The Bright Balloon is a podcast where Sara Meyer shares bright ideas for your balloon business.
We help overwhelmed balloon artists more money, eliminate stress and grow our creative businesses together. Welcome to The Bright Balloon.
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The Bright Balloon is a podcast where Sara Meyer shares bright ideas for your balloon business.
We help overwhelmed balloon artists more money, eliminate stress and grow our creative businesses together. Welcome to The Bright Balloon.
Balloons are generally a profitable business, but there are always those traps where we overspend and let money slip through the cracks. In this episode I'm sharing the tools and strategies I believe contribute the most to my profitability.
First, it's my actual balloon inventory. I've created a custom color chart that limits the number of choices available to my customers. This means I'm spending less time ordering, I pay way less in shipping, I can easily find the color I need and my inventory is far less likely to go bad.
This custom & limited color chart has already been a game changer in my business, but I can also see how it'll continue to save me time if I decide to have my part-time employee purchase inventory in the future.
Another part of my business that contributes to my profit is my 17hats CRM. Emails, invoices, workflows... so much of it either runs on autopilot or happens with just one click. In fact, Grab and Go Garland sales are entirely automatic through 17hats!
So not only does it save me the cost of an admin assistant, it helps me to actually make money, too.
Now let's talk about actual money management. You may have heard me mention Profit First in previous episodes. It's my cash flow system that essentially makes sure I take profit. Without a doubt, implementing this system has been a major part of my profitability.
I'd say it's actually increased my confidence with money in general - mainly in my spending. I used to never know how much I could or should be spending, but now I know what the limits are and it keeps everything in check. I can't recommend the book and system enough!
Finally, the last thing that has contributed to my profitability are my rental items. To be honest, I resisted them for a long time because I know it can be a slippery slope. But now I have a limited stock of rentals that I'm proud to say have almost all paid themselves off, meaning they're practically 100% profit at this point.
I've quickly realized that rentals are not only a good way to make money, but they're also great for installations because you know exactly what you're working with.
If you feel like you're not making as much as you should in your balloon business, I have a recommended order of things to examine and implement so that you can find your way to profitability.
(And speaking of rental items, in this episode from the UGlu Hotline we cover backdrops... which ones I have, whether I use customers' backdrops and a resource to create free-standing garlands.)
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
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 the UGlu Hotline- (262) 221-8514 *For a limited time, callers will receive 100% off any download from The Bright Balloon Store
Inventory System w/ Custom Color Chart | Multi-Brand
Ep. 51 - Set It Up September | Profit First
Ep. 80 - Profit First Revisited with Elizabeth Fiore
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Here's another bonus episode of what we've been learning and chatting about over in the Bright Balloon Book Club!
Last month, we read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways!
Thanks to our sponsors!
17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)
Havin' a Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)
UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% @ Havin' a Party with code BRIGHT)
Alex and Ellie started their business doing lawn decorations, but after one balloon basics class they immediately fell in love with the limitless decor potential of balloons. Now, years later, they've basically become these jacks of all trades who can design practically anything!
And they're giving back to the balloon community by hosting an upcoming networking event: Mimosas, Mocktails & Mingling. It's meant to be a space for balloon business owners to reset their goals for the second half of the year, mingle and ask those business-related questions that there isn't always time for at technique classes.
They announce two fun surprises about the event in the episode and have more up their sleeve as well... I can't wait to be there and would love to know if you're going, too!
(Also in this episode from the UGlu Hotline, I'm sharing ideas on how to price marquees... which are largely thanks to Misti's awesome tips in episode 146!)
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
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 the UGlu Hotline- (262) 221-8514 *For a limited time, callers will receive 100% off any download from The Bright Balloon Store
Ep. 146 - Deliveries & Pricing | Misti from Balloons by Misti
Mimosas, Mocktails & Mingling: Networking for Balloon Professionals | info@pachaballoons.ca | balloonsbypacha
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When Tisha started her business, she initially set out to create and curate Insta-worthy party ideas for DIY moms, but, as she describes, balloons quickly chose her as the specific type of party decor to lean into.
Now, she's built her business up to include three part-time employees helping with inflating, install and admin work. She largely serves those looking for the over-the-top birthday parties for their kids, but, being in Las Vegas, she also gets a lot of business from bachelorette parties in the big hotels... which just may need to become its own episode!
Tisha and I also chat about the Balloon Esteem community she's building, which was sparked by Tisha's great relationships built with other vendors and other local balloon businesses. She wants to flip the script on worrying about competition and find a way for all balloon artists to lean into their craft and their superpowers while supporting one another along the way.
Balloon Esteem communities have since popped up in Texas, Ohio, California and Alaska... with more on the way! They're all about low-stress, happy vibes for balloon artists who really get what each other experience day in and day out. Plus, they're starting to do some really cool charity events as well.
We chat some more about how to properly share the information learned through investments in classes, conventions, etc., and I love and appreciate her approach of pointing people in the right direction and acknowledging the original creator.
This was such a fun and light episode that proves, once again, how much having a community helps!
(The episode also kicks off with a great question from the UGlu Hotline about itemizing invoices, and I share my middle ground approach for billing my customers that I feel keeps things easy and leaves me some design wiggle room, too.)
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
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 the UGlu Hotline- (262) 221-8514 *For a limited time, callers will receive 100% off any download from The Bright Balloon Store
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50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list
Flavia started her company in 2018 and has seen incredible growth ever since. Now with a fleet of vans, multiple employees and a booming business that services both the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metros, Flavia has built her company into a thriving machine that I loved learning more about.
She takes us through:
(Seriously, you've got to listen in to hear what she's been through!)
As we wrap up the interview, I ask Flavia what her best advice is for getting started on hiring. And she delivers with some well thought out practices she's implemented with her own employees. Even though I don't think I'm meant to own a business in the same way she does, I'm encouraged by her advice to keep inching forward in terms of delegating pieces of my business.
Thanks, Flavia, for coming on the show and sharing your experiences!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
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 the UGlu Hotline- (262) 221-8514 *The first 10 callers will receive 100% off any download from The Bright Balloon Store
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50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list
My friend Misti of Balloons by Misti has developed a super unique tier system that gives her designer choice every single time. It gave me several light bulb moments that I can't wait to implement into my business and I know you'll find at least one takeaway from this episode as well!
Misti shares with us the details of how she developed her unique pricing structure that keeps it all as simple as possible. In a nutshell, she figures out the pricing for her components and builds upon that. And what I love about it is that it's a brilliant way for her as the designer to keep herself in check... because we all know how easy it is to keep adding more and more in order to get the design "just right".
And you've got to listen in for some great examples in the way she communicates with her customers... from expectations, to trust and turning down jobs, Misti shares some great language that's professional and kind while helping her keep her boundaries.
We go on to talk about the pros and cons of different booking processes, ways to interpret what our customers really want and her signature delivery goody that she includes with every order. It seems like she has 1,000 great ideas and reasons for using her balloon tags and it's definitely inspired me to start using them, too.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
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 the UGlu Hotline - (262) 221-8514
*The first 10 callers will receive 100% off any download from The Bright Balloon Store
____________________________
50 Ideas for Email Marketing | Join the Bright Balloon email list & be entered to win registration to FLOAT 2024
This week I'm chatting with Travis Green of Squeek Balloon & Decor about networking! So many great tips and action steps!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)
Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com
Call the UGlu Hotline- (262) 221-8514
*The first 10 callers will receive 100% off any download from The Bright Balloon Store
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Join the Bright Balloon email list and enter to win a FREE FLOAT ticket
Here's another bonus episode of what we've been learning and chatting about over in the Bright Balloon Book Club!
Last month, we read Goals by Zig Ziglar. This episode is a brief overview of the key takeaways!
Thanks to our sponsors!
17hats (get 50% off your 1st year)
Havin' a Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)
It seems like it happens every year, right? Some of the goals you've set for yourself at the beginning of the year kind of fade away, either because you've forgotten about them or because you've lost interest in pursuing them. Well I'm here to say that it's OK to reevaluate your goals and shift them as needed!
In this episode, I'm reviewing the 2023 goals I set for myself and sharing how they're going. These original goals included:
I had set the goal of establishing boundaries because I felt like I was on the brink of burnout. Always answering emails and messages, recording interviews at all hours of different days... I knew something needed changing. And now I'm proud to say that I've fully implemented a better process for scheduling podcast interviews, thanks to (you guessed it) 17hats.
It's been so crucial to setting those boundaries and has got me thinking about how I can use the online scheduling function for my balloon business, too.
Another mini-goal within the boundaries goal was to quit my job. And thankfully I was able to accomplish this far earlier than I anticipated. In fact, looking back... I know it gave me the space to make so much progress in my other goals, too.
My next major goal was to make more by working less. Last year I felt like I worked so much, and to be honest I wasn't interested in feeling that way again. The mini-goals included here were actually pretty fun, too!
I've learned how to make money using credit card points, streamline and outsource my Grab & Go Garlands and more. And while I'm feeling good about the start of my credit card journey I'm realizing that I'm far short of my Grab & Go goal. So this episode has been the perfect reminder to get back to those action steps I laid out for myself!
Moving on to my recycling goal... another thing that had me a little burnt out last year was constant content creation for the podcast. I knew I needed to find a way to reuse and reutilize what was already available. Not only to give myself some time back, but also to better serve any newer listeners who may not have heard some of the amazing interviews of past episodes.
This recycling goal includes action steps like scheduling and sharing more on Instagram, utilizing the new blog on thebrightballoon.com website and finding a way to automate turning each podcast into more content.
Some of these have come easier than others and they're all definitely still a work in progress. In some cases, I've accepted that "done" is better than "perfect" and that has been hugely helpful.
Finally, my $250,000 goal... I think I'm going to make it! After I quit my job, something changed. I'm getting new jobs, I'm getting bigger jobs and I'm now able to put more energy into my "big pumpkins".
I love, love, LOVE the pumpkin concept by Mike Michalowicz and know that it's made a huge difference for me and my business. That's why I'm absolutely thrilled to say I'll be getting certified to teach and help implement these concepts with you, my listeners!!
My "pumpkins" keep me on track in remembering my priorities. They give me clarity and focus. And because I've done the work to identify who my ideal clients are, I can now identify one as soon as they hit my inbox.
I cannot wait for what's ahead with this certification - stay tuned!
That wraps up the progress on my goals, but I always love hearing yours, too! Let me know how things are going for you so far in 2023!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)
Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com
Ep. 117 - My 2023 goals
2023 Bright Balloon Business Planner
Ep. 132 - I quit my job
Ep. 121 - Grab & Go Outsourcing
Ep. 101 - Pumpkin Planning Your Balloon Business
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I've always lived in organized chaos - are you the same?! But what I'm beginning to notice is that the organized parts of my life (like my actual balloon storage) are making the less organized parts of my life really stand out... and sometimes in a painful way. I've decided I need to find a more consistent and systematic decluttering process, not only for the physical, but for the mental and digital stuff of life, too.
And while I'm not as concerned about the appearance of the physical clutter, I am seeing ways that it's hurting my functionality. Bit by bit, I've been losing floor space to work in. And I'm seeing how it's not only annoying to not be able to find things, but it's costing me time (and therefore money) and is also becoming somewhat hazardous.
If you need some motivation to start your own decluttering process, I'll share (again) some thoughts of Denise Duffield-Thomas. She says that it's hard to attract larger jobs if deep down, you don't feel like you can actually fulfill them. And this is exactly what keeps me motivated to follow through with my decluttering.
In the episode I also share a couple of more practical tactics I'm using to help me declutter my inventory and free up shop space... things like tracking the types of bases I use most, better storing my centerpieces, etc.
Moving on to the mental and digital decluttering... this can really get out of hand if you let it! I'm so thankful that 17hats takes care of organizing all of my customer files, but some other things that I'm focused on decluttering digitally are:
As you listen you'll hear how excited I get about decluttering this digital stuff, because it's cleared up that much mental energy for me. I can't recommend it enough!
Stay tuned on Instagram as I share the progress in my shop decluttering! And I hope this episode gives you that "permission" to finally get rid of some of those things you know you should have!
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
50% off your 1st year of 17hats
Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% with code BRIGHT)
Balloon Boss Summit & BalloonCoach.com
Ep. 142 - Convention Experiences | Steven of FLOAT & Balloon Designers
Ep. 102 - Product Development | Lilly from The Creative Heart Studio
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