The Bright Balloon

Latest Episodes:

330. Simple ways to add value | Noeli of So Pretty Balloons May 27, 2025

Show notes

If you struggle with standing out in a saturated market, this episode is for you! Our curated sponsor HiFloat chose Noeli of So Pretty Balloons to come on the show and talk about how she's found a way to stand out in the crowded and very talented Miami market.

Before we get into those specifics, we'll hear how she followed signals for what direction to take in her business. I find it so admirable how she's let her business be fluid around her different seasons of life!

Then, hear how distorted flowers were the first element that drew attention to her work (despite her avoidance of learning the technique initially). Now, she's known for the delicate and elegant embellishments that make So Pretty Balloons, and we'll hear what those key elements are.

In the UGlu Hotline, hear how one listener earns business by interacting with other local businesses on social media.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: HiFloat

@soprettyballoons

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Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Stay Booked

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UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

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328. Staying Lean | Elisabeth of Pop of Color Balloon Design May 20, 2025

Show notes

In another curated episode by HiFloat, we have another returning guest - Elisabeth of Pop of Color Balloon Design. Her and I are kindred spirits in the way that we want to build our businesses around our lives (and not the other way around). So in this episode, we're chatting about putting limits on our businesses as well as the advantages and disadvantages that come along with.

We talk about how we keep our businesses lean… including overhead expenses, vehicles and hiring help; and the freedom available to us because of those choices. We also discuss the viability of ever selling our businesses, the FOMO that creeps in and the recurring comparison trap that we're all always struggling with.

Another similarity we found is that if we ever find ourselves angry about a piece of decor we have to set up… it simply means we didn't charge enough! This conversation was such a good reminder and refresher for me to stay the course, and I hope it'll inspire you just as much!

And in the UGlu Hotline, hear about how one listener hides her binder clips and clamps.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: HiFloat

popofcoloraz.com | @popofcoloraz

Ep. 123 - Double-stuffing, revisited | Elizabeth of Pop of Color

Strike Squad

Lagenda Electric Balloon Inflator

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326. Shifting strategies | Jam of Garden Place Balloons May 13, 2025

Show notes

In another curated episode by HiFloat, we're reconnecting with Jam of Garden Place Balloons to hear how he's pivoted away from the huge, luxurious installs and into deliveries… which have become the bread and butter of his business!

He's still got local balloon friends who have been and continue to be a major support for him when the big jobs do come up, but we'll hear more about this intentional adjustment he's made based on the latest demand, as well as the mindset shift he needed to go along with.

Jam was kind enough to share specifics about what's working and what's not working with his new strategy - including actual product offerings, e-commerce effectiveness, pickups vs. deliveries, boundaries and what the new strategy has meant for his lifestyle.

Then of course we hear how the HiFloat products are essential to his business, too. I picked up quite a few little nuggets that I'm planning to integrate into my business after chatting with Jam and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

In the UGlu Hotline, hear about how one listener makes water weights.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: HiFloat

@gardenplaceballoons

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Stay Booked

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

Glow Retreat Waitlist

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324. Dos and Don'ts of HiFloat & HiShine | Phillip of HiFloat May 06, 2025

Show notes

In our first curated episode by HiFloat, we get to hear from the COO himself, Phillip… who is also a chemist! He shares with us some tips and tricks about using HiFloat and HiShine which I definitely didn't know before having this conversation.

Learn how humidity, proper inflation size, transport bags and even 60/40 valves impact HiFloat performance. And for HiShine, Phillip has two big tips for using it properly, plus offers considerations for when to use the trigger sprayer versus the aerosol version. I also asked him to talk about the products' safety for us when we use it.

Before we get into all of that, though, we'll learn more about the HiFloat story, which is really neat, as well as some of the changes that have occurred in their 40-year history… including formula changes, the addition of HiShine and external impacts like the pandemic, manufacturer bankruptcy, helium pricing and Party City closing its doors.

It was a fascinating and fun conversation and I look forward to more guests hand-selected by HiFloat!

In the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip for protecting any marquees you might be renting.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: HiFloat

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Stay Booked

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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322. Pricing transparency | Courtney of Courtney Lynette Creative Co. Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

I LOVED this interview with returning guest Courtney! We're talking about pricing transparency and all of the objections and fears that might come with. But that's not all… we're also talking about website design, customer behavior and more. It was such a good interview with a bunch of nuggets like:

Ways to pre-qualify your leads
Why brand shoots matter
If e-commerce really works for our industry
Planning for a website build
How many pages you really need
How FAQ sections help

The conversation boosted my confidence in some of the ways I operate and I hope it does for you, too!

Then in the UGlu Hotline, listen for a tip about utilizing the Profit First method.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Other episodes with Courtney

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Courtney Lynette Creative Co

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

Glow Retreat Waitlist

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320. Balloons at school | Darren of SoCal Balloons Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

In another curated episode by Kalisan, I'm reconnecting with Darren of SoCal Balloons and (among lots of other things) learned about a very cool arrangement he's involved in with some local schools to go in and teach balloon twisting to the kids!

Darren twisted his first balloon dog when he was four. You'll hear how he started his business with his sister, branched off on his own, added decor into the mix and now runs his business while also working another position and being a dad.

Of course we also talk about his drive-through videos that have been popular on social media, and we have a fun little tangent about how the idea could be replicated with decor businesses. I ask him the same question that I asked Mauricio in the last episode, too, about how decorators could start to experiment with twisting and he offers some helpful resources.

Then we hear more about the program in the schools, including who got him into it, how much refinement it needed before approval and what exactly the program includes. If you're in his area - know that they're looking for more twisters!

Then in the UGlu Hotline, you're going to hear a tip about participating in parades.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: Kalisan https://www.kalisan.com.tr/

socalballoonco.com | @socal.balloons

Twist & Talk with Darren from SoCal Balloons

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Courtney Lynette Creative Co

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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318. So many ways to grow | Mauricio of Today's Balloons / Balloons 2 Go Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Mauricio knows our industry from multiple angles, so I was really happy when Kalisan chose him as one of the guests in their curated month. In this episode, he shares with us where he found help in growing his business, how he made his pivots and more.

We'll hear about his rapid growth as a twister, which included doing some jobs for celebrities in Miami. He also shares a fun story about how balloons can soften up almost anyone… and then a sad story that became part of the reason he expanded into decor.

After a big life change and receiving some coaching and mentoring, Mauricio hit the ground running when fully incorporating decor. So much so that he's become a "sub-distributor", which we'll hear all about.

Then I ask him for some advice on how decorators might dip their toes into twisting and he shares some practical tips for doing just that. This was such a fun interview with a bunch of good little tips!

Over in the UGlu Hotline, we got a tip for water weight replacements!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: Kalisan

@todaysballoons | @balloons2gofw

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Courtney Lynette Creative Co

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

Glow Retreat Waitlist

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

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@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

316. Beating burnout | Katy of Bloom Inflatables Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

In another curated episode by Kalisan, we get to meet Katy of Bloom Inflatables. She takes us through some of the things that previously led her to burnout and what she's doing now to stay ahead of it.

But before we get into all of that, you'll hear how an impulse purchase of a bounce house quickly turned into strategy and profitability for her company. She also walks us through the transition away from that bounce house and into balloon decor, partially in thanks to the Kalisan balloons she was introduced to.

Then when we move on to chat about the main topic, you'll hear us discuss things like:

Setting boundaries for ourselves during different seasons of life
Understanding social media influence versus local brand awareness
Giving your business a reset
How a business can be built entirely on grab and go options with the right processes
Factors that we weigh before saying yes to a job

I found a lot of experiences in common with Katy and I'm betting you likely will, too.

In the UGlu Hotline, hear a tip about a trusted Amazon balloon vendor.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: Kalisan https://www.kalisan.com.tr/

@bloominflatables

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Courtney Lynette Creative Co

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

Glow Retreat Waitlist

- - - -

Get bonus episodes

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

Freeform Freedom | More courses

@thebrightballoon

The Bright Balloon on YouTube

314. Kalisan Intro | Kirstin of Create and Cherish Events / Kalisan Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Kicking off this curated month by Kalisan is an interview with Kirstin of Create and Cherish Events / Kalisan! I met Kirstin quite a while ago at a Big Balloon Build, so it was so nice to have this opportunity to reconnect with her and hear about how she's still running her own decor business while supporting the folks at Kalisan as well.

We'll hear how her business scaled and dialed back, as well as how she grew into her role at Kalisan. I asked about her thought process as she considered what the new role would mean for her decorating business, too, and she shared how Kalisan was always supportive of her keeping her own business while working with them.

Then we dig into why artists should consider Kalisan. Multiple times in the interview, Kirstin mentions her favorite thing about their balloons, but we'll also hear more of her thoughts on the different sizes, their shipping practices and colors / prints.

Then in the UGlu Hotline, we'll hear a tip for getting foils to stick to one another.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: Kalisan

@createandcherishevents

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Courtney Lynette Creative Co

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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

Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY! Glow Retreat

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312. B Wise About Your Future | Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

In this final curated episode by Bri of Elevated Impressions / BWise Consulting, I'm so honored to host her as she announces the launch of her new small business product! I know I'll be using it for my business and I hope you'll consider doing the same.

We get straight to it and hear about why she's developed her new product, plus more about her background that has been ingrained within it. It's centered around very tough situations, so as hard as it is to talk about, I'm so happy that she's making something like this available to us.

You're going to hear how she's thought of everything, too. If you've discovered some gaps within your business along the way, she's got more resources readily available and in the works for you. Congrats to Bri, and what a great month it's been with her and her guests!

In the UGlu Hotline, hear how one listener uses rubber bands to save time.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Curated Month by: @elevatedimpressionsma

smallbusinesslegacy.com

@bwise_consulting

Other sponsors & resources:

Havin' A Party Wholesale (save 5% on orders $200+ with code PODCAST)

Courtney Lynette Creative Co

2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

UGlu by Pro Tapes (save 5% on orders $200+ at Havin' A Party with code PODCAST)

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