BAPIA
THE
BAPIA
ST BOO
John Bowler has been part of the party industry for more years than he cares to remember! John currently runs the Balloon And Party Industry Alliance (or BAPIA) and can be contacted on info@bapiaonline.com
BE YOUR OWN BOSS
John talks about the highs and lows of being self-employed.
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I read an article on the BBC this week titled 'Blue Monday for small business’ and it made my heart sink, as I knew it was going to be more bad news for small traders and the self-employed. There are some benefits being implemented (such as the cuts in business rates which will benefit small independent retailers) but there are other changes that will result in increased or additional expenses. I asked myself, why does anybody take the step of being self-employed and starting a business? Then I saw the following article on the FSB website. “The UK has seen huge changes to the world of work in the last decade. One of the biggest shifts has been the rise in the number of people who have decided to strike out on their own and move into self-employment. With the 4.8 million self-employed representing 15% of the workforce and contributing over £270 billion to the UK economy, it is a group that is here to stay. This growth has had huge benefits for many and for the wider economy. There is
clear evidence that the vast majority of the self-employed are happier than they would be as an employee and that most start up in business out of choice, often in search of more flexibility and meaning at work.” There are many benefits to being selfemployed and running your own business. It allows you the flexibility of working when you want and you can decide what time to get out of bed in the morning and which days you want to work. Many people in our industry decide to start their business working from home, so this allows you the luxury of not having to commute, instead just rolling out of bed and into the office! You can make good money if you are self employed as your clients are not paying for all of the in-work benefits
ABOVE LEFT AND RIGHT: Being self-employed can be great, but isn't always all it's cracked up to be.
What Is BAPIA? The Balloon And Party Industry Alliance, or BAPIA as it’s more commonly known, is designed to work for the party industry to promote the benefits of using industry professionals and to bring significant benefits to our members. BAPIA is a member of the European Balloon and Party Council (EBPC) and keeps members updated on the latest news, including the most recent initiative – the Code Of Best Practice for balloon retailers and professionals. You can read more about this in BAPIA’s latest quarterly newsletter. Mailed directly to members, John is happy to send a copy of the latest edition to interested parties – simply email him at info@bapiaonline.com.
that a large company has to bear, such as sick pay and annual leave. However, there is a flip side to everything and self-employment is no different. Unlike an employee, you have no guarantees of work or payment; you have no idea when the next job will come along or how much you will earn from it. It takes a great deal of self-motivation to keep your business going and growing. There are many self-employed and small business’ out there who thought they need just to find a shop, fill it with products and a till and the money would come rolling in. As we all know, that is not how it works. The self-employed also have to be masters of all aspects of their business, from sales and marketing to accountancy and administration. These are the areas where costs are often forgotten when working out those all-important profit margins. My first venture in the balloon industry was selling balloons at events, fetes and fairs and if I am honest I was unsure that working with balloons was for me. However, when I visited various wholesalers, I realised that there were many opportunities and the potential for so much more. It was then that I realised that this was an industry that I could really enjoy and that was the start of my ballooning career – 28 years ago. For me, the key factor in becoming self-employed is to do something that you enjoy and get pleasure from being involved with. I can honestly say that during my time working in the balloon and party industry I have met many people who own a balloon business and I genuinely believe that they have been some of the most enthusiastic I have met. I suppose we are lucky to have a job which allows us to be creative and where we make people smile. As the saying goes: “Do what you love and you’ll love what you do!” You all deserve the greatest respect and I wish you all continued success with your business.
MARCH/APRIL 2019 PROGRESSIVE PARTY EUROPE
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05/04/2019 12:30