Facts and Figures
THE TOP The three most popular products are: T B alloon arrangements T L arge balloon numbers T T horntons chocolates
CUSTOMER SAFETY “Towards the end of lockdown we installed screens, window and floor signage and sanitiser stations within the store so our customers could feel safe when they returned. Since reopening, most of our regular customers have already visited us and we have had many new ones coming in too. Footfall has been up on pre-lockdown weeks, which is very encouraging, so we look to the future with optimism.”
TIP top balloons:
IN NUMBERS Based in Andover in the UK, Tip Top Balloons is a balloon retailer and event décor company which celebrated its 20th year in business last year. Since nonessential retail has been allowed to open, business has been booming, with footfall up on pre-lockdown weeks. PPE spoke to owner Dave Stanbridge to find out the figures behind the store’s success.
ON THE WAY “ Pastel colours are very popular at the moment and we can see that trend increasing.”
ON THE WAY
“ Event bookings such as weddings, parties and corporate promotions – unfortunately! We hope that Christmas will see a surge in this type of booking again.”
Above: Tip Top Balloons makes the most of its large window bays. Inset: New Covid cleaning measures keep customers and staff safe.
STORE STATS
Above: Dave and Chrissy keep the business running smoothly.
GETTING DIGITAL T Preferred social media channel? Facebook T Most common search term used to reach tiptopballoons.co.uk? ‘Balloons’ T Facebook review score (out of five)? A very impressive 4.9!
T D ave and his wife Chrissy run the shop with a small team of four, all currently on furlough. T C ustomers can choose from over 20,000 balloons which are held in stock at all times. T T ip Top Balloons has the Thornton’s franchise for Andover, which also ‘helps to bring people through the front door’. T A n impressive 200 balloon creations were sent out in the last week alone. T Two boxes of brand new product came in on the last delivery.
POST COVID “Our first post-Covid order was for a balloon arrangement. We introduced a delivery service during lockdown, which has been such a huge success that we are still running it!” Right: Balloon arrangements are a best seller for Tip Top Balloons.
Above: Keeping spirits up during lockdown.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS “We have been working with the Pioneer Europe for the last 21 years and have just started working with Balloon Market – our favourite new supplier!”
WINDOW SHOPPING The windows at Tip Top Balloons are an important marketing feature – new displays are created each fortnight. JULY/AUGUST 2020 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE
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12/08/2020 10:12