastel Caribbean Blue (Caribbean Blue double-stuffed inside White) and the little 'pops' of Chrome Gold and confetti-filled balloons.

🅱🅰🅱🆈 🅼🅾🅾🅽

Baby Moon by Sue Bowler, CBA.

If you would like to learn how to re-create this design with full step-by-step instructions check out the video's below. 

Part 1. How to make the frame 

Part 2. How to add the balloons, sizings and finishing touches.

 🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

I absolutely love this beautiful Baby Hoop design by Esty Landman of Balance Balloons in Israel, and you can see that it uses a very similar colour palette to my own Baby Moon design. I adore all the little details and how they all work so beautifully together. Esty is a very talented balloon artist, I highly recommend that you take a peek at her other balloon work.

Qualatex^® Double Bubbles Balloons are double the fun! This adorable "Baby Blue Bear" inside a clear Bubble Balloon and with coordinating details is a definite winner! 

Design by Sue Bowler
24" Baby Blue Bear #29486
24" Baby Pink Bear #29488

Using the same "Baby Blue Bear" Double Bubble, this design uses the Bear that has been carefully removed from the Balloon!

 🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

I  love the vibrancy of this design made by Tina Giunta, CBA, of Shivoo Balloons in Melbourne, Australia.
I suppose we all expect baby designs to be pastel tones and this design is bright, bold and beautiful! I expect that's why I love it so much, it stands out from the norm! 

                                                             

                                              🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Making designs that incorporate a little balloon character is always very appealing. The characters do not need to be complicated, but the addition of little face is a  finishing touch that always makes the design stand out. Don't forget, Qualatex have printed "Face" balloons if you are not confident to make your own! 

Top Left - 5" Happy/Sad Baby Face
Top Right - 5" Sleeping Pacifier Baby Face
Bottom Left - 6" QuickLink Happy/Sad Baby Face 
Bottom Right - 6" QuickLink Sleeping Pacifier Baby Face

Baby Boy Design by Sue Bowler
18" Rachel Ellen - Baby Stroller #50253

 

🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

Baby Girl & Moon Column by Sue Bowler
35" Crescent Moon - 
Rose Gold #57857 
Metallic Gold #36530
Silver #36531
Pearl Pink 9" Heart #54593
Pearl Pink 4" Heart #27164

🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

Beautiful Baby Girl Design by Zahraa Jawad of Forever Balloons Boutique in Beirut, Lebanon.

22" Baby Girl Pink & Confetti Dots #10035
7" Chrome Gold #85111
11" Chrome Gold #58271

                                                                    🐥  🎀  🐥  🎀  🐥 

𝒫𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝐵𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓃𝓈

Personalised balloons are a fabulous addition to any balloon or design. Adding a babies name or a special message makes a balloon delivery that is much more special and unique.

Adorable Baby Delivery by Zahraa Jawad of Forever Balloons Boutique.
Zahraa combines a personalised balloon with a little baby character to make a complete design... and it's all air-filled too! 

.

Balloon design by Jacqueline Pettit of Tiffany's Balloons in Chelmsford, Essex, UK.
Jacqueline always makes beautiful personalised balloons. I always love the fonts that she chooses and her beautiful finishing touches. 
24" Deco Bubble - Baby Footprints #49459

Zahraa finds the perfect solution to add personalisation to a message balloon. She simply adds a 9" Star Microfoil™️ balloon that not only allows her to personalise her design, it also compliments the message balloon perfectly.
Yep I'm a Boy is no longer available, however it can be easily substituted for another baby Microfoil balloon... there are many lovely designs! 

I hope that you have found some inspiration from all the beautiful designs featured in this blog post! A huge thank you to Cam, Eve, Marvin, Esty, Tina, Jacqueline and Zahraa for sharing their beautiful work with The Very Best Balloon Blog.

Happy Ballooning!

Sue

www.suebowler.com

Follow me on Instagram @suebowler