358. Organically connecting | Natalie of Illiano Events
The Bright Balloon
In this episode I’m chatting with Natalie of Illiano Events and she’s dishing out tons of ideas and advice for us to network in a way that feels organic and natural. Networking is not something that comes natural to me so I was so happy to have her on and hear her ideas. Natalie shares the specific ways this approach has grown her business, the time commitment involved and so much more. She offers great advice for working your way up to commitments like the Chamber of Commerce, for example, as well as conversation starters that help you and your business get involved. I was sure to...
info_outline
356. Living the dream | Michelle and Sean of Lush Balloons
The Bright Balloon
In our final interview recorded live at The Tuftex Experience, I’m chatting with Michelle and Sean of Lush Balloons about growth, efficiency and taking care of clients. We kick off by talking about the efficiencies they’ve incorporated into their business in order to reduce their number of staff and get higher profit margins… inflation and production, material organization, limiting offers and more. Then I always have to ask how people are able to come to conferences while their business stays home, and Sean and Michelle share how they’ve trained their employees to handle production...
info_outline
354. Just try it! | Patricia of StickUp Artistry and Design
The Bright Balloon
Get ready for some positive, infectious energy from this episode’s guest, Patricia of StickUp Artistry and Design! I had the opportunity to sit down with her live at the Tuftex Experience and she’s sharing how she believes adding some deco-twisted elements in your decor can really impress your clients and make you stand out in a crowded market. She walks us through her decision-making process for incorporating deco-twisting into her offers and shares how there’s room for everyone’s style and preferences in the industry. She’s also a big proponent of being willing to try anything...
info_outline
352. Behind the scenes at Tuftex | Meg of Tuftex
The Bright Balloon
In this interview recorded live at the Tuftex Experience, I get to hear from Meg some of the really cool behind the scenes info about their products, the event and more. I always love how transparent Tuftex is and this interview is no different! Meg actually ran a balloon decor business of her own at one point, and you’ll hear why her other background experiences make her the right fit for her role at Tuftex. Then we chat a little bit about: Their Canadian factory How they evaluate the Tuftex Experience What it’s been liking getting into the twisting side of balloons And how some balloon...
info_outline
350. Building a million dollar business | Chris of Balloon Masters
The Bright Balloon
If you want to hear what it’s like to grow to $1M in sales, this episode is for you! I interviewed Chris of Balloon Masters at the Tuftex Experience and he’s sharing so many golden nuggets about what he and his wife Marlene did to grow their business over the last several decades. I really appreciate Chris’ generosity of all the knowledge he shares with our industry, and respect how humble he is in the process. This interview is definitely one of my favorites! We talk about: How their business started and the techniques used years ago His #1 tip for finding a location once you move your...
info_outline
348. Negotiating tips and tricks | Nikki of Violet Pineapple Balloons
The Bright Balloon
If you struggle with negotiating, or even the idea of negotiating, this episode is for you! Nikki of Violet Pineapple Balloons comes on the show to share some really helpful tips about negotiation, specifically for a rental space. We’ll hear about what she was looking for in a space, the listing price, what she’s actually paying for it and all the things to think about as part of your negotiation. I was also curious about her lease length and the strategy she shared to negotiate that was brilliant! Nikki is going to give you a whole new way to think about not just negotiation but...
info_outline
346. Decorating for Hallmark movies | Jenny of Simply Jenny Designs
The Bright Balloon
This interview was a total treat! We’ll get to hear from Jenny of Simply Jenny Designs all about her experience decorating for Hallmark movies, including how she landed the first job, what she’s learned since and what it’s like to be on set! She shares with us how quickly into running her business that she got her first movie set opportunity, the booking and decor details as well as how much air time her balloons got. We’ll also hear about the other movies she’s decorated for, as well as her latest opportunity for a movie airing this Christmas! Of course we also talk about her...
info_outline
344. Small town, big business | Tricia of Noree Events
The Bright Balloon
In this conversation, Tricia of Noree Events shares her journey of building a successful balloon decor business in a small community. She discusses the challenges and advantages of operating in a small town, the importance of community support and the strategies she employs to network and grow her business. She emphasizes the significance of personal connections, the role of local businesses in fostering a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and the importance of staying true to herself. Before we wrap up Tricia shares her business expansion goals with us as well. I find her...
info_outline
342. Shiny object syndrome
The Bright Balloon
In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact steps I take to help determine whether my constant business ideas are worth pursuing. I’ll share some of the most recent things I’ve considered, what I almost immediately scrapped and what is still a possibility. I’m talking about: Gut checks on passion and ease Profitability Time, energy and bandwidth Business compatibility Then I’ll share a few actual tactics I use if an idea passes all of those marks: soft launching, asking fellow balloon artists to borrow content and getting insight from industry contacts. I...
info_outline
340. Balloons as fine art | DJ of Balloons in Bold
The Bright Balloon
We’re excited to have Kalisan curating another month of episodes for us, and to kick things off this time is DJ of Balloons in Bold. He is a fine artist who uses balloons as his medium, so it was cool to get yet another take on balloons as a form of art! He had worked as a balloon twister before turning to fine art as a form of emotional expression. Little did he know how much it would take off and get noticed in the way it did. Before he knew it he was the feature of a gallery show and by using a medium that is usually associated with fun and joy to display darker imagery, it really grabbed...
info_outlineI knew nothing about business credit before this interview, so if you’re in the same boat - listen in on how you can essentially grow your business using other people’s money! Sheila and I also talk about retail, multiple locations, growth, advertising classic decor and so much more.
I’ve met Sheila at Balloon Boss Summit but haven’t been able to attend any of her sessions so I was thrilled to finally have her on the podcast. Hear about how she was inspired to start her business, how quickly it expanded and some of the things that she and The Balloon Squad are exploring now after so much growth.
Then she practically knocks my socks off when she shares how her balloon subscription program works!
We wrap up by talking about the business credit and you’ll hear why she considers it “good debt”, the cute story that introduced her to the idea, how utilizing business credit is a part of her everyday life and what it’s allowed her to introduce at her Columbia, SC, headquarters… The Business Bestie Retreat!
And in the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip for building community over competition.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Presenting sponsor: 17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)
theballoonsquad.com | businesssuccesssquad.com | Business Success Squad Community
Other sponsors & resources:
Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)
2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner
UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)
Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514
Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit
- - - -
50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list