Balloon Business Magazine: Issue 2

The

Issue 2 October 2022

Balloon Business Magazine

o Th T k e c

Ba

BASICS

AVIATOR BALLOONS

What's Inside?

Personal Development What kind of artist are you?

Operations 5 reasons you need a CRM Branding Top 5 things you need n your website Booking the client Booking corporate clients Q & A Trends A Hocus Pocus inspired styled shoot

Get very, very good at very,very little

Branding Take better photos of your garlands Balloon Mentor Spotlight Renee Kristina with Aviator Balloons Rising Star Finn Thompson on having fun in the business.

Color Theory A Lesson on color with Aviator Ballons Money Saving for Retirement as an entrepreneur

What's Inside?

BOOK CORPORATE CLIENTS

Editor Aisha Marie Experts Renee Kristina Katie Costa Bre and Chris ( Basify) Maurice Jones

Contributing Writers Jessica Rivera

Email The Editor balloonbusinessmentor@gmail.com

n Business o o Ma l l a g B ine az

Issue 2 is all about getting back to the basics. Like so many of you, I started my balloon career searching the internet for good information on where and how to start. We've provided so much guidance in these articles. Fros lessons on color theory, to retirement savings advice, this issue is sure to help get you going in your balloon business the right way.

Aisha Marie Balloon Business Mentor

THE BRIGHT BALLOON NEW EPISODE EVERY TUESDAY

Get very, very good at very,very little

Why you aren't as "good" as those other artists

by Aisha Marie

If you're comparing yourself to other balloon artists and feeling like you'll never be as good as them, it's not because you aren't as talented.

You simply don't know what kind of artist you are.

Personal Development

Identify The Problem A few weeks ago, I tuned into my favorite weekly podcast. Sara Meyer of the Bright Balloon Podcast released an episode in which she reviewed a book for her Patreon book club. They were reading The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Micholowitz. The premise was "focus on growing your big pumpkins and cut the small pumpkins off the vine." To put it in words, we balloon artists understand: Stop trying to be everything to everybody and focus on what you're already good at.

But I'm good at so many things! I make garlands, luxury marquee letters, arches, and helium bunches. I do baby showers, corporate events, children's events, blah, blah, blah.

Often, entrepreneurs think going wider with their product offerings will attract a larger audience and make more money. It's a lie.

We've all heard that classic saying: "If you are known for everything, you'll be remembered for nothing."

So what is the solution?

Micholowitz suggests getting "very, very good at very, very little."

The idea is simple. To be a leader in the balloon industry, you must pick an Area of Innovation (AOI) and stick to it.

Personal Development

Areas of Innovation Micholowitz describes AOI as being able to provide your clients with the fastest (convenient), better (quality), or best prices ( value). If you can determine which of these single attributes are unique and desirable about your balloon business, you'll be able to beat out your competition.

Quality In the balloon business, we'll probably describe a quality stylist as a luxury stylist.

These stylists are very detailed oriented, usually creating hand-painted designs with hundreds of custom color options.

They typically book high-end weddings or social events and work closely with event planners. A luxury stylist may have a more protracted process from booking to installation because they require multiple site visits and numerous mock-up revisions. They also may play with the sizing of balloons and texture. Ever notice those balloon designs with thousands of 5-inch balloons and tons of floral embellishments?

A luxury artist did those. (Some of our favorite Luxury Balloon artists include The Balloon King, Buttler Balloons, and Elari Events) These artists have high minimums, and rightfully so. They take significant time (not convenient) in prepping and may have fewer clients who pay higher prices.

Personal Development

Value Value Artists are in the numbers game. Their sole purpose is to save their clients money, and because of this, they may reduce balloon quality.

A value artist will also not offer custom installations or only DIY kits in their businesses because custom=higher prices. It's important to note that just because an artist may be in the money-saving game doesn't mean they aren't profitable.

Party City and Amazon, for example, sell hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of balloons yearly because they offer a unique experience to their customers who love DIY and need balloon decor for their children.

Convenience In our industry, convenience is about ease and speed during the booking process. If you're a convenient stylist, you believe automating your email responses and having an easy-to-pick balloon menu provides a better experience for your clients. You probably will profit from grab-and-go garlands and work well with schools and corporate clients. If we analyze Sara Meyers Balloon Business, Wisconson Balloon Decor, we see that she has a pre-made color chart.

This allows her clients to pick easily and for her to keep predicted colors in stock for a faster-prepping process. Sarah also believes in using a Customer Relationship Manager to automate her responses and allow clients to book quickly. Because she focuses on speed, she can charge a premium for her services.

Personal Development

Master of One One thing I'd like to make clear about AOI is that you can only be ONE. You can't be the best or fastest and give dirt-cheap prices. While you may be quick, you'll probably not have time to have the most detailed custom designs.

Take my own balloon business, for example. I specialize in corporate events. My clients are usually company event directors scrambling to get all of the details for their business party together. They are probably looking for balloon decor that matches their branding, is easy to order, and is quick (because they most likely forgot this detail in the planning process). Because I understand my client's wants and needs, I know exactly what matters to them. Don't get me wrong, my business always uses the best quality balloons on the market, and our work is stunning (if I say so myself), but I am not a luxury balloon stylist

My ideal client isn't worried about handpainted balloon detail. They don't care about color matching and double-stuffed balloons. They care about fast, large balloon decor with their brand name plastered all over it. And they certainly don't have time for multiple site visits and a back-and-forth email thread that lasts for months.

I know my clients like the back of my hand. I continuously provide good, fast, and predictable services to them that allow me to charge higher prices and get return customers.

" Commit to leading in Quality, Price, or Convenience, and make sure you pick just one to focus your attention on. Stay in the ballpark with the other two areas, but never, ever, compromise your Area of Innovation to excel in all three. When you diligently and consistently work to raise the bar in your Area of Innovation, effectively competing with yourself, you stay out of your competition's reach." ( Mike Mcalowitz, The toilet Paper Entrepreneur)

Personal Development

Putting it All Together Once you discover what kind of artist you are (your AOI), you will be able to know your place in this market confidently. You won't feel it necessary to mindlessly scroll on Instagram looking at your competition and wishing you could design like them because you will understand what makes you unique.

Focus heavily on what you do best. If you're fast, become faster by automating. If you offer value, innovate to get even better prices for your customers the balloon industry has never seen before.

The Balloon Business Mentor

What's your AOI in your balloon business?

We want to hear from you! Join the conversation by posting your journey to

Join the Conversation Here

our Instagram community.

Personal Development

Check out the book in our Amazon Store Front

Read Today

Listen to episode 101 of the brigh balloon podcast for reference

Check it Out

Automate Your Business 4 Reasons You Need A CRM

Opperations

4 Reasons You Need A CRM It’s what you’ve always dreamed of. You started your own balloon business. You have no boss. You ARE the boss. You are the C-E-Oh my God, no one told you there would be so much admin work! Reality check.

Running your own business is hard.

Along with being the CEO, you’re also the accountant, marketing manager, creative director, executive assistant and many more titles. If you don’t do it, it doesn’t get done.

If you need help with the day to day, HoneyBook (a customer relationship manager) has the tools you need to get everything done.

HoneyBook is a smart business management system that helps independent small business owners simplify their process and grow their business.

With tools like lead management, contract and invoice templates, client communications and online payments, you can provide a professional client experience that showcases your brand so you stand out every time.

Operations

4 Reasons You Need A CRM 1

2

Automates and streamlines business Save time and scale your business without losing the personal touch.

I’ve used automation tools to take repetitive steps off my plate but get to keep control where I want to step in.

Be more efficient and stay organized Stop switching tools for every task! I can manage all of my important documents, payments and client communication in HoneyBook.

3

Focus on ideal clients Personalized brochures based on the type of event the client will be having are automatically sent which allows the customer to only see options applicable to their needs and budget.

4

Showcase Your Brand HoneyBook lets me put my brand first. I can showcase what makes my business unique in every client interaction, which helps me stand out and connect with clients.

Operations

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Top 5 things you NEED on your website

Branding

Top 5 things you NEED on your website Brandin is a visual way to connect with your desired customers. From logos, colors, fonts, illustrations, and more, branding is the brands "uniform" that makes them unique.

Primary Font Secondary Font What does branding have to do with my website?

I don't have branding or a website. where do I start?

Your branding assets are what is applied to your website to obtain your OWN space on the internet without the influence of social trends algorithms or followers. Your website is YOUR SPACE to express your valies and goals as a brand.

Canva! Establish a logo (they have templates) colors, fonts and some icons or clip art you want associated with your brand.

Create a landing page in canva that is a stand-alone page that a person "lands" on after clicking through your ads or social media. (think LINK IN BIO) Branding

1. Quality Good Quality images of your products are necessary. You don't need an expensive camera. Use your iPhone with bright natural lighting or a ring light.

2. Location Service based businesses should be very specific about the area they are servicing. Use local keywords and try to think of words your customers would be searching for on google

3. Call to Action Tell the user to take a specific action.

Order now, Book now, Hire us. Place theses in several key locations on your landing page.

4. Testimonials Social proof is important. place an area toward the bottom of your landing page where you can show off how your past customers rave about your work. If a potential client hasn't been convinced to book you by your photos, they will be now.

5. Mobile Friendly Let's be honest. When was the last time you searched for a website on your computer? Making sure your landing page looks good on a phone or tablet will enhance your user experience and convince them to purchase your services faster.

We Get it, Websites can be overwhelming.

So we did the hard work for you!

We've created an easy to edit, canva website template that you can host with your own domain OR with a custom domain that is free.

No design skills Needed.

Check out the following page for our Done-For-YOU Canva website options.

As someone who lives authentically and isn’t afraid of self expression, I’ve been able to cultivate this type of culture around BLYNK. This is why I attract clients and creatives who align with similar vibrations. BLYNK is a safe space to explore creativity and embrace differences, after all this is what makes us so unique. THIS is where your competitive edge lives! We want to elevate those unique qualities to help brands stand out in the market."

The Expert: Katie Costa

Branding

Done For You Balloon Business Website Templates

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BOOK CORPORATE CLIENTS

Booking The Client

BOOK CORPORATE CLIENTS

WRITTEN BY BALLOON BUSINESS MENTOR

If you're reading this article, you will likely have seen my many videos on booking high-paying corporate events. As you might know, these are some of the most profitable and, in my opinion, easiest parties to book and execute for balloon artists.

In this step-by-step guide, we will be answering all of your burning questions and dissecting my process for booking, installing, and securing returning corporate clients from start to finish.

ATTRACTING YOUR CLIENTS:

The most important tip I will share in this article is this: BE SEARCHABLE ON GOOGLE. In my balloon business, I hardly advertise my services anymore. I can do this because corporate clients are unique kinds of clients, and so you don't need to advertise because they are already looking for you.

When you consider the corporate client's needs, you'll understand that they not only already have a large budget in mind but are probably desperate for your services.

Let's consider a few factors: An event coordinator for a large (even small) business handles many moving parts. They are responsible for booking a venue, and vendors, inviting the staff, emailing updates to their superiors, and the list goes on and on. They are using someone else's money ( so budget is never an issue). And they are probably drowning in a sea of emails and stress.

Booking The Client

Opening a simple google business profile, linking your landing page ( if you don't have this, we've got you covered. Jump to the article on building a website), and using keywords specific to your local area is the only way they will find you organically.

And if you must rely on Instagram, make sure your name follows this format.

Your City, Balloons The last thing a coordinator wants is to spend hours searching for someone to do balloon decor.

So make it easy for them!

Remember, they probably have never met you before. They don't know you exist. So how do they find you? The simple answer: they look for balloon artists in their city on google.

Far too often, I see new and even experienced artists who are only present on social media. And don't get me wrong, Instagram is a great place to attract potential clients, but executives of large companies with larger pockets aren't using that platform to find you. And even if they did, do you think they would know to type your username directly to look for you?

This field and specific hashtags are the only organic searchable engine on IG and will allow someone using natural keywords to find you.

Having a good website also allows me to track my analytics. When reviewing this, besides return customers, google is my largest lead generator for corporate event clients. GET ON GOOGLE NOW!

Booking The Client

But for corporate clients, remember they don't need custom installations. Think balloon walls, arches, columns, and branding. Personalize balloons with their logos, and have a nice color chart that shows typical balloon colors, as they probably don't have colors that need to be customized.

BOOK YOUR CLIENT

I don't send emails back and forth with these clients very often. Instead, My Customer relationship manager, honey brook ( check out the article on this system), automates this process for me entirely. The name of the game is automation.

Let's dissect the customer journey once they've found me on google.

01.

02.

04.

A customer will submit an inquiry form attached to my website. Please feel free to check mine out for inspiration.

They will get an automatic response that lets them know a team member will reach out within 24 hours via phone call to go over details.

05.

03.

A brochure designed explicitly for corporate installations is also sent to the client with pricing options. In a future issue of this magazine, I will be breaking down brochure types for different events and how you can predict what a client might want before they purchase

Here is a pro tip: Never let the client wait 24 hours. The sooner you respond to them, the better. It surprises them that you dropped what you were doing to call them so quickly, and it's how I beat my competition every time. If you think back to our discussion on the Areas of Innovation, corporate clients admire fast responses and an easy process. Calling them as soon as you see their inquiry come in wins them over.

While on the call, they will have checked out your brochure and can make selections with you immediately, allowing you to book and pay right over the phone!

Remember, corporate clients value efficiency. If you make the process easy for them to understand, fast, and stress-free, you can beat out balloon artists all over the city.

Booking The Client

AFTER THE EVENT

One of the reasons I love the 07.corporate event world so much is that corporate clients always have events. If you handle your installation with enthusiasm and professionalism, it's a guarantee that you will have them for a return client multiple times.

I work with T mobile and a local real estate agency in my balloon business for large monthly parties, small get-togethers, and client celebrations every month. They always have something to celebrate.

I do a few things at every event to secure future dates.

Try to install your balloons when people are around to see: I know this could be intimidating but hear me out. People like to watch an artist at work. You're essentially giving them a live art show when installing your balloons. Other vendors or early guests usually tend to ask many questions because they aren't used to seeing our craft. Give them a show. The name of the game is being memorable.

Make friends:

Stick around after the event:

Likely, you have never met your point of contact face-to-face. Use your installation day as an excuse to get to know them. If you can connect with the person who hired you personally, they will never forget you. One of my favorite ways to connect with an event planner is this very Phrase: "Your event is beautiful. Good job planning! What other events do you have coming up?"

Make a note of their answer to you, and follow up about a month before the event date. Your client will book you again.

I started planning my installations so that an hour before the event began, I was done and able to hang out to get "photos." I mean, yes, photos are lovely, but what I was really doing was seeing whom I could talk to.

Network, Network, Network.

At my last corporate event, the manager of the sports stadium saw that I had finished early and struck up a conversation with me.

He said he had been waiting to get my information all night because he wanted us to partner with a well-known beverage company for their playoff game!

While the other vendors set up and left immediately, I was the only one left, and I shook hands with a significant potential client.

Always stay after the event and always be open to talking.

Don't carry business cards: I know this could seem taboo, but I have a method to the madness. I never carry business cards because, ultimately, they get thrown away or forgotten about in the back of some guy's wallet.

Instead, I let the person know, "I'm going digital, but I'd love to take your information and send you an email after the event is over."

Booking The Client

Don't forget the follow-up: As soon as I'm home, I send a media kit that talks about my business and my offerings, and I throw in a personalized message.

Make sure to let the person know it was nice meeting them (and please use their name) and that you can't wait to connect in the future. If you want to make this even better, offer to grab a coffee or set up a phone call so you can get to know more about their business. Sound's a lot like dating, I know. And in many cases, it is. But, follow-up is essential when securing recurring clientele in this industry.

THE BOTTOM LINE Booking corporate clients doesn't have to be complicated. When you systemize your booking process, automate your responses and reply fast, you're sure to book the job. Be confident.

SUBMIT

Your Questions

We're Here To Help Submit your questions by clicking the button below. The best questions will be feature in future issues

TRENDS

LOOKBOOK

TRENDS

TEXTURE

In 2 dimensional art, texture is the implied visual feeling of a piece.

According to thoughtco.com, "Understanding Texture in Art At its most basic, texture is defined as a tactile quality of an object's surface. It appeals to our sense of touch, which can evoke feelings of pleasure, discomfort, or familiarity."

Dandelion In her recent hocus pocus inspired styled shoot, Ashley, with BCT Balloon Co, evokes emotions of nostalgia with her use of the Green Dandelion printed balloon from her textured balloon collection. Combining this soft and sweet design with her light lavender and deep sparrow black, she provides an installation that takes us through a rollercoaster of familiar feelings and a unique spin on the classic Halloween party.

It conveys a softer, daintier, and more feminine look to this piece, whereas, in contrast, we typically see bold designs with Halloween installations. Combining textured balloons with lighter shades of classic Halloween color pallets is a trend we are not letting go of any time soon.

TRENDS

When it comes to artistry, we need options that add depth and elegance. These designer balloon lines are made from 100% biodegradable latex. The pattern texture and quality of the balloons were designed and launched to support you, your art and your success!

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Bring on the texture – BCT Balloon Co

PERFECTLY PAIRED Event Planner/styling&design : @gramercygrace Photography: @lauramollphoto Co-stylist & Hot Chocolate & Carmel Apples: @twistedforsugarnashville Custom Signage: @magicfactoryevents Balloon Brand: @bctballoonsnashville Florals: @gramercygrace Custom Backdrop: @gramercygrace

Designer team TRENDS

TRENDS Click the balloon inmage to

Shop the Look

LAVENDER

PINECONE

GREEN DANDELION

FAIRWAY

SPARROW

PISTACHIO

EDAMAME

Ceo & Owner Ashley This is me! BCT Balloons was my "side" thing that started in February of 2019. I'm also a Registered Nurse Anesthetist in Nashville, Tennessee!

Back in 2019, I never could have imagined how much BCT would grow! I loved making balloon garland's, which is what BCT's primary service was. It was in 2021, that we launched our first collection of Beckett's Designer Balloon.

It was about time that balloons became available that were built with high-quality garland designers in mind. BCT Texture & Solid Color lines are for all the artists out there who are wanting something unique to create with.

I see you, and I can't wait to see what you create!

Take Better Photos of your Balloons

Bre

Chris

Renee Kristina Aviator balloons

"Each Balloon In that Pack has a price" Renee with Aviator Balloons on being profitable, getting back to basics and color theory.

by Jessica Rivera

Interview with

Aviator Balloons

Mentor Spotlight

Full Length Interview

Mentor Spotlight

Renee is a top-tier player in the balloon industry, from her own balloon business to her eco system of classes designed for balloon artists like you.

Where it all started

B

orn in Kingston, Jamaica, Renee was a childhood performing artist. She choreographed dances, acted, sang and has sign

language as another tool in her arsenal. Before the days of Canva, Renee's mockups were hand drawn using her skills.

Her creative upbringing has shaped her experiences and has created the brand we all know today. From studying art as a child to working as a nail artist, It's no wonder why Renee excels in the Balloon Business. She considers her balloon work as "pieces of art." just another medium ( just like watercolors, acrylic, and makeup) to add to her extensive portfolio of exciting jobs and life experiences.

Additionally, her understanding of physics, ergonomics, and chemistry has allowed her to create an extremely well-rounded curriculum for her balloon classes that includes the art, longevity, and essential business knowledge.

It was actually pre-pandemic days that she walked into our favorite balloon distributor, Havin' a Party, and got her signature Balloon brand name. An authentic New York "A star is born" story, Renee's career working in aviation got the attention of the guys over at Havin' A Party, and they dubbed her "Aviator." The rest, as they say, was history.

BBM: Where are you from? Do you have a favorite childhood memory you can share with us? Did you like balloons as a child?

Renee: I was born in Kingston, Jamaica. I was a childhood performing artist. I choreographed dances, acted, sang, and sign language. I also performed on large festivals with an international superstar Frisco Kid in the 1990s. I like drawing and cartography, and teach my teddy bears as a kid. We never had a balloon industry in jamaica.

Balloons were used at birthday parties, taped onto the wall with a happy birthday sign in between.

For me, art has traveled throughout my whole life."

Mentor Spotlight

It's continuous, hardworking days. Make it worth it!"

The Teacher BBM: What is your why? Why do you continue to work so hard and push so much fantastic content?

Renee: "My why is the need as the industry grows. The more artist understands the industry is considered a luxury, the more they will value their work. I notice a lack of business comprehension, therefore, a glorification of substandards. My content ranges from awareness to informative. Bring awareness to the next and current generation of balloon artists and information on leveling up their businesses."

Aviator Balloon classes and curriculum yield results. She's seen her clients go from low sales to 4 figure jobs. No recurring accounts, to working with large corporate accounts and even celebrities. Renee believes in giving her clients variety in her classes so that she stays ahead of the competition. Let's dive deeply into Aviator Classes and why she is praised as an educator.

Mentor Spotlight

Beginner A 2-part course zoom class. Students go over the legal, taxable entity, and business credits. In addition to this, an 8-hour design course following the business setup allows for practical knowledge (expanding far beyond organic garlands) that a lot of "YouTube- university" balloons stylist miss. Truly getting back to the basics.

One crucial aspect of Aviator's classes she never leaves out:

" A lot of artists become obsessed with other people's results for their goals and not really make their own goals.

They don't want to go through what that other person went through to become successful. They're obsessed with the other person's success, but at what cost?"

Introspection ( creating your positive, smart goal setting to become aligned with their vision) Mentor Spotlight

Design Color theory- each class goes through an extensive lesson on color theory as Aviator truly believes this is one of the most basic principles you must understand as a balloon stylist. She covers homogenous patterns, using color to manipulate environments and color uniformity.

Other Design topics include: Balloon garlands pricing for pricing structure so you know how much each section costs so that you can accurately charge.

Balloon twisting to create mixed-medium installations Balloon Structures and sculpting

Mentor Spotlight

Balloon Business Marketing and networking, Cataloging and reusing it every year to make money. Creating balloon recipients to predict profit margin and cost to do business.

Understanding overhead and making a profit

My goal for my business is to become recessionproof. Understanding what the future pitfalls are and how I can gear myself up.

Can I afford this? Is my business sellable? What's the future. It's not just a one-time Instagram moment.

Social Media Overall presence on social media and what that means to your clients. Camera lens dimensions, ingredients for reels, and the list goes on.

Adding variety is essential to Renee. She believes in giving her mentees an extensive range of skills to be diverse when presenting services to their clients.

Renee's incredible ability to break down so much information into precisely planned curricula and bite-size pieces allows her to continuously attract new and returning mentees to her courses.

Something new can be learned from her, despite how long an artist has been in the industry.

Authors Note: Now I know you are wondering where you can learn from the master yourself, don't worry; we will have all the links available so you can start learning with Aviator Balloons. I actually might go sign up for that beginners' class now!

Mentor Spotlight

classes 1:1 Class Experience This is an individual class which will occur during the week available dates will be listed.

Student must attended the date chosen please check your schedule before booking. After class session is selected student will pick three topics to cover.

Breakfast and Lunch is provided.

We are located in North Bellmore Long Island NY. Each class is 6 hours long. Full business seminar included No stone left unturned

Book Now

Santa's workshop This is an 8 hour class to create Santa's workshop. All balloon 3D Displays What to expect: Christmas Trees, Trains, Gingerbread house, Sled and Reindeers, toys, gift boxes, toy soldiers, candy canes and so much more. This class will be Saturday November 12, 2022 Time 8am to 5pm

Book Now

Balloon Bouquet and Floral Distortion This is a 3 hours zoom class!

Date: Sunday September 23, 2022 Time: 10:00AM EST- 1:00 PM EST Your kit with supplies will be sent to you location worldwide.

What is included: Balloon Bouquet 260 Balloon Twisting Floral Distortion Drop test Approved

Book Now

Floral distortion only Zoom Class This class is for floral distortion only via zoom no kit will be sent.

This class is via zoom student brings their own supplies and digital manual and supply list will be distributed via email.

Admission is for one student one students must use IG name when logging into the session. Media Policy This class will be recorded for future use by aviator balloons.

All questions and answers will be saved. Upon payment of this class registration all student consent to recording and distribution of this class. Class Dates: Tuesday October 11 Time 7pm EST Thursday October 13th Time 7pm EST

Book Now

So may ways to style a circle hoop! One of my popular requests!

This design is chic and elegant

Mentor Spotlight

On the Hot Seat BBM : What are your biggest challenges?

Renee: Organizationdeveloping good business strategies to keep all moving parts in line. It's easy to overspend on supplies you already have if you are not organized.

BBM: What are you confident in, and where do you want to improve?

Renee: I'm confident in my style of artistic expression. The way I style my balloons are unique to my eye and no one is able to duplicate it.

I can improve on SEO, CRM, and Virtual Store management.

BBM: Who is your biggest inspiration in the balloon world?

Renee: His name is Toupe of balloon inspiration from England. He is a multiple award-winning balloon artist with an extensive catalog of work. He twists, sculpts, decorates and everything in between.

BBM: Tell us about your family.

Do they love balloons?

Renee: My family has no choice. Lol my son loves the physics behind balloons (8 years old). My mother loves to critique my designs, not so much install or inflate them.

My boyfriend likes to strike!

Final Thoughts So what is Renee's goal? To win balloon awards like her biggest inspiration in the balloon world, Toupe of Ballooninspiration, an English balloon artist that has won multiple awards and has an extensive catalog of work. Go check him out on Instagram after you are done with this article. His stuff is amazing! It's funny, though, because as I see her describe how he twists and sculpts and everything in between, I feel like Renee is the woman equivalent to Toupe. I'm rooting for her to get her balloon awards; she deserves them!

And Renee, if you're reading this, your work is impressive, your values and love for the balloon industry are inspiring, and I can't wait to see you win those awards!

Jessica Rivera is owner of a Saint Cloud, Florida-based balloon styling company Chasing Pops. Her background as a Pediatric/NICU nurse has influenced her unique style and target clients. She specializes in surprise room decor and events centered around mothers and their children.

The Author: Jessica Rivera

Support the Artist Mentor Spotlight

Color Theory With Aviator Balloons

Design

Color Theory As mentioned, Color theory is a topic Aviator is highly passionate and knowledgeable about.

Let's go over how to select colors and create custom shades that create a vibe.

Color Terms you need to know.

Tints - Mixed with white Tones- mixed with grey to mute a color Shades- mixed with darker colors like brown and black

Anagoulous- The color grouping has similarities Tertiary Colors- Colors made by mixing full saturation of one primary color with half saturation of another primary color and none of a third primary color in a given color space Design

Tones Tints Shades

Tone

Tint

Shade

Real Examples Let's say we have pearl peach, but we want it to match with a burgundy color. I would doublestuff this with blush because blush and pearl peach will fall within that analogous shade for burgundy.

Blush pearl peach is neutral and exists in red and orange shades. If you want to match it with burgundy or maroon, add an orange base color.

However, if you wanted to match the pearl peach with a more tertiary color, like rosewood, you would double stuff with white or chrome rose gold. We do this because the chrome has a red overtone that will enhance the red within the peach.

Colors are very transformative, and when we double stuff, they pick up tones from other colors. The colors surrounding our custom colors will change how they are perceived by the surrounding colors in the garland. So be very mindful of customer colors.

Understanding color harmonies will help with color selection.

Design

Real Examples For example, we (the Aviator Balloons Team) wanted to create a very muted garland over the moon. We wanted to create a feeling of floating on clouds with a milky feel.

We used a white, latte by gemar, and we put the latte inside the white and white instead of latte Creating multiple shades. You can manipulate balloons to give you a certain feeling for the whole event.

Latte is a very brown-yellow base balloon. When you double stuff with white it turns up the intensity of the balloon; however, when you put it inside of the white, it tones down the brown. We wanted this event to feel like you were reading your kid a bedtime story. We want the clients to be immersed. We sell experiences, which is why I price how I price.

The Expert: Renee Kristina Designer with an elaborate imagination and color concept execution Balloon artist based on long island Custom balloon art, centerpieces mosaics and so much more!

Design

RISING

STARS

Fashon, Balloons,Art.

RISING

STARS

When Most balloon Stylists talk about their work, they mention business, money, and how they can turn this art into a full-time gig. For 16-year-old balloon protege Finn Thompson, balloons are just another medium in his world full of art and color.

Balloon Boss Spotlight

"Since I'm 16, I don't really have a long term goal with balloons. My short term goals is to continue to grow my business and spread joy through my balloon art."

Getting Started When He was just 18 months old, fins mother gave him his first ballon twisting book, where he would spend hours copying the designs he saw and learning how to tie without his mother's help. He creates wearable fashion from balloons and largescale installations using 3ft-8ft cloud buster balloons and bold color choices.

"I have always been fascinated with balloons. When I was about two, I would watch balloon twisters at the local farmers market for hours and then come home and try to make what they made.

Balloons always held this special fascination for me from a very young age, and it has never stopped. I started watching The Unpoppables around age 8 & that was a game changer. I couldn't believe there people out there who did the stuff I dreamed about. Most of my free time Ive always made things with balloons and over time my work evolved into dresses and large scale decor." .

Why So Serious?

Finn believes that we adults take balloons too seriously. He credits his success and ability to outshine some of the most seasoned balloon business owners to his ability to JUST HAVE FUN. When you check out Finn's social media, you can see the fun he's having. The balloon dresses he creates from small, 160 balloons range from high fashion to quirky. He is constantly experimenting with shape, color, and size, and his art represents his enjoyment of his medium.

He has also mastered the art of creating a good team. His friends are eager to help and fascinated with his work. He currently has a group of friends who come with him to larger installations and model his balloon fashion. In short, they have fun together. Finn's youthful approach to team building is a reminder that bringing good people on your team to help translate your vision shouldn't be hard, and the first thing you should do when looking for staff is to make sure you enjoy spending time with them.

"Often [my friends] don't know what I'm talking about. I have to show pictures and usually, they're in shock and blown away and can't believe I do things like this. Many of my friends model the dresses and they love it."

Support the Artist

Balloon Boss Spotlight

T

T

Finn

RT I S

MEET

HE A

Thompson 16-year-old Balloon Protege from Boulder, Co.

Why We Love His work Finn is extremly innovative and creative with his over the top high fashion balloon dresses and larger then life installations using mostly 3-8 ft cloudbuster balloons.

" Just have fun with it.

They're balloons."

Balloon Boss Spotlight

Inspiration Finn's signature style, while very distinct, is constantly evolving. Often, he gets inspiration from outside of the balloon world, citing vogue runway as one of his muses.

"I have many inspirations. I can't name just one. Molly Balloons, Addi Somekh, and Pineapple (Stacy Wheeler) have been mentors to me for a very long time. Most of the inspiration I get comes from outside the balloon world and comes from the fashion and design industry.

When I was first starting installations, Jihan Zencirli and Luft Balloons were some of my biggest inspirations."

Regardless of the style of balloon art that resonates with you, it's essential to get away from social media and balloon trends so that you, like Finn, can create a signature style recognized by many.

Looking to the Future Although Finn recognizes his talent in the balloon world, he sees himself immersed in fashion and design.

Balloons, while enjoyable, can be physically straining, so Finn wants to expand on his talents as he grows. Of all the lessons Finn teaches us about our balloon businesses, his eagerness to evolve and develop as an artist and not just in balloons has to be the one we urge you to remember the most. " The thing is, this is probably something I won't turn into a major career when I'm older. I want to be in the design world, but the thing is, I'll never stop doing balloons. I have this talent, and I want to keep using it. I just can't see myself doing this forever. Balloons are a fun hobby, but I want to branch out."

Whatever Finn decides to do as he grows, this is a rising star that you must keep your eye on.

Jessica Rivera is owner of a Saint Cloud, Florida-based balloon styling company Chasing Pops. Her background as a Pediatric/NICU nurse has influenced her unique style and target clients. She specializes in surprise room decor and events centered around mothers and their children.

The Author: Jessica Rivera

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Balloon Business Mentor

Saving For Retirement We're all expendable. Even as entrepreneurs, we probably don't have the finances to withstand 3-6 months of no income due to emergencies like a pandemic, layoffs, or recessions.

Being your own boss means you no longer have a company saving in your 401 k for you, so it's essential to fund your retirement now.

Money

Saving for retirement as an entreprenuer

Full Length Interview with Maurice Jones ( Financial Advisor)

Money

We sat down with a financial planner to talk about retirement for entrepreneurs. Here are our favorite take aways form the interview.

1

Business Entity

You don't have to be an LLC to fund your retirement through your business. You can be a solproprietorship like so many of us ballon bosses are. It's a good idea to save for retirement via your business for tax deductions and better interest rates.

2

Make your money work for you

Think compound interest. Save for taxes and emergencies in a bond fund. You'll incur 2-5% interest on your savings, and it's tax-free (municipal bond fund). Far better than a regular savings account that may only incur .05% interest.

Experts suggest saving 15-25% of your income after profit for taxes. If you've saved more than necessary, use the remainder for your Retirement account ( which is also tax-free)!

3

Emergency Fund

Open a Money market account.

Be sure to save 3-6 months of expenses in this account. Money Markets never lose money; it's a safe investment for quick, easy access and a guaranteed return.

4

Retirement Account

6k for most Americans for retirement savings annually is the max. If we break this down weekly, this is about 100$ a week ( this breakdown seems doable). If you aren't in a financial position to max out a retirement account, you can start one for as little as $50 a month.

Primerica is a Wallstreet company that specializes in finance. Maurice is based in Colorado Springs and has been with the company since 1998.

The Expert: Maurice Jones

Money

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