The Bright Balloon

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Episode | Pumpkin Plan Accelerator Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

When I first read The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz years ago, it wasn't the right time in my business for it to really "click" for me. But about a year ago I found myself accidentally implementing the practices, which led me to take a more intentional approach with the process... and let me tell you... it had an immediate impact on my business.

So much so that it inspired the Bright Balloon Book Club and my recent certification as a Pumpkin Plan Strategist!

In this bonus episode I'm sharing info about:

what the Pumpkin Plan Accelerator Course is
how to get involved
course assets, lessons & activities
how to find your business sweet spot
changes you can expect to see (and feel) from implementing the Pumpkin Plan

And in the UGlu Hotline, we have a question about how to stand out from the competition in your area. There are actually several Pumpkin Plan practices that you can do to improve this, and I share them here in the episode!

Thanks to our sponsors!

17hats (50% off your 1st year)

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

Balloon Suite

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

BalloonCoach.com

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

Resources mentioned:

Business Sweet Spot Quiz

Pumpkin Plan Accelerator Course

____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

158. Retreat recap + tribute Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

In this week's episode I'm chatting about my experience hosting my first ever Glow Retreat! I met awesome people, had a great time and learned a lot.

I wanted it to be a space for balloon business owners to talk shop, because those are often my favorite moments and memories from conventions, and I think we all have something to teach, offer and share with one another.

One thing that really helped with this was the diversity in the ways that the attendees run their business. Home-based, retail, e-commerce, Etsy... There were quite a few different business structures being represented and it made for some really high level and interesting conversation. I'm not even sure I could have hand-picked a better group!

So many things went well, but when I reflected on the experience I did discover some things that would need changing. From group size, to the number of days, to content, to lodging and more... I'm giving an honest reflection on the experience and whether I would do it again.

I feel like the most room for improvement is with the topics that I facilitate. I really wanted to be sure participants left feeling like their money and time was well-spent, but I realized that it was too much for the timeframe we had.

Because of this, I'm moving the content we covered into an online, 4-month group program: The Pumpkin Plan Accelerator! The Pumpkin Plan has made such an impact in my business that I recently became certified as Pumpkin Plan Strategist in order to help pass along the benefits of this approach to other balloon businesses.

I give more details about the program in the episode, but the main purpose is to help you discover your best customers and attract more of them so that you can narrow in on what makes your business unique. I really can't recommend this process enough and am so excited about the idea of helping you find the sweet spot of your business!

And this week in the UGlu Hotline, instead of the usual advice, we have a special tribute to Tommy of Balloons by Tommy, who many of you know is battling cancer. Words of support and encouragement came flooding in from across the country, and the segment has been dedicated to him... we love you, Tommy, and hope you get better soon!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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

Business Sweet Spot Quiz

____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

157. Forced to grow | Brian of Banzi Balloons Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

In this interview with Brian from Banzi Balloons we hear about the tremendous growth of his company, but I also put him on the spot for some "next steps" advice for my business. And the thing I love about Brian is that when you ask his opinion - he gives it!

We talk about how he bought out his competition and could hardly keep up with the growth they experienced when the pandemic started to lift. From a two-person, home-based show to a 10-employee and 6,000 square foot studio space, Brian and his wife Christina were "building the airplane as they flew it".

Life circumstances had Brian calling in help from anyone he could find and having no choice but to delegate. Now, they've trained their team so well that they've been able to step away from doing the sales calls, yet are steadily making their way to their $1 million sales goal!

He shares with us some of the things that he feels have made a huge difference for their team. Things like price lists, e-commerce setup and empowering and trusting employees. Then we chat about his DNA Document - something that represents who they are and what they stand for. It's a pretty neat shift in thinking, compared to the usual mission and vision statements.

Next, I put him on the spot for that "next step" advice. And it's something that I knew I might hear again! It quickly leads into the topic of exit strategies, and I appreciated Brian sharing a few of his ideas on that.

We covered so much in this episode, I just know they'll be at least one thing you can take away from the conversation.

...And the question from the UGlu Hotline this week is about conventions - mainly Balloon Boss Summit and FLOAT. I share my thoughts on each of them!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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

____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

156. Diversifying your business | Lori of Foto Vibe Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

This episode is really interesting because Lori tells us how she and her photobooth company added balloons into the mix. They started as an add-on but quickly grew to a sizable portion of her business during the pandemic.

In our conversation she also mentions a really unique service she does that was a huge light bulb moment for me and inspired me to take action right away!

We also hear about:

Lori's initial start and what she wanted to do differently with her photo booth
how balloons made their way into her business
how 17hats helps her manage the photo booth, balloons and other services
her advice on adding a photo booth to a balloon business
more specifics of the unique service that I'm going to try
her storage situation

Once again, I've come away from an interview with some really cool ideas to try in my own business, and I'm certain you'll take away at least one idea from this episode, too!

And this week in the UGlu Hotline, I answered a logistics-related follow-up question from the "24-hour sales challenge" episode. If you're still feeling hesitant about the do's and don'ts of email marketing, I hope this answer helps!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & BalloonCoach.com

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

Ep. 151 - 24-hour sales challenge

Flodesk - 50% off your 1st year

@fotovibeparty | www.fotovibeparty.com

____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

155. Legends of the industry | Briana of Elevated Impressions Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

This week's episode is a bit unique, because it's kind of like a history lesson. Briana came on the show wanting to talk about some of the legends in our industry and the lessons that she's so quickly learned from them.

She had some rough timing with the start of her business, but her philosophy of serving first helped her become a positive contributor to her community. She's such a joyful person and her spirit is contagious, so it's no wonder she's made such an impact.

We chat about integrity, efficiency, "doing things right", and tools and techniques developed by a few of the legends she and her team follow.

I also ask a few rapid-fire business questions to Bri, including one about my most recent curiosity: exit plans. I think they're not talked about enough in our industry and I appreciated Bri's willingness to share hers!

Also, this week's UGlu Hotline topic is all about insurance - why you should have it, when you might need it and where to look for it.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & BalloonCoach.com

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

Bomba Insurance

____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

154. Automating bouquet sales | Ryan of Queen City Balloons Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

Over the past seven years, Ryan and his wife Christine have scaled their balloon business into a full brick and mortar balloon bar in Sioux Falls, SD. They're succeeding in both retail sales and installation jobs, so I was really excited to have him on the podcast to hear more about their setup!

He takes us through their awesome automation for bouquet sales... the size options, style options, delivery charges and the platform running it all. Then Ryan shares great tips for how to get started in the automated bouquet sales process:

keep it simple
have the right tech
remember the photos

If you've been listening to the podcast for a while you know I'm a huge fan of automation and streamlining, so this conversation was so motivating. Especially after he shares the sales numbers they've experienced since implementing!

(And don't miss this week's tip on the UGlu Hotline about taking and recording measurements!)

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & BalloonCoach.com

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

____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

Bonus Episode | Book Club Implementation Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

This month's bonus episode is a little different since we didn't read a new book. Instead, we took a hiatus to actually implement what we've been learning!

Listen in to hear about some actions I took after the latest book, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

Join here!

Thanks to our sponsors!

17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)

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

Balloon Suite

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% @ Havin' a Party with code BRIGHT)

BalloonCoach.com

153. Retail dreams | Stephanie of Celebration Creations Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

My friend Stephanie comes on the podcast for this episode and tells us all about fulfilling her dream of having a retail store. But even if retail doesn't interest you, listen in for some other great bits from our conversation that apply to all balloon business owners!

We chat about:

cold calling and sales
the mindset impact from being in Balloon Boss Mastermind
how to search for and select a retail location (and a landlord)
Balloon Planet
inventory management and processes
doing installations alongside having the retail space

It was so great to have Stephanie on the show, and she completely deserves all of the success she's creating. I know you'll feel uplifted after listening to her story and advice!

Also, this week on the UGlu hotline I answer a question about the balloon walls made out of starpoint balloons and point you towards some artists who create them really, really well!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind

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

____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

152. Backslide Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

Backsliding is the concept of getting new systems all set up, only to revert back to your old ways... I've been guilty of it - have you? In this episode I'm sharing some of the areas I've backslid in, and if they ring true with you, too, let's make it a goal to pay more attention to these going forward!

Some money-related backslides for me include signing up for subscriptions I hardly use, sometimes spending too much on convenience, setting myself up for bank fees and almost always eating the cost of rush shipping instead of passing [at least some of] it onto the customer who ordered last minute.

And as we all know as entrepreneurs, we work hard for that money! So letting it slip through the cracks can really hurt.

Another thing that can occasionally get away from me is my balloon inventory. My custom color chart has been a tremendous help in keeping things in check but every now and then some other colors creep in and then I'm left with no way to use them again.

The color chart also helps me keep my shop clean because everything has its spot... so many other things in my shop don't! I need to take the time to make homes for all those odds and ends so that it doesn't go from clean to a disaster zone in one weekend.

A couple of tech-related backslides I've had are with my 17hats CRM and email marketing. 17hats does amazing things for me, but it does need to evolve with your business. New policies, updated workflows, etc... I need to get better about taking the time to make some small updates that reflect the new ways I do business. Email marketing... I love it and I strongly believe in it, but sometimes I just let life get in the way. This disappoints me because I know the kind of return on investment it gives me.

Lastly, I find myself backsliding on my goals. I get distracted and forget what my focus for the year was supposed to be. It's actually kind of crazy how easy it is to forget your goals if you don't keep them in front of you.

And this week's question from the UGlu Hotline related perfectly to backsliding. I think we all fantasize about having a great pre-installation checklist, but it can be really hard to know where to start. I'm going to aim to make notes the next time I do each type of installation, then use those notes to create the nice color-coded manual I dream of.

So if after listening you're starting to feel bad about the areas you may have backslid in, just know that it was meant to be an encouraging episode for us to re-center on, shake off the cobwebs and find some areas of opportunity. You've got this!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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

Custom Color Chart | Multi-Brand ____________________________

Join the book club

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

courses | templates | planner

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

151. 24-hour sales challenge Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

I've never done an episode like this before, but I'm excited to hear your results from joining in! I have a 24-hour sales challenge for you, with 7 strategies that work well for me to generate sales during the slower times.

Strategy #1: check your inbox. This might mean your email inbox or maybe it's your 17hats / CRM system. Look for those jobs where you were communicating with a customer and things kind of fizzled out for one reason or another.

Strategy #2: check your calendar to see what you were working on this time last year. I love doing a calendar audit to steadily keep jobs coming my way and to make sure the annual jobs get rebooked.

Strategy #3: dig for your pumpkins. Yes, I'm talking about the Pumpkin Plan again! In this strategy, I want you to dig through your data to find your top customers so that you can give them your best energy and attention, and be ready and willing to help them with their next event.

Strategy #4: send a newsletter. I'm a big believer in email marketing and feel like I make a sale every time I send a newsletter! It doesn't have to be fancy... in fact, I think the more personal, the better. More on this in a future episode, but I'm almost certain I booked my biggest job ever because of a newsletter.

Strategy #5: send cold emails or DMs. This one is scary for me, but Rachel of How About Balloons gave a lot of great tips on how to do this in Episode 137.

Strategy #6: post on social. And don't forget... post the things that you actually want to sell. We always want to share our most impressive work, but a lot of the time that work was actually pretty difficult to accomplish so it's not always a good idea to encourage more people to book similar jobs with you.

Strategy #7: do some cash and carry options. This is a sales strategy in reverse... first you make the thing, and then you sell it. The idea is that you are making things incredibly convenient for the customer while also using up older inventory items.

I hope this episode gives you a little boost in your sales... today! If you close a sale thanks to one of these strategies PLEASE send me a message so that I can celebrate with you!!

(And this week on the UGlu Hotline we get an awesome tip for using UGlu Dashes with your foils - don't miss it!)

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

50% off your 1st year of 17hats

Balloon Suite

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

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

Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com

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

Ep. 53 - Set It Up September | Calendar Audit

Email Marketing for a Year | Canva Bundle

50% off your first year of Flodesk

Ep. 137 - Cold emailing | Rachel of How About Balloons