The Bright Balloon

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

--------

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

194. Tough love about email marketing Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

I've heard the reasons that you're not sending newsletters to your customers... why you don't think it works... how you're afraid of the unsubscribes... and how you're not even sure where to start, so in this episode I'm aiming to eliminate those objections so that you can experience the kinds of benefits I've had from email marketing.

First, a little tough love for the objection that "it doesn't work, because I always delete all the emails I get". I disagree! Sure, some emails might be an automatic delete, but I know there are some you click into. Think about why and this will help you think about how you can become the company that is an automatic open.

Next I'll talk about the fear of getting unsubscribes. The thing is, not doing something because you're afraid of people not liking the thing that you're not doing... it just doesn't make sense. Isn't it better to connect with those who would love to hear from you? Listen in to hear how I've changed my mindset around getting unsubscribes.

Now when we think about the cost associated with email marketing, I have some more friendly pushback and share what kind of response I got from my last newsletter... including sales numbers. It's very easy to see how a small investment in a platform makes you your money back.

Then, the only objection that I can get behind: "I don't know what to send". I get it! But I'm confident that with 30 focused minutes thinking about what kind of value you could give your customers through email, you could have an entire year planned out. I share a few ways to jumpstart this planning session in the episode.

Next I chat about the objection of who to send newsletters to. I promise you that you have previous customers who are cheering you on and want to see you succeed. Start there! Then work towards getting new leads excited to join your email list by offering some kind of free download.

The last piece of the email marketing puzzle is the tech. If you're ready to reap the benefits of email marketing but feel overwhelmed by the tech, join me for a webinar March 6, 2024, simply by grabbing the 50 email marketing ideas download below. That will get you on my email list where I'll be sharing the registration link.

As you'll hear, I'm pretty passionate about email marketing and I'd love to help you finally tackle this thing that's probably been on your to-do list for quite a while!

And in the UGlu Hotline this week, I share how I decided to make the switch from face painting to balloon decor and why I may go back to it one day.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

Flodesk (get 50% off your 1st year)

----

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

192. Giving yourself a chance | Stephany of The Balloon Stuffer Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

It was so nice to meet Stephany and hear about her journey to becoming a product creator! From jumping into the balloon industry after doing her child's first birthday party, to serving high-end clients internationally, she's done things few people get to do because she decided to give herself a chance.

We hear what it's like to work mostly with event planners in New York City, and how she's fortunate enough to have professional photographers at almost all of her installations. Then she shares how those event planners often request a custom color palette... which led to the creation of her Balloon Stuffer. There's no doubt that product creation is not for the faint of heart, so I give so many props to Stephany and all of those who do it!

I also ask a pretty raw question about how fellow balloon artists might feel following her Instagram, and Stephany shares some encouragement and what it was like for her to start and grow this business that has helped her find a new, powerful and unapologetic version of herself. She also shares a few great tips for getting started with Instagram reels while out on the job!

Wow, you're going to feel so encouraged after listening to this conversation - I know I sure was. Thanks, Stephany!

In the UGlu Hotline, I share my thoughts on how to prepare a booth for a wedding expo and some ideas for the actual wedding decor!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

@paperandfringe

----

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

190. Growing pains and hiring help | Ali of Charming Garlands Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Last time Ali was on the podcast, she was still operating as a home-based business with very little help in terms of employees. Now, she's rocking her business out of a warehouse with a fleet of vehicles, but unfortunately has experienced some difficulties in hiring the right staff. We'll hear about some of those difficulties she's faced, and also:

how her vehicles and warehouse have dramatically changed the way they can do business
how the warehouse shifted the entire mindset about their operation
what it's meant to her to have balloon friends lend a helping hand when needed
how her past work experiences have contributed to her success as a balloon artist
how teaching impacts her business plan
whether she does any classic decor
what's in the future for Charming Garlands!

I really appreciated Ali's openness and honesty in this conversation and wish her the best in finding the staff she needs to accomplish her business dreams!

In the UGlu Hotline, I answer a question about using adhesives on outdoor surfaces.

Thank you to PremiumConwin for sponsoring our monthly "throwback" episode!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

----------

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

189. Creating a global brand | Matteo from Gemar Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Matteo is the Marketing Manager for Gemar USA and when we met at Balloon Boss Summit I learned so much about their long history and how they've created such a global brand. We covered a lot in our conversation, but two big things you won't want to miss are the new colors they have coming out and their very cool software that helps with design and production planning!

You'll also hear about:

the cute way the company name came to be
how they brought the business over to North and South America
the fascinating difference in trends and styles that exist across cultures
how Gemar contributes to and invests in balloon artist education through classes, conventions and their design software.

It was such a pleasure to have Matteo on to represent a brand that has definitely made a huge mark in the industry!

In the UGlu Hotline this week, I share how I use adhesives only between my balloons and avoid using them on customer surfaces if at all possible. Instead, I use a few common rigging products instead.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

Gemar Creator

----

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

187. My rebooking workflow | Step by step process Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

The rebooking workflow that I'm going to share with you in this episode has made me more money than any advertising, networking or updates to my website. It's one of the most critical updates I've made to my business in the last year and I'm sharing all the details about it!

But first, what is a rebooking workflow and why is it important?

For many years, I used to complete my service, archive the project and then hope that those customers would reach out to me again... leaving the ball entirely in their court. This is a problem for a couple of reasons:

they may forget they used my services
in the case of corporate clients, contacts may leave their role and the new contact may not even know I exist!

Taking more of an offensive approach to rebooking your jobs means you're less likely to fall through the cracks. And, I'd say it makes you look really professional and protects you against a recession much more than working without a rebooking process ever could. (Plus, we all know that working with repeat customers is much easier than onboarding new customers.)

Now, it's no surprise that my workflow runs through 17hats, but it could likely be implemented in other ways, too. Listen in for the exact steps, exact timing and exact language I use to make this all happen!

I hope you'll take action and implement these steps today so that you can take advantage of the jobs and money waiting for you.

And from the UGlu Hotline, we get a friendly reminder about an easy networking action, and I give my take on the various ways you can bring help into your business.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

--------

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

185. How to start a balloon business Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

For this episode, we're going to go back in time and I'll share how I would have started my balloon business knowing what I know now. After about 8 years in business, I've seen how I've gotten lucky, what I've screwed up and where I overthought. And while I don't think there's any one "right" way to start a business, I do think the order in which I'm going to go through things is probably the easiest.

Here's the high-level overview:

plan your business name
get a free email account
set up your own photo shoots
get your Instagram and Facebook profiles set up
create a form so that people can contact you
get networking and seek out your customers
seek out groups and education
create a website
register your business and get insurance
set up your business finances
set some long-term goals

So there you have it! The basic building blocks for a very solid business foundation if you're starting from scratch or are fairly new. I hope this episode has helped you learn what to focus on, and what things can wait.

And in the UGlu Hotline, we get some ideas for warming up your UGlus so that they can properly stick in the cold!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

Ep. 162 - Protecting yourself and your business | Erin from Country Financial

Ep. 90 - One year after two big changes

--------

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

183. Planning a $45k install | Tabitha of Animated Art Balloons Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Tabitha and I met randomly at FLOAT years ago when each of us were brand new to the balloon decor industry and both currently working as face painters. It's been so neat to see our businesses grow in their own ways (and in similar ways) since then. In this interview, Tabitha talks about some of that growth, but also the logistics of her legendary sorority install.

First, we talk about how we both relocated our families to give room for our booming balloon businesses, and the inspiration that got us there. Then we move on to talk about her staff and the roles they play. She's set up a super impressive production system that gives each of them clear roles in the process.

When we move on to chat about her sorority builds, you'll hear about the level of planning and surprise that's involved! Tabitha shares with us a big lesson she learned about pricing in the process because sometimes these huge jobs don't just multiply the level of work, they can actually exponentially increase it.

Tabitha rented a storage space specifically for these sorority builds and tells us how that relationship has since benefitted her business, too. Huge kudos to her, her team and those who came in to help for this event! If you're interested in joining the experience this year, stay tuned to their Instagram as the details are worked out.

And in the UGlu Hotline this week, there's a tip for creating free-standing arches when you're otherwise working with a difficult installation surface.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

@animatedartballoon

____________________________

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

181. Creating an Instagram Service Strategy | Lilly of The Creative Heart Studio Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

I always love having Lilly on the show! In this episode, not only do we get to hear about some new products she has available for balloon artists, but we also chat about some best practices for Instagram, with quick and easy updates you can make while listening!

First, we talk about your Instagram bio and how to make it appealing and informative for your audience. Lilly shares her "who, where, what and how" approach for her profile setup and we chat more specifically about the "where" and "how" because this is where we see the most room for improvement in profiles.

Those things then lead us into talking about what kinds of things we should actually be posting. Lilly brought up great points about pictures vs. reels and what kind of content will make followers want to share and engage with.

Finally, we get to hear about the exciting new products available to us in time for Valentine's Day and at FLOAT!

And in the UGlu Hotline we get a great tip for rescuing our hands when they get damaged from the work we do.

Thank you to PremiumConwin for sponsoring our monthly "throwback" episode!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

thecreativeheartstudio.com | @thecreativeheartstudio

Ep. 1 - Does your Instagram bio have these three things?

Other episodes with Lilly:

Ep. 102 - Product Development | Lilly from The Creative Heart Studio

Ep. 61 - Getting Organized with Lilly, The Creative Heart Studio

Ep. 34 - The Creative Heart Studio with Lilly Jimenez

----------

50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list

180. Explosive growth & managing a team | Jo Jo of Designs by Jo Jo's Creations Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

I'll admit - I was not prepared for all of the great advice Jo Jo gave in this interview! She and her team do all things event decor... tents, rentals, linens, chairs and of course balloons. She's built an incredibly successful business with her supportive connections in the community and I have no doubt you'll get inspired and learn something by listening to her story.

Jo Jo tells us a bit about her background and how the business has grown to 13 employees and a brick and mortar location within just three years! We also get to hear about

all they offer for both installation / delivery and storefront options
the very cool rotating schedule she uses with her team
how she utilizes 17hats to assign workflow tasks to her employees
her calendar and inventory platforms

And you won't believe how much time she's been able to take away from their shop! She's able to do this by leaning on a couple of key positions: her part-time manager and her lead designer. Another thing that has contributed to her ability to step away is having her recipes right on the invoice for her team... an idea I totally want to steal!

When I ask Jo Jo's opinion on what rentals to start with, she not only delivers on that question but gives an amazing tip on how to properly charge for any rental items you're selling.

I was simply blown away by the success she's experienced and am looking forward to watching her business continue to excel.

And this week from the UGlu Hotline, we get a cool tip for creating free-standing arches when the installation surface is otherwise really difficult to attach to, such as stucco or brick.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% at Havin' A Party with code BRIGHT)

Call into the UGlu Hotline to ask a question or leave advice! (262) 221-8514

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

____________________________