The Bright Balloon

It was such a complete privilege to interview Amanda Rae, COO of 17hats, for this episode! We talk about all things owning a business... customer service, mindset, mental clutter and growth. She also solves a current problem of mine in real time!   I always say, 17hats is my employee of the month, every month and this episode will let you in on why that's the case.    Even if you don't use the pla...

I've been hearing about the idea of "red x month" for a while now and have been wondering how and when I would be able to try it. Then when I noticed my July calendar was somewhat setting me up for the experiment, I knew I had to go for it!   In this episode, I'll walk you through: - what it is - how I'm implementing it - why I feel compelled to try it - what steps you can take to make one of your...

Alissa of Twee Partees actually runs her shop out of my hometown, so this episode was extra fun to record! We talk about her new pop-up retail space and all the plans she has for it... inventory, shop aesthetic and more.   But even if you run your business out of your home, listen in for some fun business-building ideas that come up in our conversation. I think we'd both love to hear if you go for...

It was so fun to chat with another super lean balloon business owner. Kelsey has so much to share about how she left corporate for balloons, how she provides customer service, her booking process, and yes, we even talk about her infamous TikTok moment in this episode!   She's always sharing such helpful tips on Instagram and this conversation was no different.      TIMESTAMPS: 06:20 - what Kelsey'...

I started offering Grab & Go Garlands after the initial interview with Ali of Charming Garlands (episode 48), and what a difference it has made to my business! I'm now able to help more customers and make more sales when I would have otherwise been booked out and unavailable.   Because they work so well, Ali and I have collaborated on a course, linked in the show notes, that will set you up to qui...

One of my pet peeves as a consumer is a lack of communication by service providers... don't be that service provider!   Even without a CRM, there are ways to save email or message templates that will help you move your decor requests along smoothly, while still being friendly and personal.   In this episode, I share five of my top-recommended templates... two of which often turn into sales!   Take...

When I started my balloon business six years ago, I had the hardest time figuring out how much things cost and what I should charge.   Eventually I discovered how much easier the whole pricing, quoting and invoicing process would become if I just put my prices out there for everyone to see.   In this episode, I'll share with you the six key reasons why I'm a huge fan of having your prices displaye...

In this episode, I'm talking with my bookkeeper, Elizabeth from Fiore Tax Services. She and her husband Joe are now Profit First Professionals so we are revisiting one of my favorite books, Profit First. If you haven't listened to episode 51 where I introduce Profit First, make sure to do that first! RESOURCES MENTIONED: BalloonCoach.com Havin' A Party Wholesale   ____________________________ The...

If you've been listening for a while, you know that I have a lot of thoughts about using Instagram for business. I love some aspects of it, but I recognize how draining it can become if you let it.   In this episode, I'll share with you how I honestly kind of stumbled upon a new strategy that has helped me book more repeat jobs - despite all of the turnover within the events industry.   Listen in...

I don't necessarily have a strong all-or-nothing approach to charity work, but I do have some strategies in place to help me stay aligned with both my values and my business goals.   In this episode, I'll share five ideas for how to work with charities, non-profits, schools, etc. when they ask for free decor. I'll let you know which one is my clear favorite, but no matter which one you try I stron...

Sometimes you're truly not available. Sometimes you just don't want to work with that client or color scheme. And sometimes you fear you're on the brink of burnout.   There are quite a few reasons why we might need to turn down a job, but saying no is often easier said than done.   In this episode I'll share with you some of the strategies and messaging I've put in place to confidently and gracefu...

Whether you're a 17hats user, you use another CRM or you simply want to learn more about what to look for in your first CRM, listen in to this episode jam-packed with automation and customization tips.    Nicole is the one who helped me refresh my 17hats account and she joins us again to share 7 of her favorite features of the platform.   After this chat, I've already gone back into my account and...

Make Time , by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, is FULL of amazing quick tips (82 of them!) that you can use and try to work towards more efficient and fulfilling days.   In this episode, I'll let you know some of the things from the book that stood out to me, as well as which strategies I'm going to start using in my business and life.   I like to think of Make Time like a recipe book -  I loved how...

Haley's adventure with balloons started when she added the service into her non-profit event planning, and as word spread about her skills, friends and family started reaching out for balloon requests.   Before she knew it, (and with a ton of confidence and savvy decisions) she became THE place in Spokane to provide balloons. Now, not only are her and her husband both self-employed, they've also g...

People commonly ask me how I find the time to run my balloon business by myself, alongside my full-time job. And while I used to just take it as a compliment and go on with my day, I began to realize that those comments and questions were rooted in burnout.   So I decided I wanted to share everything I know about running a business efficiently. The Laser Focused Solopreneur is a video course that...

I think we're all guilty of the comparison trap at times - I know I certainly am. "Look how well they're doing already when I've been doing this for years" ... "There's no way I could ever make as many sales as them" ... "Why is it so easy for them and not me?" ...we've ALL been there!   So in this episode, I'll talk about six different areas of business where we tend to compare ourselves, and the...

This episode is unlike many episodes we've had before in that it is an honest conversation about the challenges we face as business owners. The pivots, the decisions, the long hours and the struggle... Amy and I talk about it all.   I really appreciate her candid comments about everything she's gone through in her business. From running a huge retail location, having employees on payroll, hitting...

You've probably heard me talk about automation before, and what a huge difference it's made in my business. Well, I like to think of batching as the root of automation. So in this episode, I'm covering 3 areas where I batch tasks in my balloon business, Wisconsin Balloon Decor.     From content, to inventory, to client communication... I'm sharing with you exactly how and when I batch each aspect....

This book by Denise Duffield-Thomas really connected with me. In fact, I love everything she puts out.    Not only do I love the business mindset she encourages, but the book has tons of practical tips (like what to say in awkward pricing conversations, for example). She also does such a good job of connecting your home life with your business life, which I find so unique, and so valuable as a sol...

Let's talk about something everyone has... a birthday! And in our industry, we appeal to practically everybody. We aren't limited by the age of our customers like some other niches are (flowers and coffee, for example).   So let's talk about four ways you can run birthday balloon promotions in your business (plus one way you shouldn't), all while staying profitable and not losing your mind trying...

I first met Jeff at Balloon Boss Summit, where he was one of my favorite instructors because he simply knows... his... stuff! In this episode, he dishes out tons of online marketing tips... from local SEO, to website formatting, to making it easier for your customers to contact you. I took a ton more notes from our chat while editing the episode!    And he knows the balloon decor community, too. H...

Today I'm talking about lead sources with my Digital Strategist, Nicole. She's giving us tips for not only how but why to track our lead sources (where our customers hear about our businesses).   It's a super straight-forward episode with action steps you can take today with the help of her free download.     TIMESTAMPS: 02:37 - how to set up your lead source collection method 05:04 - some basic o...

This episode is going to give you little tips to keep your goals at the front of your mind for the entire year - without using any brain power at all! Plus, I share an absolutely crazy story about a New Year's Eve balloon drop that only my fellow balloon people will truly understand.   TIMESTAMPS: 02:53 - My panic-inducing New Year's Eve balloon drop experience 08:23 - Wallet windows 10:55 - Scree...

This final episode of the year will actually walk you through the year end review process laid out in The Bright Balloon Business Planner... from how your business made you feel, to the numbers inside of your business, to how to use this information for next year.   I really believe that tracking your business stats is like the first step in achieving your business goals, because if you know your...

I came away from the Balloon Boss Summit so motivated about 2022, but didn't feel like I had a great way to track my goals and plans for the year. A lot of other planners I found were way too intense for what I was looking for, yet I knew I needed to get my goals in writing to keep me focused.   So I went for it and made my own planner that will help me not only set great goals, but figure out a p...