In this interview we’ll hear about what it’s like to stop providing balloon decor. Melody announced on Instagram a while back that she was no longer going to be doing installations, and in fact was beginning to count down the days to her last one.

She tells us how she was having her best year ever, in terms of sales and the clients she was working with, but behind the scenes was struggling physically with an old injury that progressively got worse. Hear about all of the options she considered, and why she opted for an actual announcement over quietly closing down the business. Then she also tells us what she’s up to now, in the short term, as she discovers what her next big thing is.

Other topics we talk about included:

• Hiring and training
• Managing growth
• The physical nature of the job
• Comparison and relationships
• Personal branding & her content plan

I really appreciated Melody’s openness and honesty about this decision and the process, and since I know we all feel burnt out every so often, there’s likely some parts of her experience that you’ll relate to as well.

And in the UGlu Hotline, get a tip for when you’re participating in a parade!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Balloon Suite

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

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ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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In this episode I’m interviewing someone who has been in balloons for the same amount of time as me… it’s my husband! Someone on Instagram had suggested the idea and we rolled with it. After all, he’s had a front row seat to Wisconsin Balloon Decor (and all my business ideas) from the very beginning so it was fun to have him share his experience.

And since the idea originated on Instagram, I went back to the source for questions I should ask Zac, and I think anyone who also has a spouse or significant other along for the ride will enjoy hearing his perspective.

Zac and I talk about:

• Where he feels comfortable and wants to help
• How he’s learned my installation style and standards
• His favorite and least favorite things about being married to a balloon decorator
• What it’s like when I travel
• If he ever had any doubts about the business
• … and a few of my own questions for him!

Bear with us in the beginning as we fight through a bit of awkwardness, but we share openly about running the business while juggling kids and so much more. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions!

Then in the UGlu Hotline, you’ll hear about a banking option that has helped one artist implement the Profit First method.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Balloon Suite

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

PremiumConwin

NEW! 2025 Bright Balloon Business Planner

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

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Have you seen the massive sorority balloon installs from Arkansas? Well this episode’s guest is Maggie of Presley Paige and she and her team are the ones behind so many of these mind-blowing jobs. She also has a retail store that you’ll hear about! I learned so much from this interview and know that you’ll pick up some gems as well.

Her business actually started as a retail shop and over time they added balloon decor services because of all the customer requests. Hear about how she learned technique and why her team was so crucial as they grew quickly.

Then we dive into the sorority installs that went viral for her in 2022. If you haven’t seen them, check out her Instagram to see entire mansions dripping with balloons! She also shares with us a really unique way that she was able to do these incredible installations for sororities with smaller budgets, plus how she uses them as marketing.

Maggie goes on to share more about her corporate and private jobs, what actual tools they use for the huge installations, some additional things she’s started doing to help her manage bid day work and the amazing benefits she’s able to offer her team.

But you’ve also gotta hear how she positioned herself to be debt-free from the get-go! Huge kudos to everything Maggie has done to dream, establish and build a very cool business.

Then in the UGlu Hotline, hear a good tip for removing dashes when they’re feeling extra sticky.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Balloon Suite

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

PremiumConwin

2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

@shoppresleypaige

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In the final installment of our month of interviews curated by BalloonCoach.com, we’re hearing from Dori of Total Party. There’s a good chance that if you’ve been a part of any online training in our industry, you know Dori because she’s so generous with her knowledge and experience and she loves to learn!

She tells us about the party business she had as a teenager and how her experience with project management in the corporate scene melded together to transition her into corporate events, which then led to Total Party. Hear about the niche she started with and how it’s since changed.

Dori also shares some of the difficulties she had transitioning from being the event coordinator, to providing all of the decor herself, to then focusing solely on balloons. With my own personal experience in discontinuing services, I know how hard that can be so I was thankful she was willing to share her experience, too.

We then chat about the benefits of being able to reach certain milestones in your business, what types of things can attract new customers, doing our best to practice work-life balance and the importance of being willing to ask for help or seek out solutions that are already available to us.

It’s no surprise that this conversation with Dori was a total delight - she’s got so much to share!

And in the UGlu Hotline, we have a tip for all the balloon stuffers!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Balloon Suite

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

PremiumConwin

2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

@totalparty | Total Party LLC | www.total-party.com

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The Bright Balloon on YouTube

In our third of curated interviews from The Balloon Coach, we’re hearing from Sheena of Dream Big Balloons. Sheena has done so much to take her business education into her own hands, and as you’ll hear, it was often before she felt “ready”. But wow, has it paid off!

We’ll hear about how balloons brought joy back into her life, how she has more than 10x’ed her business from two years ago and many of the things that got her there… all the while juggling two other jobs and being a mom and wife.

Some of those things included:

• In-person events
• Making relationships with other artists
• Hiring contractors for the business side of things
• And generally being a great student!

She also tells us about her space, her help, her transportation, how she experiments with new ideas, the kind of marketing she does AND even her garland recipe that I personally believe totally stands out as one of the fullest-looking, signature styles.

Then in the UGlu Hotline, we’ll hear a great tip for a water weight replacement.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Balloon Suite

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

PremiumConwin

2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

@dreambigballoonswaco | Dream Big Balloons Waco | dreambigballoonswaco.com

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The Bright Balloon on YouTube

This week we have another guest curated by BalloonCoach.com, and it’s Allyson from Pop Studio Balloons in Connecticut! She tells us all about how she started Pop Studio Balloons as a side hustle and has since taken herself and her husband full-time in the business. More importantly, though, she shares with us how they’ve intentionally built the business in a way that works for their life.

Hear about her hilarious first “paid” customer, the first item she sold and how she quickly dialed back her offers so that she could focus on being great at the best-sellers.

We also chat about our similar backgrounds in teaching, going to conventions as new balloon artists and of course how Balloon Boss Mastermind has helped our businesses, not just because of lots of help and advice, but mindset shifts as well.

It was so fun to hear the details of Allyson’s business growth… everything from the transition from Covid drop offs to event installations, to her branding and process improvements, to earning repeat business through great customer service and experiences, to the tipping point that allowed her husband to join her full-time. Our conversation is lengthy, but jam-packed with so many things to learn from! Thank you Allyson!

Then in the UGlu Hotline we get a tip for a good Amazon source!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

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

Balloon Suite

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

PremiumConwin

2024 Bright Balloon Business Planner

ALOFT (save $10 with code BRIGHT)

The Balloon Guild (save 20% with code WeLoveSara20)

ballooncoach.com | Balloon Boss Mastermind & Summit

popstudioballoons.com | @popstudioballoons

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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